In architectural terminology, the dado, borrowed from Italian meaning die or plinth, is the lower part of a wall, below the dado rail and above the skirting board.
Diagram of a wall illustrating the dado rail and the skirting board.
This area is traditionally given a different decorative treatment to the upper part of the wall; for example panelling, wainscoting or lincrusta. The purpose of the dado treatment to a wall is twofold: historically, the panelling below the dado rail was installed to cover the lower part of the wall, which was subject to stains associated with rising damp; additionally the dado rail (also known as the chair rail) provided protection from furniture, in particular the backs of chairs. In modern homes, the dado treatment is generally aesthetic.
The name derives from the architectural term for the part of a pedestal between the base and the cornice.
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