inspiration · Picture Frame
SW Iron Ore Bathroom Accent Wall Molding
SW Iron Ore Bathroom Accent Wall Molding: wall elevation, color data (LRV 5.6), bathroom layout for 5, 7, 9 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut kits.
Project calculator
Overview
SW Iron Ore is a dark gray with a neutral undertone and a calculated LRV of 5.6. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 8.92:1, which gives strong, graphic contrast; painted tone-on-tone, the picture frame pattern shows only through its shadow lines.
Picture Frame layout on a 7 ft bathroom wall
Molding over the full wall height, upper and lower rows divided by a chair rail. On a 7 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 3 frames per row, each 22.7 in wide, with 50 in upper and 21 in lower frames. The layout uses about 21.85 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 10 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Use moisture-resistant polystyrene outside the shower spray zone and a bathroom-rated paint.
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 Iron Ore
Grays sit in the middle of the contrast range: white trim reads clearly, while same-color trim gives a quiet, architectural look.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW Iron Ore | Sherwin-Williams | #434341 | 5.6 | neutral | dark | 8.92:1 | 1.66:1 |
Trim color pairings
| Pairing | Trim color | Hex | Contrast | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tone-on-tone | SW Iron Ore | #434341 | 1:1 | Trim painted the same color as the wall |
| matching white | F&B All White | #FBF8F4 | 9.37:1 | White with the closest undertone |
| contrast | White | #F4F3EE | 8.92:1 | Light trim for crisp contrast |
Bathroom wall sizes: picture frame 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 2 | 24 in | 50 / 21 in | 14.98 m | 7 | 1 |
| 7 ft | 3 | 22.7 in | 50 / 21 in | 21.85 m | 10 | 1 |
| 9 ft | 3 | 30.7 in | 50 / 21 in | 25.2 m | 11 | 1 |
Cut list for a 7 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottom (lower row) | 6 | 22.7 in |
| Frame sides (lower row) | 6 | 21 in |
| Frame sides (upper row) | 6 | 50 in |
| Frame top and bottom (upper row) | 6 | 22.7 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 7 ft bathroom wall with picture frame frames?
About 21.85 m (72 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 10 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 3 frames per row, 22.7 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.
Is SW Iron Ore warm or cool?
SW Iron Ore has a neutral undertone and reads as a dark gray. Its calculated LRV is 5.6, so it absorbs light, so tone-on-tone molding reads as deep relief.
Should trim be the same color as SW Iron Ore walls?
Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds strong, graphic contrast (8.92:1), and black trim gives 1.66:1.
How high should the chair rail be in a bathroom?
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. Use moisture-resistant polystyrene outside the shower spray zone and a bathroom-rated paint.
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