Find the Right Crown Molding
The right crown molding can transform a room. Providing that decorative look, it adds a visual aesthetic to any room. It also can give any project that custom look.
The key is finding the right crown molding. If you’re working with a large enough room, you can use more than one piece of trim to assemble a larger molding. The beauty is that there are endless combinations. However, the most common is to use a piece of baseboard on the wall first, installed upside down, then put the crown on top of that. Remember to leave the bottom few inches of the base exposed.
To find the right crown molding, there are several considerations that can help you make the right choice for your job, including considering the height of the ceiling, the crown molding materials and color.
Measure up
It all starts with the height of the ceiling you’re working with. The right crown molding must be sized according the volume of the room to work well. If it’s too small, it will seem insignificant and look out of place. If it’s too large, it will make the room itself seem small and be overpowering.
For example, for low 8-foot ceilings, you shouldn’t use crown molding that’s more than 3-inches wide. Any wider than that and the molding will make the room seem even smaller than it already is.
In a room in which ceilings are between 9 feet and 10 feet high, use molding that is between 4 1/4 and 6 inches. This will enable you to be a little more creative with the shape. For ceilings over 10 feet high, you need to go custom, i.e., combine multiple pieces of trim for that stacked look. There is a right size for every room.
All about the materials
Before approaching your project, check what type of crown molding material you’re going to need. There are several types of crown molding to choose from – wood, plaster, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and polyurethane. The most popular material is wood, which is readily available and offered in myriad finishes. The only thing to be mindful of with wood is that it can warp in humid conditions.
Plaster is an ideal choice if you are looking to customize the project. In addition, it will not warp from humidity.
MDF is a composite made of sawdust and resin. If you’re looking for a trim that looks like wood but at a lower expense, go with MDF.
Finally, polyurethane crown molding is durable against temperature and other elements.
Color, color, color
The good thing about crown molding is that it comes in just about any color you want. If you are working with a wall color other than white, you’ll want a color in a different shade to accent the transition from wall to ceiling.
To note, many designers choose to make the crown molding the same color as the ceiling. Just make sure the color you select works with the other colors in the room. It’s also a good idea to make all trim – baseboard, crown molding, etc. – the same color.
