What Is Crown Molding?
Crown molding is a decorative trim or molding that is installed at the junction of a wall and ceiling. It is typically made of wood, plaster, or polyurethane and is used to add a decorative touch to a room. Crown molding is available in a variety of styles and sizes, ranging from simple and understated to ornate and highly detailed.
Types Of Crown Molding
Differentiating the various crown molding styles makes it easier to select the best one for decorating your house. The most popular types of crown molding are shown below.
1. Cove Crown Molding
cove molding is a simple, concave-shaped trim that is used where ceilings and walls join. The distinctive shape of the cove molding makes it stand out.
At the intersection of the risers and treads of the stairway, it is also placed. Basically, a cove can be sometimes considered a simpler form of a crown.
Cove molding is a low-cost choice for redesigning interiors. Cove molds hide imperfections and improve the whole aesthetic appearance. The cove style is a wonderful choice for rooms that aren’t very modern.
3. Dentil Crown Molding
The dentil molding is an aesthetic feature with a Classical history that consists of smaller, evenly spaced blocks in a repetitive pattern.
Dentil molding is a decorative design made up of blocks that resemble teeth which has origins in Greek architecture. It was generally constructed into crown molding.
In ancient houses, especially Victorian ones, dentil can be seen both indoors around doorways and ceilings as well as outside along rooflines.
Dentil is a very costly application just because it requires a lot of manpower for installation and is more expensive to manufacture. Each block must be properly cut, measured, as well as positioned separately.
4. Batten Crown Molding
Batten is sometimes referred to as board-and-batten. The style of molding which goes with wall paneling is called board and batten.
The batten molding is a rectangular-shaped finish designed to cover the gap between two wall panels. The normal spacing would be one to two feet, as well as it can be utilized either vertically or horizontally.
Batten molding is a simple, low-cost solution to finish and modify areas. It has grown in popularity among farmhouse and cottage decor fans.
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5. Casing Crown Molding
The casing is trim that is placed on door or window frameworks to conceal wall gaps. The room’s feel can be dramatically changed by using crown molding, and even more detailed patterns can also indicate a change in the room’s look.
The Casing improves the aesthetic of doors and windows by surrounding them in a smoothly continuous finish which may be customized to highlight the room’s style.
The common casings in these locations are 2 to 3 inches wide, although deeper patterns are possible to provide a beautiful shelf.
6. Egg and Dart Crown Molding
Egg and dart patterns are quite common for moldings, but it is also widely used for exterior architecture as well as outdoor constructions. Egg and dart molding is commonly used in designs that also include chair rails or crown molding.
The mold has different V-darts with oval-shaped eggs, whether split or whole, that are informed by ancient Greek style. Ancient Greece is where the egg and dart patterns originally developed.
7. Wainscoting Crown Molding
To cover the lowest three to four feet of your walls, wainscoting is a stylish molding that can be placed between both the chair rail and baseboard.
Wainscoting gives your walls depth as well as beauty by framing them with raised decorative features.
Despite wainscoting is not extremely popular, it can bring uniqueness to a room. It is considered one of the most accessible trim molding styles, having a wide range of styles to choose from.
8. Chair Rail Crown Molding
The chair rail is a style of trim that protects your walls from chairs touching it while also being aesthetically pleasing, generally in a dining room. Chair rails are commonly used for decoration.
They provide charm and warmth to the room while preventing the walls from scratches and damage. In order to transition between two various types of wall surfaces, it can also be utilized just for aesthetic reasons.
The popular design technique is to paint one side of the chair rail as well as wallpaper on the another. For a unique effect, you may use a different paint color, wallpaper design, or wall paneling for the portion of a wall that is below the chair rail.
9. Bead and Pearl Crown Molding
The bead and pearl moldings are the same styles that can be seen in a wide range of home fittings, such as trim and stair railings. They are made up of rows with symmetrical spherical patterns.
These moldings can have varying amounts of detail. The beads usually adopt the shape of items which include leaves, spindles, or darts. The crown molding and chair rails are commonly decorated with bead and pearl patterns.
10. Baseboard Crown Molding
In the majority of homes, baseboard molding is common. The baseboard is a plain finish that runs down the base of your wall, just above the floor. It is utilized to provide an attractive and protective border. In a contrast to crown molding, the simple baseboard is also a very popular style of trim.
It can be plain or decorated whenever combined with a quarter round or different types of trim. Baseboards are often thinner, compared to casings. Combining the two will result in a smooth appearance. Ensure that the style of your baseboards matches and does not conflict with the crown molding or decor above.
11. Picture Rail Crown Molding
The picture rail’s function is similar to that of a chair rail. You can hold paintings from it without damaging your walls because your screw is into the molding instead of the wall as they are placed a foot or two just below the ceiling. The picture rails are a style of molding that is positioned horizontally.
Additionally, it could be utilized to clarify a central focus on a wall or to provide a detailed and ornate framework for canvases. The picture rail has grown into a distinct decorative component throughout time.
Types Of Crown Molding Materials
There are various materials available for crown molding. The person’s own choice or financial restrictions are usually the main criteria when selecting between two options.
Examine each material to get an idea of which approach you would like for your house.
Wood
The most traditional form of crown molding is wood crown molding. If cost is not a consideration, natural wood is commonly the desired molding material.
