Period features

Picture Rail

A picture rail is a horizontal moulding positioned high on an interior wall from which pictures can be hung using hooks and cords.

Picture rails allow artwork to be hung without putting a new fixing into the wall for every picture. They also create a clear line between the main wall surface and the upper wall or ceiling.

In Edinburgh period rooms, the position and profile of a surviving rail often help explain the original decorative layout. Removing it can change how the height of the room reads; adding a new rail calls for care over scale and alignment.

If the rail is intended to carry pictures, check that it is securely fixed and that the hooks and cords suit the load. A dado rail is normally lower and should not be mistaken for a picture rail.

Property types

Commonly found in

Tenement Georgian Townhouse Victorian Villa Georgian Flat Converted Flat

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