inspiration · Herringbone
SW Alabaster Entryway Herringbone Wall Molding
SW Alabaster Entryway Herringbone Wall Molding: wall elevation, color data (LRV 82.2), entryway layout for 6, 8, 10 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut
Project calculator
Overview
SW Alabaster is a white with a warm (yellow) undertone and a calculated LRV of 82.2. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 1.08:1, which gives almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look); painted tone-on-tone, the herringbone pattern shows only through its shadow lines.
Herringbone layout on a 8 ft entryway wall
Molding over the full wall height, upper and lower rows divided by a chair rail. On a 8 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 3 frames per row, each 26.7 in wide, with 50 in upper and 21 in lower frames. The layout uses about 39.9 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 17 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Short walls look best with fewer, taller frames.
Building the herringbone pattern
Chevrons are pairs of short pieces meeting at a point down the center of each panel. Keep the angle and the vertical spacing identical so the rows line up across frames.
Painting molding in SW Alabaster
Whites show molding through shadow only, so side light (a window or wall sconce) brings the pattern out. Use satin on trim and eggshell on the wall to add a slight sheen difference.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW Alabaster | Sherwin-Williams | #EDEAE0 | 82.2 | warm (yellow) | white | 1.08:1 | 13.69:1 |
Trim color pairings
| Pairing | Trim color | Hex | Contrast | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tone-on-tone | SW Alabaster | #EDEAE0 | 1:1 | Trim painted the same color as the wall |
| matching white | SW Greek Villa | #F0ECE2 | 1.02:1 | White with the closest undertone |
| contrast | Black | #1F1F1F | 13.69:1 | Dark trim for a graphic outline |
Entryway wall sizes: herringbone accent wall layout
| Wall width | Frames per row | Frame width | Frame height (upper / lower) | Molding incl. 10% waste | 240 cm sticks | Chair rail pieces (300 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft | 2 | 30 in | 50 / 21 in | 26.88 m | 12 | 1 |
| 8 ft | 3 | 26.7 in | 50 / 21 in | 39.9 m | 17 | 1 |
| 10 ft | 4 | 25 in | 50 / 21 in | 50.86 m | 22 | 2 |
Cut list for a 8 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottom (lower row) | 6 | 26.7 in |
| Frame sides (lower row) | 6 | 21 in |
| Frame sides (upper row) | 6 | 50 in |
| Frame top and bottom (upper row) | 6 | 26.7 in |
| Chair rail | 1 | 300 cm lengths |
Pre-cut kits for this wall
Pre-cut kits that fit this project. Open a kit for photos, options and pricing.
Questions
How much molding do I need for a 8 ft entryway wall with herringbone frames?
About 39.9 m (131 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 17 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 3 frames per row, 26.7 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.
Is SW Alabaster warm or cool?
SW Alabaster has a warm (yellow) undertone and reads as a white white. Its calculated LRV is 82.2, so it reflects a lot of light and keeps molding shadows soft.
Should trim be the same color as SW Alabaster walls?
Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look) (1.08:1), and black trim gives 13.69:1.
How high should the chair rail be in a entryway?
About one third of the ceiling height: 32 in on an 8 ft ceiling, 36 in on 9 ft and 40 in on 10 ft. Short walls look best with fewer, taller frames.
Trace the details
Sources & dates
Prices, options and photos come from our product catalog on the date shown. Layout tables are planning estimates; measure your wall before ordering.
- Paint color dataset (screen approximations; LRV calculated)Recorded November 11, 2026
- DecoMoldings product catalogRecorded November 11, 2026