For centuries, the use of wainscoting has been popular due to its functional and aesthetical value. Generally, people use it in bathroom and other parts of home that are very vulnerable to moisture and mildew; basement is one of which. Wainscoting is a kind of wood panelling used for centuries as both decorative accents, insulation and to prevent (and cover up) water damage on walls. Originally, riven oak boards would cover the entire wall, but in the 1700s, panelling began to cover only the lower part of the wall.
For decorative purpose and protect the walls from mildew and moisture, you can install wainscoting on them. Nothing beats classic white wainscoting for giving a room instant personality. For a contemporary look, choose 5” wide tongue-and-groove panels. If you prefer a lake-side cottage feel, bead board wall panels have all the cozy charm you could ask for. Consider installing matching ceiling planks to complete the cottage getaway look.
The common problems you have to deal with in basements are moisture, construction features, mildew and deficit of direct sunlight. Wainscoting comes to serve as a solution for those problems. You can install it on the ceiling to hide the electricity wiring and pipe of your home construction. It is more aesthetic if you can install ceiling lighting after you can hide the pipe and wiring with the wood panelling.
Alternatively, you can glue it to the concrete wall. and protect the walls from mildew since direct sunlight is a premium in basement. Even many basement rooms are windowless. To do so, you need to apply adhesive. Bead board is a wood panelling or a type of wainscoting that is more practical. You can buy it on boards and cut them as you needed. Wainscoting has protected walls since the 1600s, when it consisted of wood panels framed by stiles and rails. With the advent of industrial milling machines in the 1850s, however, less-formal bead board wainscoting became available. The tongue-and-groove strips are snugged together and nailed in place, one after the other. Installation is easy, yes, if you know how to handle obstacles, such as doorways, windows, or electrical outlets. In other hand you must know, how to make bead board gracefully turn corners.
Start with a good planning on how you will apply wainscoting in your basement, draw and cut the boards on sizes you need. Most designers suggest starting the installation form corners, where you have to turn them. The walls on the basements will get damaged due to moisture and wainscoting will protect them and add aesthetical value as well.