It is not a material that everyone can pick up as well as deal with effectively because it requires expertise while going for cutting and placing.
It is created from a variety of wood types and it is available in a range of styles and finishes. It provides your room with a smooth and natural appearance which is hard to achieve with other materials.
MDF Board
MDF crown molding, which means “Medium Density Fiberboard,” is a combination made of sawdust and resins that have been crushed together.
A Primed medium-density fiberboard is a desirable option that is reasonably priced. It can be easily coated as well as comes in a thin veneer that can be stained.
MDF is a fantastic choice for living rooms as well as dining rooms equal due to its strength and adaptability to suit cabinets or flooring. MDF is inexpensive, lightweight, and simple to use.
Plaster
Plaster is a popular material for crown molding, just like wood. The plaster crown molding performs effectively in larger ornate designs with high ceilings, including two-story entry points, where it draws attention and produces a dramatic effect.
The plaster crown is expensive and needs to be installed by an expert. The cast material generates intricate features which are difficult to achieve with wood, and it does not shrink.
The installation and maintenance of plaster crown molding need careful handling due to its weight.
Metal
Metal crown molding is a fantastic option if you are looking for a highly distinct look in your house and are not against employing an expert to finish the installation for your home even though it is not a highly popular type of crown molding.
However, it is not an ideal material for the average householder to place because you need to avoid damaging the crown molding when placing it, as this can have a significant impact on how your room looks after it is completed.
PVC
The PVC crown molding is suitable for use in bathrooms, outdoors, or any place water is a certainty. PVC is a thermoplastic substance that is quite close to polyurethane.PVC has limited design choices than customizable plaster or wood.
It can be challenging to paint due to its slick surface, but painting is necessary to hide the plastic-like appearance. This product won’t twist or decay even if it gets quite moist because PVC is basically plastic.
Rubber Or Flex
This substance is extremely flexible, just as its names indicate. The rubber crown molding is a flexible and lightweight choice for curved areas.
It is quite functional but not particularly durable, making it prone to tears and cuts if not handled with attention.
Moreover, rubber has a natural shine that makes its surface appear less polished compared to other materials. The rubber shine of flex can be difficult to conceal and it needs a priming and paint finish.
Polyurethane
It is less costly compared to wood, but it is highly durable as well as resistant to insect and decay damage. Polyurethane is used in the majority of home areas and it is trouble-free.
It can be fixed with adhesive and is less expensive compared to others, but it will need several layers of paint and can easily be dented.
If you wish the appearance of painted wood, this is a wonderful all-around material. Rubber and plastic are combined to create lightweight polyurethane crown molding.
Polystyrene
If you want to modify your room fast and do not have a substantial amount of money or time to spend on the task, this kind of crown molding is excellent.
Construction adhesive is used to fix this material rather than nails as well as there is no requirement to polish the crown molding because it is extremely light and foamy and therefore, it is simple to cut with a sharp knife or set of scissors.
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Uses Of Crown Moldings
Nowadays, crown molding is mainly used for decoration. In the past, crown molding was used to hide cracks between both the ceiling and the wall.
Many people believe that crown molding is only used at the joint between the wall and the ceiling, however, it has much more applications. There are nine creative approaches to using crown moldings.
Doorways
The crown molding can be added to a door frame in the same way that it can be added to a window frame. The doorway can be made more noticeable by adding trim molding surrounding the present frame as well as crown molding on top. The house looks better with substantial frames.
Walls
Crown molding is commonly utilized at the top border of the wall to effectively enclose the space as well as make the area feel much more aesthetically attractive.
Windows
If you want your windows to have an additional wonder effect, add crown molding around the entire window frame, particularly at its top border to make the window seem bigger.
Ceilings
If you wish to place crown molding just on the ceiling as an aesthetic element or even to have the crown molding over the walls look thicker and better quality, you should go for molding that is made especially to be placed on ceilings.
In order to eliminate any concerns about its resting level throughout installation, it will be cut somewhat differently.
Mantels
Provide your fireplace with additional detailing to improve the look of the space. As for installing crown molding to a fireplace mantel, a room can be given a new design or can emphasize its vintage appearance. The trim can make the furniture much more attractive.
Cabinets
Crown molding will give your top cabinets more charm. The kitchen designer’s method is to use standard cabinets and afterward add crown molding over them to create an aesthetic that reaches the ceiling. Another involves using wood trim to make cabinet doors more attractive.
Hiding Wires
Hollow crown molding makes it easier to hide wires or cables whenever you change your home’s wiring. By concealing wire in your crown molding, you can hopefully avoid drilling holes in your walls.
Bookshelves
Add decorative crown molding to a basic bookshelf to give it more height and depth. Don’t ignore your bookshelves when adding the traditional appearance of crown molding across a space.
Corners
It is simple to be using wall crown molding as well as cut it at an angle so that it will join at the corners for a smoother transition from wall to wall, choosing a corner portion of crown molding will add extra appeal to the room and guarantee that your corners are clearly identified.
Conclusion
Crown molding provides a wonderful style improvement for your house. If Finding the perfect crown molding and raising the worth of your home are both possible when you take into consideration the theme and history of your house.
Using crown molding can significantly increase the attractiveness of your specific project, if you decide to use it along the tops of your walls or windows, as both a decorative feature on your furniture or even as part of your exterior.
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