How Crown Molding Can Be Used in Your Home
Crown molding is a classic design element that infuses character into your home’s interior. It softens the transition between walls and ceiling, hides cracks and is a great way to add style.
Use crown molding to highlight a painted accent wall or create one-of-a-kind shelving for travel mementos and family photos. Then, tuck a strip of LED lighting under the molding to illuminate your favorite treasures at night.
While many crown molding ideas involve matching trim and paint color, contrasting is just as beautiful. For example, a kitchen’s crown molding can feature a dentil pattern that contrasts with a smooth, flat finish of the cabinetry, making the cabinets look more sophisticated and custom.
Living Room
Crown molding is the perfect way to add an architectural detail that brings flair to a living room. It can be ornate to create a traditional look, or simple to complement a modern style. This trim adds a custom feel to this high-traffic area, while providing a visual separation between the walls and ceiling.
Crown and wainscoting can also pair nicely to create a layered look. Using the same color for both pieces of trim helps create an actual frame effect, which is particularly effective when a wallpaper or mural is used on a wall.
Crown molding can help hide cracks that develop where the wall and ceiling meet over time. This is especially true in older homes that may have shifting foundations or expansion and contraction of the wall materials. By placing crown molding where the two elements meet, you can hide these blemishes while adding an instant upgrade.
Bedroom
Crown molding can be a beautiful finishing touch to any bedroom of your home. It can subtly elevate the room without overwhelming it and create a sense of elegance without costing you a fortune. It is not only a great way to add visual interest, but it can also help to establish the boundaries of the space and define your own personal style.
While crown molding is often associated with traditional design, it can be adapted to modern rooms as well. For example, the soaring walls and high ceilings in this master bedroom benefit from a crown molding installation that feels contemporary and clean. The molding can help to smooth out the hard angles formed by the walls and ceilings, creating a sense of grandeur in this bedroom.
Bathroom
Crown molding can add a touch of elegance to bathrooms and help create a clean and finished look in the room.
Adding crown molding to your bathroom can also help to create a frame effect with other design features, such as wainscoting. If you have a printed wallpaper or mural on the wall, the molding can serve to highlight and frame it so it doesn’t get lost in the overall room design.
Entryway
Even utilitarian spaces like laundry rooms and mudrooms can benefit from crown molding. It’s a great way to add a custom feel without a custom price tag. This is especially true if the trim and cabinetry are stained rather than painted. Stained crown molding delivers an old-world and refined look, which is especially striking when paired with paneling or built-in cabinets.
Crown molding can be made of several different materials, including wood, plaster, or vinyl. Wood molding is usually the most expensive and requires advanced carpentry skills to install properly. Plaster molding is another common option, but it’s typically custom-molded and not a suitable DIY project. Vinyl and PVC crown molding are more affordable options that can be installed easily.
When selecting crown molding for your home, there are many different options available. You can choose a traditional wood style for an elegant look, or opt for something more modern, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) crown. The choice depends on the design style you prefer, and your budget. In addition, it is important to consider moisture-resistant materials for areas that will be exposed to water and humidity, such as the bathroom. Otherwise, the crown will rot and may cause mold and mildew.
