Decorative Trim

Crown Molding and More

Interior trim usually refers to ceiling molding (or crown molding), base molding, or door and window molding. Ceiling molding covers the gap between the wall and the ceiling, base molding covers the gap between the floor and the walls, and door and window casing trims the gaps between doors and windows and the surrounding wall.

Crown moldings come in various sizes; the size of the space and the height of the ceiling should determine the crown moldings you choose. Crown moldings about 5-1/2 inches wide are often used in rooms with 8-foot ceilings. If you have a particularly large space with high ceilings, you can consider installing crown molding that is wider—the wider the molding, the lower the ceiling will seem. In rooms with high ceilings, you can use crown molding with a width of about 1 inch for every foot of ceiling height.

The base molding should complement the door and window casings. The standard pieces of a baseboard include the base, a base cap, and a shoe molding. You can install simple one-piece moldings, or you can combine a base with a base cap and shoe molding for a more substantial look.

Door and window casings usually have the same trim work. Most trim styles are either tapered or square. Tapered casings are usually mitered at corners, and square styles are ideal for pairing with decorative corner blocks or rosette corner blocks. Decorative molding around a door establishes the transition and sets the mood for entering the next space.

The way you plan to finish your trim project can help you determine the best wood to choose. Unfinished solid-wood molding is available in two grades, and one trim grade is more appropriate than the other depending on whether you plan to paint or stain the wood. Stain-grade molding can be made from a softwood or hardwood and is usually free of knots or blemishes.

Paint-grade molding is usually made from pine, but medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is another trim option. MDF is an engineered wood product that comes primed and ready to paint. It's less likely to expand and contract with the changes in weather as real wood does.

Remember to select trim and crown molding styles based on the architectural style of your new addition. There are many profile choices; visit your home center or lumberyard to get samples of different types of trim profiles. Lay out your trim samples in the addition and see how they look in the space. At this time, you can also experiment with different types of paint and stain for your trim.