Scope out the wide variety of molding styles and start accessorizing your walls
By Amy Rose Dobson
When it comes to molding, people are beginning to think outside the crown. While elaborate moldings add beauty and sophistication to the traditional homes they adorn, the selection is no longer limited to stacked, intricate designs.
Choose a style
Richard Feldman, of Just Moulding in Gaithersburg, Md., says homeowners use molding to quickly upgrade the look of a room without having to invest a lot of time, money and hassle. They can choose something as simple as a clean-lined 1-by-8-inch or 1-by-10-inch size, perhaps with a simple backband. Or they can go the distance and have wainscoting installed all around the room.
Feldman adds that homeowners often don’t realize that molding can mean much more than trimming the perimeter of the room. “We can do a lot with doors and windows too. For doorways we can put headers across the top and place an ornamental shelf that complements the rest of the room. Windows can stand out a lot more if they have trim around them rather than just drywall.”
Molding can also be used on the inside of a tray ceiling or to create fireplace mantles. Feldman says another dramatic use for molding is to create a paneling effect on the side of a staircase. A few pieces of molding can completely transform the overall impact of the stairs.
Molding can be made from wood, PVC, polystyrene, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and other materials. In some of the homes around the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, D.C., you might find old plaster molding from England. That is very expensive, however, and thus, difficult to replace or repair.
Make it match
When deciding which type of molding to incorporate, consider things such as style, proportion and consistency throughout the house. If you remove or add a new wall, it is best to match what is in the other rooms. Scott MacIntyre, of MacIntyre Painting in Silver Spring, Md., often encounters molding when repainting a home. A bulk of his jobs require repairing or painting existing molding in an effort to unify the appearance of the walls with the outdated or worn trim work. According to MacIntyre, people are becoming slightly more adventurous when it comes to color, but for the most part moldings tend to come in the traditional colors of white and off-white. However, homes with a natural-wood look are best off choosing stained options to remain consistent.
Whatever colors your walls, adding accents will bring in a new level of sophistication. During your next remodel, be sure to take a closer look at molding choices to find the option that suits your style best.
