Baseboard molding (or moulding) is the board that goes where the floor and wall meet. The baseboard goes around the room, giving the room a straight-line look. They were called mop boards, protecting the wall from mop hits. Now, I guess they could be called vacuum boards. You can buy baseboards at hardware stores, lumber yards, or online. They come in many styles and colors usually being 4 to 5 inches tall and less than an inch in depth.
Crown molding is placed where the wall meets the ceiling. This along with the baseboard molding provides continuity to the whole room. The crown and baseboard molding should be of similar type and color.
A chair real is a molding strip placed a foot above the baseboard protecting the wall from chair damage. Often the area between the chair and baseboard molding is painted or design with a different color than the rest of the wall.
A picture rail is installed about 2 feet below the ceiling. The rail is used to hang décor without damaging the wall.
Wainscoting is the use of 2 to 3-foot panels placed above the baseboard giving the room a different texture. The use started with Queen Ann style homes with traditional wood. Using the right wainscoting can give the room a different height illusion whether taller or shorter.
