What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dado
Example
The dining room had a beautiful dado made of dark wood. [dado: noun]
Example
She painted the dado in a bold red color to add some interest to the room. [dado: noun]
Example
The carpenter installed a new dado in the living room to give it a more elegant look. [dado: noun]
wainscot
Example
The library had beautiful wainscoting made of cherry wood. [wainscot: noun]
Example
She painted the wainscot in a soft blue color to match the curtains. [wainscot: noun]
Example
The contractor installed new wainscoting in the hallway to give it a more classic look. [wainscoting: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wainscot is more commonly used than dado in everyday language. Wainscot is a versatile term that can refer to both decorative and functional treatments, while dado is less common and more specific to decorative paneling.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dado and wainscot?
Both dado and wainscot are associated with a formal or traditional style, but dado is slightly more formal due to its specificity and less common usage.
