If you are looking for architectural features that could increase the value of your house, you should consider installing crown molding.

Not only does it add the scent of royalty to your home, but it will make it feel well-grounded and stern. However, you may not share the courtesy of living in an older house with ready crown moldings, so – if you own a contemporary household – you may feel that it feels a bit empty.

This is where we step into the game. In this guide, we will accompany you with pros and cons of having a crown molding; moreover, we’ll take you through the crown molding installation process and, above all, we will sell our smartest tips to you, so that you can embrace this outstanding architectural feature, regardless of the height of your ceiling.

Shall we?

How to incorporate crown moldings into a high ceiling?

Crown molding in a traditional open plan family room. | Photo by: Sutton Suzuki Architects

For ceilings that are 10 feet (or more), you should leave 1 inch of width for one foot of ceiling height from both sides. This will, of course, fail with low ceiling, as it would seem ridiculous, if you applied a molding that is of an 8-inches width, for a ceiling that is 8 feet tall, wouldn’t it?

Remember to leave room for some asymmetry. For example, if you own a traditional house with high ceilings, you can use a simple crown molding to balance bold decor elements with the neutral backdrop or major furniture pieces. Should you have a wallpapered wall in your living room, for instance, a smooth crown molding will make a perfect design counter for it.

Last but not least, we will shed light on high ceilings mixed with wide, open-plan spaces. For such a combination, it’s best to consider neutrally lined furniture and color palette so that the room feels more welcoming. At this point, we will reject the contrast – instead, we will go with a crown molding that is also lined and simple. This way, you will attain the feeling of harmony and order in your house.

As you can see, high ceilings go extremely well with crown moldings, as they use the space to its very maximum. If you’re lucky enough to have high ceilings in your home, then you can also play with both the bold decorative accents and the backdrop of the room.

But what if you have a low ceiling? Don’t worry, there is still hope that you will go well with crown moldings, as well.

How to incorporate crown molding into a low ceiling?

Low ceiling kitchen with crown molding, white cabinets and gloss countertop. | Photo by: Charlotte Case Remodeling

Let’s face it – for most of us, having high ceilings is a luxury they can’t afford. With that said, we would like to underline the fact that it doesn’t mean you cannot endow your home with crown moldings. What you need do keep in mind, though, is the scale of the room, along with its style and overall equipment.

For low, say, 8-9-feet tall ceilings, you should treat your crown moldings as a framework for the room. It ought to be lined and simple; thanks to this, it will go well with traditional furniture or wall decor, e.g. a gallery wall. Should you search for a universal solution for a crown molding in a modern and a traditional household, you may well use deeply stained wood moldings – they make a statement without being too bodacious.

Speaking of the aforementioned scale, consider the crown molding as a trim for your windows or walls. With that in mind, you will be able to play with bolder crown molding patterns without disturbing the overall layout of your house.

Sometimes, homeowners believe they are cursed by having wide walls and low ceilings. In fact, they can take the advantage of their conditions by installing a molding that is 3-5 inches wide so that it leaves plenty of space around the ceiling; such a setup will make your walls look taller than they are in reality. Now, if you own an outstandingly detailed chandelier, it is high time you made use of it – it will make a gorgeous focal point.

How to install a crown molding?

While some people like to use a hand of a contractor, others like to proudly call themselves handymen. However, for many of them, installing a crown molding sounds like an intimidating prospect. Fortunately, we’ve come with a straightforward guide that leaves no stone unturned.

Take necessary measurements and purchase your molding

To find your dream crown molding, you will have to shop around an impressive number of retailers, as moldings come in various styles and sizes. Keep in mind that the angle the molding sits against the wall is between 38 and 52 degrees, so – as said in the heading – take the necessary measurements before you visit any shop.

• Smart tip: Although some moldings are produced from the plaster of Paris, the immense majority is made of wood. With that said, you should let your crown molding sit in your house for a few days before cutting and nailing it – the wood will contract or expand, depending on your house’s humidity conditions, so let it adjust. Otherwise, it may warp or crack, should you neglect that step.

Cut your crown molding to achieve the right angle

This is way easier said than done; the molding sits against your wall at an angle, so each joint will make a complex angle. To make it fit smoothly against each piece, you can prepare a guide fence for a miter saw to cut both pieces or you can ask for such a service at the store you bought the molding. We recommend the latter, as not only will you know the necessary measurements, but you will also ensure your molding pieces will fit perfectly against the walls.

