Popular Crown Moldings Styles

Popular Crown Molding Styles

Crown moldings are the pearl of interior decor. Set to frame the wall and ceiling, it brings together the various decor elements and completes a room. Crown molding hides imperfections along the wall or ceiling edges and is a functional component with an aesthetic addition.

Crown molding has decorated palatial structures and homes since ancient Romans and Greek periods. In the lifetime since then, they have shifted in style to match the evolving architecture.

In this article, we shall visit popular crown molding styles, from traditional to craftsman and modern designs.

Traditional Crown Molding

Traditional crown molding mostly incorporates wood material. They are heavily ornate and set as a grand part of the elaborate rooms they frame. Because of their intricate design and material, they are delicate to install and require professional hands.

Traditional crown molding styles include dentils, which are a repetitive pattern of evenly-spaced blocks. Dentil molding sits pretty around Victorian indoor doorways and ceilings and along exterior rooflines. However, molding can be costly because it is relatively more expensive to manufacture and needs a lot of manpower to install. Cove styles are simple and concave-shaped to fit non-modern rooms like a glove. They are easily distinguishable by their shape and have beautified ceilings for centuries.

Traditional wood molding is heavy and enduring like the ancient homes it is likely to be found in. It withstands the pressures of time, staying firm against damage and decay. Nonetheless, the trim requires adequate maintenance to preserve its high quality.

Craftsman Crown Molding

The industrial age of the 19th century brought the revival of classical and gothic home styles. In the late 1800s, reformers like William Morris, an English poet and designer, championed for a return to more basic architectural styles.

They steered the Arts and Crafts movement, arguing that the spirit of medieval craftsmanship was lost to mechanization. This era encouraged the use of local materials to construct a building and design asymmetry instead of the uniformity prevalent at the time. The arts and crafts period gave way to modernism and the architectural styles we have today.

Craftsman designs emphasize simplicity and crown molding will often come in small, simple layouts. They convey a silent modern quality far-flung from traditional styles that take up space by themselves. Craftsman molding complements bungalow or arts and craft styles by providing a clean transition from walls to ceilings.

Craftsman molding easily flows above a fireplace overmantel or kitchen cabinets, giving the impression of continuity. It balances windows that have a wide casing and frames exposed beams. Match craftsman molding with other trim in the room, like window casing and baseboard molding for a neat look. The harmony could be in the design, size, or color of the varying trim.

Modern Crown Molding

Modern home designs emphasize minimalist styles. They use cool materials and designs like steel and concrete, aiming for less obstructions and more space. As such, modern crown molding profiles lean towards elegant simplicity.

Unlike ancient wood moldings that are often elaborate to fit the room style, modern trim blends in by its plain profile. Modern styles incorporate versatile functions for crown molding like providing a lining for soft ambient lights. The trim also makes accent pieces like shelves and picture frames. Materials such as polyurethane and MDF are cheaper alternatives to more traditional wood, but offer a similar warm look and feel. They are flexible, durable, and easy to install in multiple areas of a house interior or exterior.

Transitional Crown molding

Some homes seem to embody the qualities of traditional and modern architecture. Consider wide, open spaces with old designs and fittings.

These rooms are not bound by particular decor rules and can be decorated as the transitional areas that they are. Transitional molding combines ancient and modern elements, borrowing the decorative features of old styles and the simple layout of modern profiles. They are not so ostentatious that they obviously fill up a room, yet are bold enough to be an accent by themselves.

Transitional molding comes in multiple materials including wood, MDF, and polyurethane.

Crown molding may have evolved through the ages but it continues to serve its aesthetic and functional purposes. Whether sticking to the original style or going for a remake, the ideal molding will depend on the structure of the space. Consult a professional if you would like to evaluate the available options.