Who Says Crown Moulding is Only for traditional houses?

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 06, 2009 – Popularized in Georgian homes of the 1700’s, many people have the misconception that crown mouldings are only appropriate in traditional, houses with lots of architectural trim However, crown mouldings have been used for centuries to brighten up rooms and add character to the other wise darkened creases between walls and ceilings.

Though simple flat mouldings can be used at the top of walls, they typically don’t make the same impact on the eye. In contrast, crown mouldings--simple profiles to the very ornate—always have one or more surfaces that reflect light back at different angles into the room and turn otherwise lifeless cracks into architectural highlights.

Your home may not be able to feature the largest crown moulding profiles that can stretch up to a foot into the ceiling or wall area. However, with the variety of profile widths currently available (some as small as 1 1/2'”) and range of styles running from very simple to extremely ornate, you can choose just the right moulding to dress up your room.

With so many options, how do you select the right size and shape for your particular situation? Though some people can just go to a store that carries a variety of crown mouldings and visualize how a profile might look in their home, most of us need a little more help.

The best way to select the right crown moulding height, depth, and design for your situation is to work with a store that will give you free of charge a number of profiles to take home—or invite a moulding professional to bring samples to you. Then you can hold them up in place and see how the light in your home will play off the curves and lines of the crown moulding profile.

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Some people use crown moldings only in their larger, public rooms—such as the living room and dining room. However, crown mouldings can dress up any area of the home—bedrooms, studies, bathrooms, and kitchens. In those areas you will probably select a smaller version of that used in a living room. Rarely can a home support more than two sizes of crown moulding without looking too busy. If a smaller version is not available, you should make sure that the smaller moulding complements the main crown moulding you have chosen.

Can you install it yourself? Though home craftsman have been installing crown moulding for centuries, it can be a very challenging operation. Unlike base or casing mouldings, crown is installed at an angle further complicating the measuring and cutting. It often requires the use of blocks cut at the correct angle to hold the moulding against the wall and the ceiling. It is helpful to have a large enough hand mitering or power mitering setup to hold the moulding properly and angle it  in place while you make the cuts.

To ensure you can successfully join outside and inside corners together, you need to be very patient and cut each piece accurately in both length and miter. And for best results coping inside corners is the preferred method. For that reason, when it comes to crown moulding many people prefer to hire a professional who has both the equipment and the know-how to handle any substantial crown moulding project.