If your home was built recently and lacks charm and character there are a few ways to bring some appeal back into your home, with molding. We’re always looking for ways to add a little something extra to our homes and this is one relatively easy way to do just that.
When you go into an older home, you often hear people remark about the crown molding or the detail of the home. When you go into newer homes, I know I tend to look for a chair rail or wainscoting in the room, I feel it gives those cookie cutter homes the extra added touch it needs to stand out. With the “flip this house” mentality we’ve gotten so used to these days, a bit of molding can really take any room up a notch.
Let’s start with Crown Molding
The Definition of Crown Molding from Merriam-Webster is: molding that crowns a surface or structure; especially molding that runs between the top of an internal wall and a ceiling.
Crown molding is considered a patterned piece of wood, (or other material), used to decorate or outline something, for example a window or door frame. It is used both on the interior and exterior of your home but for now I’ll focus on crown molding as a decorative architectural choice inside your home, particularly on the ceiling.
If you’re not too keen on do-it-yourself projects then this may not be the best time to start. However a good handy person or contractor could do this for you quickly and inexpensively. But for those of us brave enough or handy enough to give this project a try, you’ll get big results for little cost. Also don’t be shy when going to a Home Depot or Lowes, most of these places have an area where you can measure and cut what you need right on the spot, there are always people there that are willing to assist and to give you a quick lesson if time allows. If this is your first time doing molding you may need a quick lesson on how to cut the corner pieces, this is key to the success of this project. There are also plenty of videos online as well.
They do of course make these beautiful decorative crown molding pieces to put in the corners to make those “hard to cut and get just right” corners looking a little nicer.
The Chair Rail
The Definition of Chair Rail from Merriam-Webster is: a wooden molding on a wall around a room to protect the wall from being damaged by the backs of chairs.
These chair rails were once considered a must have in the home to prevent, marks, holes and scrapes on the walls. Now days they are a quick and easy way to bring an added touch to most any room, not just a dining room or kitchen.
Chair rails are also a great way to separate the top section of the wall from the bottom. Sounds like a very obvious statement but from my perspective it really breaks up a room in many ways. As seen here, you can simply break up the room with a white chair rail, but keep both the color on top and on the bottom the same.
Or you can paint the bottom half the same color as the trim and paint the top half the color of the room. This gives the room a very different look from the option above.
Another way to use a chair rail is to separate two different patterns of wallpaper. In the same color pattern but the top could be floral or bold stripes and the bottom could be a simple smaller stripe.
Now to my favorite! Wainscot
The Definition of Wainscot from Merriam-Webster is: to line with or as if with boards or paneling.
If I had my choice, My home would be lined with Wainscoting and molding. There is something so striking to me about a room that has this detail ¾ of the way up the wall. I just love the way it looks.
There are so many options to choose from when designing a room. You can put this type of detailing at chair rail height or you can put the wainscoting ¾ the way up your walls. Some people like it all over their walls and ceiling, etc. There is no right or wrong, it is just a matter of taste.
For example a dining room. Many people opt to put the chair rail up and then do the molding below for added detail and charm (see above). Others would prefer it up most of the wall with a possible shelf on top to display plates, crystal or china (see below). The beauty of doing this molding is that you can really focus on the color of the paint you want to use. You don’t have to worry what the whole room will look like, will it be too dark or light? It won’t matter as much because the amount of painted surface is at minimum, cut in half. So pick a bold or bright color. Pick the one you have always wanted to try but couldn’t imagine it fillign up all four walls.
Another option is up your staircase. This takes your staircase from an after thought to a well thought of section in your home.
Here is an example (below) of a great play on a few ideas I’ve shared with you. First, I love the white walls, second the wainscoting looks beautiful in the nice rich blue and of course the interior door has been painted. To me this is a fantastic interpretation of the more traditional examples I have shown. They took the idea and did the opposite and with great results.
…………And don’t forget the details
Can’t seem to figure out what kind of painting or piece of artwork could possibly fill that large space? Why not try some detailed molding. I feel confident in saying not only will it give the room a wow factor, as seen below but it also will cost a lot less than a large, framed piece of artwork.
Don’t overlook even the smallest place for a bit of molding. As seen here, even a plate around a light fixture or chandelier can really add that extra touch to your home.
I see these small elements and I think that the person really does care about the way their home looks. Since our homes are most likely the largest ticketed items we’ll ever own, why not give them the special added touches that can take them from a drab home and turn them into a fab home in no time.
So whether you like molding all throughout your space, or just want to add a few touches here and there as long as it fits your style, you simply cannot go wrong with molding.
Until Next time, Happy Designing!
