correct picture rail height?
Answers:
There is no really correct picture rail height. It depends on the size and the height of the room. The function of a picture rail is not merely to hang pictures from but also to give proportion to a room. Since one usually paints above the picture rail the same colour as the ceiling, it can make a small room seem larger if there is a small amount of space between the picture rail and the ceiling. If you have coving, however, that destroys the effect.
On the whole, about 7 foot or 7 foot 6 inches is the usual height and it is normally the same throughout the house. If the house is fairly modern, you will probably find that the ceiling is about 7'6", so the rail may be as close to the ceiling as is practical (with enough space to get a picture hook over it). If it's an older house, the ceilings may be high or they may be lower than 7 foot. Sometimes it's best to not have a picture rail and to hang pictures from wall hooks.
Other answers:
36 inches ???
36 inches ???
I believe that depends on teh picture....
half the height of the window
picture rail height is 16inches from the ceiling
It depends upon the height of the room. My rooms are 8' 10". high. The top of the frames are 11" from the ceiling. The paintings hang directly onto the picture rail, no cord visible. If the picture rail is simply decorative, then one tenth the height of the room is usual.
I think mostly pictures are hung too high.. I like the middle of the best pictures to be level with my eyes, so around 5'3 from ground, but you might like to try them first by having someone stand with them. B & Q do a marvellous long spirit level/marking ruler with holes in it so you can mark when its level.
Two sevenths of the height of the room. So if the height is 9 feet then the height is 31 inches from the ceiling. Metrically Height of room2.7m Picture rail is 77cms from ceiling.
Most I have seen seem to be a foot from the ceiling?
I've heard that the height of skirting boards, dado rails, picture rails and the depth of cornices are supposed to correspond to a classical column on a pedestal, seen in profile. Palladio was the architect who laid down all these principles for room sizes and heights etc.
A couple of people above have sensible sounding suggestions for the proportions so I'd take their advice.
If yours is an old house you could ask your neighbours if any of them still have a picture rail.
I don't think you were ever meant to hang pictures right on top of the rail and having those wires hanging down might look a bit old fashioned, but it will save you from making holes in the wall.
Picture mold is 96 inches from the floor. I just measured mine. But my ceilings are 108".
Chair rail is usually 32" - 36".