If you’re looking for a simple way to enhance your home’s interior, consider adding crown molding. It can add character, ceiling height and elegance to any room and beautiful details to built-ins and cabinets. Crown molding is an easy, affordable way to give your home unique style and design appeal.

Types of Molding

Crown molding comes in a wide variety of sizes with patterns from plain to ornate to complement any interior design style. Contemporary interiors work best with plainer patterns that enhance the simplicity of contemporary and modern design. Traditional interiors work best with more decorative crown moldings that enhance elegant textiles, oriental rugs and tapestries, and stately antiques that are often found in traditional rooms. You can purchase crown molding in natural wood or synthetic materials.

* Wood Moldings – Wood offers a natural grain that looks beautiful when stained. Natural wood moldings are more expensive than synthetic moldings, but they provide a warm, rich look to any room in the house.

* Polyurethane Moldings – If you want painted moldings, polyurethane moldings are cheaper, lightweight and easy to install. Unlike wood moldings, they will not warp, crack or expand with temperature changes.

Ceiling Height

You can install crown moldings with any ceiling height, but you need to choose the right size. If your home has standard eight-foot ceilings, choose a small molding with a simple design. By using a molding that projects upward, you can make your ceilings appear taller. If your home has ceilings that are 10 feet or higher, you can use larger moldings with fancier designs. Don’t use large, heavy, decorative crown moldings in rooms with low ceilings. This will make your ceilings feel even lower than they already are by drawing your eye directly to the ceiling when you enter the room.

Special Designs

* Lighted Moldings – These moldings add a soft, ambient glow to a room. They come in a two-piece system with lights in the lower molding that projects upward, illuminating the upper molding and the ceiling.

* Curved Moldings – If you have a room with a curved wall, polyurethane moldings are flexible and conform easily to any shape. Don’t attempt to install wood moldings on a curved surface. They aren’t flexible enough and will likely break or crack during installation.

For more information on crown moldings for your home, talk to a contractor in your area to receive your free quote.