Painting will also give you the freedom to use manufactured wood molding (called MDF for short). MDF is a particle board that is much cheaper than cherry molding, straighter and easier to work with, too. Painting and staining molding that is up requires taping off and a lot of detail work. This is the last step in preparation, but make sure you have a proper working surface so that your hands are not up too high as you work. Painting the edges in unnecessary.

You don’t have to tear down walls or uproot your house just to give a room a new look. Thankfully, you can radically alter your decor simply by changing your molding and trim. Along with a splash of new paint and new window treatments, molding replacements are the easiest way to add definition and style to a room.

Basically, crown molding is the bridge between your walls and the ceiling and it’s an architectural accent that really makes a room shine. Typically, home improvement retailers sell a range of pre-milled molding that can be installed easily. If you plan to stain the wood, opt for pure wood crown molding. However, if you want to paint it, opt for wood composite, finger-jointed wood, or urethane as a way of lowering costs.

Urethane molding can also be installed using adhesive, making it cheaper and easier to put up than traditional wood milling. For custom milled molding, you’ll need to consult a woodworking shop, but this can be very expensive.

Remember, stock molding may not look like much on the shelf at the lumberyard, but once you get it painted and installed, it can add a lot of personality to a room.

How to Choose a Molding

When choosing a molding, always maintain a consistent scale from ceiling to floor. It can be tempting to put in an imposingly wide crown molding, but if you’re pairing it with a tiny base room, the balance of the room won’t work.

For a more traditional or formal look, choose molding that’s ornate or intricately milled. Simple designs are typically more modern or contemporary.

How to Install Molding

First, never assume that two walls or two surfaces are going to meet at a 90-degree angle. Always measure and adjust your cutting accordingly to avoid unpleasant gaps.

Second, invest in the proper tools. With the right equipment, your installation will be easier and look better. Remember, crown molding installation requires precise cuts. So, before you even start, practice in a few extra pieces before you make your final cuts.

If you can, invest in specialty corner pieces or plinth blocks that will make your corners a lot easier. They’re easier to install and you’ll find they stand up better to seasonal changes.

Finally, always pre-finish the molding before you install it. Paint or stain it a few days before you plan to use it, and then give it lots of time to dry before you put it up.

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This is considered one of the tougher projects because of the complicated aspect of cutting the corners and so much work done above your head. If you’re aren’t used to that expect your muscles to be sore for a few days.

2. If you’re using a miter box to miter saw to cut crown modling you can flip the molding upside down and flats on the backside of the against the table and fence.

3. Powered miter saws are very accurate and some thing easier to use. The base swivels and locks into place and they have large blades that cut cleanly (if sharp).

By definition, a molding is an ornamental piece of wood, metal, or plaster, used to decorate or outline something. It can be used on the interior or exterior of a home. Moldings frame walls, ceilings, windows, and door openings. Examples of moldings used to decorate with are baseboards, crown molding, and chair rails. Today, I want to talk exclusively about crown molding as a decorative architectural choice.

Crown molding, also referred to as crown moulding, or cornice, is probably the most important architectural accent used to detail any interior space. Most interior designers today would agree that every room can be improved with the use of crown molding. Crown molding smoothes the transition from the wall to the ceiling and does a wonderful job of defining the architectural style of a room. The size and style of crown molding used may vary widely, from a simple cove in a farmhouse kitchen to a large built-up cornice in a grand entry.

The initial use of a cornice in building design is anyone’s guess. By the time the ancient Greeks had gained power, rules had already been created to define the use and design of crown molding. Originally, it was used as a structural element to help support the weight of the roof. It also served to keep water away from the building, thus protecting the lower walls and the foundation. However, the use of cornice as a decorative element was not considered any less important than it’s more utilitarian functions. