Picture rail question. Do you paint above it?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

We live in a 1930s semi and our bedroom has still got the original picture rail round it, which I quite like.

Question is, when painting, do you paint over the picture rail in the same colour? I seem to recall being told that above the picture rail should be white like the ceiling.

And if you do paint above it, what do you do with wall paper? Does that go up to the ceiling?

Wallpaper to the bottom of the picture rail; paint white above picture rail; paint picture rail in white gloss/satin or contrasting colour.

Sorry, yes, I didn't mean put emulsion on the actual picture rail. That would be bizarre!

So, are those the rules then?

We took down our picture rail as the walls in the front front room needed still need to be replastered. For now we have put a border, and painted (what should be above the picture rail) magnolia, and the ceiling is white.

the magnolia goes with the colour of the wall paper.

above picture rail should be same as ceiling - makes room feel more spacious apparently.

I have this same question but apparently painting above the picture rail in the same colour as the ceiling (white) makes the ceilings seem lower?

Have a 1930s semi btw, ceilings are already quite low compared to our rented victorian.

I would say no.

For the reason given, it would appear to lower the height of the ceiling.

Probably not too much of an issue if you are talking magnolia, but a darker colour would make a massive difference.

Painting - white like the ceiling above picture rails.
Only 1 room has wallpaper - and thats only up to the picture rail too.

Conventionally the wall above the picture rail is same colour as the ceiling, so generally white. However it's your wall, paint it any colour you please!

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I thought this sort of thnk was a science? How do you make the room feel taller? The walls are cream white by crown so quite magnolia-esque!

We had a Victorian terrace with a small front room, we painted the wall up to picture rail in warm cream colour, above picture rail in a dark red and ceiling white, we then had dark red curtains. I think it balanced the room better as in 'brought' the ceiling down , but without painting the whole ceiling red. We loved it and lots of friends said they really liked it (without being prompted), not sure I would do it now (it was 1998 and think it may be a little 'changing rooms' for 2009), would probably go for a couple of shades darker above in the same tone as the lower wall colour. Good luck!

My sis always does above her picture rails white, but I like to be different.

In my bedroom I have a feature laura ashley wallpaper on one wall, then I have duck egg blue on the remaining walls. Above all picture rails I went for a cafe creme kind of colour which again ties in with the wallpaper.
sounds really odd, but looks GORGEOUS like ice cream !

In DS room I painted before I knew the sex. So I went for pastels. I did each wall in a different colour up to the pic rail, then carried the colour below to above the picture rail on the adjoining wall. Again, it looks yummy !

Be adventurous

Just white

I've been searching for some ideas and I think I will go for having the bit above white like the ceiling ! here goes nothing. :)