Nail the lengths

To begin with, we will have to deal with the first length of molding and, after that, we should take care of the others.

• Nailing the first length in place: First and foremost, take a second person to assist you with the task. He or she will position the molding while you handle the nailing. The core thing is to scarf the joint on the first piece of molding by applying a thin layer of glue. Adjoin the construction, get your finish nails and fasten it with them. Should there appear any excess glue, get rid of it immediately.
• Nailing the rest f the molding: This works pretty as much as described above. Again, it will be way easier to have a friend to give you a hand. However, you might encounter one issue at this stage; it appears when a corner joint does not fit. In this case, use a rasp to grind down extra wood until you find your match.

Smoothen the surface

Use a sandpaper for completing scarf joints on wood. If you have a pre-finished white crown, smoothen it with paint-on white caulk. The caulk will also soften the nail holes and any other imperfections on the crown’s surfaces.

Paint your crown molding

Powder room with granite counter, light brown walls, dark chocolate wood cabinets and wall lighting. | Photo by: Ink Architecture

Grab a brush and a bucket of paint. For working with crown moldings, it’s recommended to use enamel paints, as they are dedicated to this task. They dry more quickly and they produce less bad smells than their competitive counterparts. The brush used for finishing your crown molding should have the ability paint sharp and clean lines easily, which is the feature of angle sash brushes. Spread the paint evenly, without any haste. Although the standard color for a crown molding is white, you can play with many hues, as long as they match the overall design of your interior.

Some people decide to paint their moldings before installation. As convenient as it sounds, the molding will require repainting anywhere the paint is lost during the installation process.

Right, now that you are equipped with technical knowledge and you’ve laid solid ground for installing your molding, it’s high time you got acquainted with molding materials that are available on the market.

• Hardwood: As said before, it is the most popular material chosen for crown moldings. It provides a finished look and is eco-friendly. Moreover, it adds color and warmth to any room. Hardwood moldings allow us to make patterns on our trims, as the material is routable.
• Softwood: this material is mostly made of aspen or pine and it’s usually cheaper than hardwood. Furthermore, softwood moldings are easier to cut and are more resistant to cracking and warping.
• Polyurethane: It’s perfect for households built in locations, in which weather tends to be fussy. Polyurethane is resistant to scratching, erosion, and bad weather conditions and, although not as nature-friendly as the two former counterparts, it’s the most durable one. The only drawback is that it comes in only one color, i.e. white, as the material does not stand stains and paints.
• MDF: This material wood-based, which means it uses wood fibers combined with artificial resin. Not only is it inexpensive, but it is also the most versatile material for crown moldings, for you can cover it with any high-quality latex paint to get the unique finish.
• Metal: Although mostly used for exteriors, crown moldings made of metals, such as copper, steel or aluminum, make a strong and dazzling accent point in industrial lofts, for example. It is installed like any traditional molding; what is in its favor, though, is the simplicity, with which the metal molding is cut.

Traditional living room with decorative crown molding, upholstered armchairs, round dining table and large windows. | Photo by: SV Design

Although we’ve already said much about crown moldings as a precious decor element, one simply cannot be a know-it-all without squeezing out all the juice from the subject; Given this, we have prepared a short list of smart moves that will help you add more value to your home by simply playing with crown molding.

3 tips that will enhance your design with crown moldings

• So, you own a small and narrow bathroom and you don’t know a jack about adding some timeless elegance to the room? Combine the crown molding on your ceiling with a wall mirror right above the sink. This way, you will attain the look of a very wide crown molding, which is going to make your space larger and more glamorous.
• Combine different types of molding: Monotonous space can kill the whole interior, so it’s advisable to play with different types of a crown molding. For instance, you can lay the simple lined molding first, then put a narrow patterned trim and finish it with another layer of simple molding. It will add an ancient-like vibe to your home, especially if you decide to go for bold art on your walls or an animal-themed rug on the floor.
• Use the same molding for a uniform celing around the house, and pick various crown moldings for a house with different ceiling heights. You see, if your rooms are similar in proportion and the ceiling is universal all around the house, the same molding will provide a nice design flow. On the other hand, when your entryway ceiling is 11 feet tall and other rooms are endowed with ceilings that are 8 or 9 ft. tall, then it’s wise to consider different types of moldings in order to create the unique and personalized design in your home.

Well, I said I will leave no stone unturned for crown moldings. Now you know I do not speak idly.