As the name suggests, crown molding is the crown jewel of good decor. It has the power to transform a room and bestow timeless beauty. It is also fairly easy to install with the right, handy tools and the correct joint angles.

Yet if it is not well thought out, the result will be a tacky finish that is out of place. It is quite easy to overuse or misuse crown molding:

❖     It will not sit nicely in a room that is plain and has no other adornment because it will not fit the lay-out.

❖     In a room with other decor pieces, these have to blend well with the crown molding otherwise they won’t achieve symbiosis.

❖     Crown molding is best paired with other trim pieces such as baseboard or wainscot.

With these in mind, you will be well on your way to achieving a fantastic finish that will leave the room looking and feeling spectacular.

Where to install crown molding

1.   Between the wall and ceiling

This is the most popular use for crown molding and with good reason. When fitted nicely at the point where the wall and ceiling meet, it provides a smoother and more outstanding transition. It breaks the monotony of a plain wall or ceiling. Moreover, if you have an additional decor piece such as a ceiling medallion, a good piece of crown molding complements it.

To make clean joints of the crown molding trim, make use of mitered or coped joints. Mitered joints will be ideal for outside corners while coped joints will give a more polished fit for inside corners.

For an extra flourish, crown molding can be paired with corner blocks. These will be tasteful additions that also help to hide any gaps or misalignments that may result from imperfectly angled joints.

2.   To spruce up cabinet soffits

Cabinet soffits are the box-like spaces left between cabinets and the ceiling. They can come in handy where they are used to hide elements such as pipes or wiring. They can also be used for decorative purposes.

Some home-owners opt to not have the soffits all together and do this by extending the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Others frame the space and cover it with a drywall surface. Those who prefer to keep the soffits for aesthetics add finishing trim to make it more outstanding.

One such fantastic idea is to add crown molding along the top edge of the cabinets. The molding is installed in a manner such that the top of the crown molding will hang freely in mid-air.

This addition will have the extra benefits of hiding uneven or sloppy-looking cabinet edges while creating a beautiful contrast to the kitchen or any other room.

While putting up the molding, be sure that the color blends well with the cabinet. Try a similar paint coat that will match the cabinet lining or if more daring, use a color that will add to the overall look, not diminish it.

3.   On entry door

An entry door header can be superbly adorned by installing crown molding along the top. The upper part of the molding will hang in mid-air like the cabinet soffings. To achieve a smooth finish, return pieces will need to be cut and installed. These will hide the open ends of the molding and give a complete finishing.

For harmony, paint the molding the same color as the header and the doorway trim.

4.   Over an interior doorway

Exemplary decor extends to the finish done even over doorways to different rooms. Good trim will especially be necessary for these areas because when doors are put up, a gap is often left between the frame and the wall that simply cannot be left bare.

Wall passages that do not have mounted doors will not always require trim addition. Even so, crown molding will go a long way in making it all the more delightful and give the entry to the living or dining room a more majestic air.

 If a room has detailed trim or a coffered ceiling for instance, adding crown molding to the doorway will provide a smooth introduction and transition into this style.

As you finish off the crown molding, remember to cut returns. These are used to return the molding back to the wall at a right angle, hiding the open ends.

5.   To accentuate partial walls

Some walls extend upwards to stop just before they have joined the ceiling. These include closets that are built into high-walled rooms that will discontinue before the ceiling. To give these a smoother transition, try a crown molding.

Like the cabinet soffings, the top of the crown molding will be left suspended in mid-air. This set-up is awesome if you want to have interesting add-ons such as rope lights or fairy lights to give the bedroom an extra personal touch.

 Wherever you finally install the crown molding, pay more attention to the complete look of the room rather than the effect of the separate decor components. This is because the crown molding in itself may be spectacular and beautifully installed, but becomes overbearing or mis-matched with all else.

Pay attention also to how well the joints are done. Unfortunately, if they are sloppy- misaligned or leaving gaps, the overall effect will be poor. Be patient as you cut the angles and aim for perfect measurements.