inspiration · Picture Frame

SW Clary Sage Staircase Wall Molding

SW Clary Sage Staircase Wall Molding: wall elevation, color data (LRV 40.9), staircase layout for 8, 12, 16 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut kits.

Catalog snapshot View 2 sources ↓

Project calculator

Wall molding linear-foot estimate

Estimate for rectangular molding frames.

Estimated quantity109.08 linear feet

Divide by 7.87 ft (240 cm stick) and round up for the number of sticks.

Formula & assumptionsframe_count * 2 * (frame_width_inches + frame_height_inches) / 12 * (1 + waste_percent / 100)

Assumes identical rectangular frames. The waste allowance is editable. The estimate does not optimize cuts or include separate rails, baseboards, or other trim.

Overview

SW Clary Sage is a light green with a green undertone and a calculated LRV of 40.9. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 2.06:1, which gives soft contrast; painted tone-on-tone, the picture frame pattern shows only through its shadow lines.

Picture Frame layout on a 12 ft staircase wall

Molding over the full wall height, upper and lower rows divided by a chair rail. On a 12 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 5 frames per row, each 24 in wide, with 50 in upper and 21 in lower frames. The layout uses about 37.27 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 16 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Frames follow the stair angle: keep the bottom rail parallel to the stringer.

Building the picture frame pattern

Each frame is four pieces of 2.5 cm molding with 45 degree miters. Set the frames out from the center of the wall, keep every gap equal, and let the margins at the corners match the gaps.

Painting molding in SW Clary Sage

Greens are the most popular color for tone-on-tone molding walls: the shadows of the frames add depth without breaking the color.

Wall elevation

SW Clary Sage wall, tone-on-tone trim, picture frame layout on a 12 ft wall. Colors are screen approximations.

Color data

ColorBrandCodeHexCalculated LRVUndertoneDepthContrast vs white trimContrast vs black trim
SW Clary SageSherwin-Williams#ACAD9740.9greenlight2.06:17.2:1

Trim color pairings

PairingTrim colorHexContrastEffect
tone-on-toneSW Clary Sage#ACAD971:1Trim painted the same color as the wall
matching whiteCream#F2E8D21.88:1White with the closest undertone
contrastWhite#F4F3EE2.06:1Light trim for crisp contrast

Staircase wall sizes: picture frame accent wall layout

Wall widthFrames per rowFrame widthFrame height (upper / lower)Molding incl. 10% waste240 cm sticksChair rail pieces (300 cm)
8 ft326.7 in50 / 21 in23.53 m101
12 ft524 in50 / 21 in37.27 m162
16 ft627.3 in50 / 21 in47.5 m202

Cut list for a 12 ft wall

Planning cut list
PieceQuantityLength
Frame top and bottom (lower row)1024 in
Frame sides (lower row)1021 in
Frame sides (upper row)1050 in
Frame top and bottom (upper row)1024 in
Chair rail2300 cm lengths

Pre-cut kits for this wall

Pre-cut kits that fit this project. Open a kit for photos, options and pricing.

Peel and Stick Wainscoting Kit, 5 Vertical Picture Frames | Easy Installation01 / KIT

Peel and Stick Wainscoting Kit, 5 Vertical Picture Frames | Easy Installation

From $110.00

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Modern Pre-Cut Flat Wall Molding Kit for Living Areas | Factory Primed & Paintable02 / KIT

Modern Pre-Cut Flat Wall Molding Kit for Living Areas | Factory Primed & Paintable

From $130.00

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Nested Picture Frame French Trim Wall Molding Kit, 2 Frames, Self-Adhesive Paintable03 / KIT

Nested Picture Frame French Trim Wall Molding Kit, 2 Frames, Self-Adhesive Paintable

From $110.00

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Arched Decorative Wall Molding Panels, 1 to 5 Arches | Pre-Cut MDF04 / KIT

Arched Decorative Wall Molding Panels, 1 to 5 Arches | Pre-Cut MDF

From $146.40

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Square Grid Board and Batten Accent Wall Kit | Pre-Cut MDF Easy Installation05 / KIT

Square Grid Board and Batten Accent Wall Kit | Pre-Cut MDF Easy Installation

From $252.41

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Peel and Stick Wainscoting Accent Wall Molding Kit, 2 to 4 Panels | Easy Installation06 / KIT

Peel and Stick Wainscoting Accent Wall Molding Kit, 2 to 4 Panels | Easy Installation

From $47.12

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Questions

How much molding do I need for a 12 ft staircase wall with picture frame frames?

About 37.27 m (122 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 16 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 5 frames per row, 24 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.

Is SW Clary Sage warm or cool?

SW Clary Sage has a green undertone and reads as a light green. Its calculated LRV is 40.9, so it sits in the mid range, where molding shadows show clearly.

Should trim be the same color as SW Clary Sage walls?

Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds soft contrast (2.06:1), and black trim gives 7.2:1.

How high should the chair rail be in a staircase?

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. Frames follow the stair angle: keep the bottom rail parallel to the stringer.

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.

  1. Paint color dataset (screen approximations; LRV calculated)Recorded November 11, 2026
  2. DecoMoldings product catalogRecorded November 11, 2026