Wainscoting
Wainscoting is any wood paneling that covers only the lower portion of the wall. However, the most common type of wainscoting is flat paneling, which creates an elegant look. This is a great feature to have your contractor add if you’re sourcing out your remodel, but you can also turn it into a DIY project.
To do this yourself, you’ll build flat boxes on the wall. First, decide the height of the wainscoting and paint the lower portion of the wall white. Install a chair rail molding as the top border.
Then you’ll add your boxes. In between your chair rail and baseboard, install horizontal boards that will act as the tops and bottoms of the boxes (4”x ½”boards work well). Then decide how wide you want the boxes and install vertical boards that span between the two horizontal stripes. Once you have all the wood installed, caulk any gaps and paint the whole wall to match your baseboards and any other trim in your home.