Easy Ways to Use Molding at Home

March 28th, 2010

Thomas Drake

If you’re looking for a great way to enhance the décor of your home and highlight certain features, consider decorative molding. It gives any room a polished and attractive look, adding style and character to the walls, ceilings, and flooring. If you’re looking for different places in your home to use decorative molding, here are some suggestions.

Use Decorative Molding around the Ceiling
Decorative molding is most commonly used around the ceiling. The ever popular decorative crown molding gives a sophisticated and polished look to the ceiling and walls. By hanging the molding right where the wall meets the ceiling, you can add a decorative touch to an otherwise boring area. You should be able to find this type of molding in a range of sizes, anywhere from 3” to 12” in width.

Use Decorative Molding along the Floor
Another typical place where people like to put decorative molding on around the flooring space. The installation for this type of molding is similar to ceiling molding, as it is placed where the floor meets the wall. What this basically does is finish the wall into the floor, giving the room a polished look. Commonly called baseboard, this type of molding is both decorative and functional, as it protects the walls from those scratches and scrapes made by furniture and other objects.

Use Decorative Molding along a Wall
Use decorative molding to create what is called a chair rail. Typically, you place the molding slightly lower than the middle of the wall. Then you run the molding all around the length of the room. People will often incorporate a chair rail into their décor, placing wainscoting or painting the lower half of the wall. A chair rail is a great way to add some style and interest to a wall without going overboard.

Use Decorative Molding around a Window
When you install decorative molding around a window, you really highlight that area, which ultimately works to play up the beauty of the light coming in. Decorative molding around a window will also seal any gaps you have between the window and the wall to prevent air from entering or escaping the house. Keep in mind, though, that the bottom of the molding will most likely require a sill that matches the rest of the molding.

Use Decorative Molding around a Door
Just as with windows, doors can also benefit from a decorative molding accent. For those rooms where you’ve already installed molding on the windows, try to find matching molding for the door. As it does with the windows, molding around the door will cover any gaps or leaks. Not only does this make things more efficient, but it covers any blemishes, adding to the style and appeal of the overall décor.

These are only a few suggestions as to how decorative molding can be used in your home. One thing to remember is that if you use molding in multiple areas of a room, it’s probably a wise decision to use the same style everywhere. When you choose molding that’s the same color, width, or design, it really pulls the room together and what results is a cohesive look to the décor.

About the Author…
For over 4 decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection solid mission furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Are you searching for wood bookcases for your study area or a oak coffee table for your living room then they probably have everything you need.