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| Traditional style crown. |
Many clients ask if they can use crown molding if they have low ceilings. With ceiling heights of 10-13' in many homes, can you use moldings with an 8' ceiling? Yes! Crown molding is the decorative interior trim used where the walls and ceilings meet. It is intended to draw the eye upwards, hence making lower ceiling rooms appear taller. Check out these tips on selecting and finishing crown molding:
- Choose a style that coordinates with the style of your home. Deep profiles with heavy detail are perfect for traditional homes, but generally not in a contemporary style home. Use simple moldings for the latter.
- Crown should not overpower a room. The width can be 1/2"-1" of depth for each foot of ceiling height.
- As with wood flooring, let your molding acclimate to the humidity in your home by sitting for several days.
- It's smart to prime and paint before molding is installed in the room. Wood, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and composite materials are commonly used. Once installed, you can touch up nail holes. Be sure to prime the back as well.
- Consider special inside and outside corner details for a custom look.
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| Inside corner detail. |
- Don't use the same white paint as your ceiling. Try a slightly different shade so your molding stands out. Depending upon the home, you can use satin, semi-gloss or high gloss finishes. For texture and depth of color, try a specialty glaze. It will highlight the details of the crown, adding a more custom look.
