Crown molding adds a "finished" look to any room. It is an architectural feature that fills the space between the top of a wall and the ceiling. Designs range from pure and simple to extremely ornate. Deciding what type and size of molding to use takes some time, but the reward is a beautifully designed room.
Instructions
1. Consider the style of your home and choose a that coordinates with it. Modern homes call for moldings with clean lines. More decorative and ornate designs go well in period-style homes. Visit the "Inviting Home" website to view an extensive catalog of molding designs.
2. Select a molding size appropriate for the ceiling height of the room. Pick out a wider molding for your rooms with tall ceilings. Crown molding is available in sizes from about 2 in. to 15 or 20 in. wide. Rooms with lower ceilings should have a molding of about 3 inches or less.
3. Buy a sample of the molding you are considering and put it up. If you can't get a sample, draw the design on a piece of paper cut to the height you are considering. Tape it in place and live with it for a few days to get a feel for the height.
4. Remember the crown molding should complement the baseboard and other architectural moldings in the room, such as a chair rail. A room with a variety of molding types looks best if the features are proportionate to one another in style and scale
5. Decide which material is best based on the finish you plan to use, and your budget. For staining, a high quality hardwood, such as oak, is the best choice. Softer woods like pine or spruce are less expensive and still good for staining or painting. Alternatives to wood are composites like fiberglass and polyurethane. Composites are the least expensive, the easiest to paint and last longer than wood. They are also ideal in the creation of designs and finishes that would be too costly to do with wood.
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