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Crown molding in a room can provide it with depth or change it altogether. The molding can provide a transition between walls and ceilings or make the room look larger. There are various types of crown molding available, and each has its own benefits. Here are the 7 types of crown molding – complete how-to guide.
The Different Types of Crown Molding Are:
- This type of crown molding is used to create a grand, Victorian interior. Plaster molding allows for elaborate decorations to be cast that cannot be accomplished by using wood.
Cons: Users should note that plaster crown molding can be expensive and is often made to order. It is also heavy and easily cracks.
- Solid Wood. The color and grain patterns of solid wood moldings add warmth to a room. Natural wood is a product that is challenging to recreate. It comes in different types of wood and various profiles. Ornate elements can be added by embossing them on solid wood.
Cons: The wood can shrink and swell with weather changes. This will cause the molding to buckle and bow.
- MDF (Medium-density Fiberboard). This type of molding is for rooms where the trim is to be painted. The material is a stable and cost-effective alternate to wood. It comes in different forms, and many are ideal for staining. If there is no veneer, MDF needs to be painted.
Cons: Since MDF without veneer needs to be painted, installing and cutting it may create the same challenges as with wood. It is also easier to nick and dent.
- This type works best for most rooms. It is a less expensive alternative and increasingly stable. It repels rot and insects better than wood. It is more intricate in design capabilities over plaster.
Cons: Polyurethane is softer than wood. It easily dents and its only purpose is for painted applications.
- This is good for kitchens, bathrooms, or any room that contains added moisture. It contains plastic polymer which will not rot or warp with increased humidity, steam, or water.
Cons: If you are looking for an ornate design, you will not see it in PVC molding. The profile options are limited. It has a slick surface which can make painting interesting. However, it does require paint to cover its plastic sheen.
- Flex is perfect for window bays and curved walls. It is made from a rubbery material and comes in a vast selection of styles. Each molding bends easily around walls without relief cuts.
Cons: Even though it is less expensive than custom carpentry, it is costly and requires special ordering.
- This is used for a rapid room redesign such as when you are looking to sell. It can be cut with scissors or knives. It is applied with an adhesive in the back.
Cons: The texture is thin, and the edges are not as crisp.
What Are the Various Types of Molding?
- Casting covers unfinished gaps around window frames or doors and walls. The width generally spans two-to-three inches.
- Baseboard styles trim walls by the floor. They measure between 3-5”. The style is simple and can be accented with a quarter-round trim.
- Crown molding transitions the wall to the ceiling. Also known as cornice molding, it has intricate designs and an elegant appearance.
- Chair rail protects walls from furniture damage. It can also be decorative. Sometimes it is used to separate two colors in a room, or when the homeowner would like paint and wallpaper.
- Picture rail enables artwork to be hung without nails. It is usually done in addition to crown molding, and it’s 7-9’ higher than the floor.
- Coving is a concave-shaped molding, and it’s done where the wall meets the ceiling. People have also used it on stairs or where treads and risers join.
- Dentil is a classical design of molding. It has evenly spaced blocks dented in an ongoing pattern. It is a type of crown molding and can be found/used in older homes.
- Egg and dart is used with chair railing or crown molding. It has an oval-egg pattern with intermittent V-shaped darts.
- Batten is a trim, which hides joints between two panels.
- Bead/Pearl have a row of tiny symmetrical spheres on the top and leaves, spindles, or darts on the bottom.
What is the Difference Between Trim and Molding?
Trim is a generalized term referring to all of a home’s molding. Molding describes millwork, which adds ornamentation or beauty in a room.
Is Crown Molding in Style?
Crown molding is versatile. It never really goes out of style. People throughout the ages have appreciated it because it can make a room more upscale or elegant. Different types of molding can make a room more formal. The only things to note is to select the molding to fit the size of the room. The general rule is ½” per foot of ceiling height. It should begin and end logically. The room should look finished.
The last thing is that it should not appear to be out of place. It should incorporate the feel and design of the home.
What Rooms Should Have Crown Molding?
Since crown molding gives a touch of class, it is usually incorporated in bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and sitting rooms. It elegantly frames a room, so it is more prominent in these places. If the molding is patterned, you can be creative in where you put it. For more plainer pieces, they can be used in almost any room.
Just make sure you are using the correct molding for the proper location. Rooms with excessive moisture require different molding so that they don’t rot or disintegrate. Crown molding adds a touch of class or formality to any room. The look depends on the room and the style that is trying to be accomplished. The molding can be very intricate – to create a formal area – or simple, which will add height to a room.
When using it, pay special attention to your room. Different types of molding do different jobs. You will need to know this before making a selection.
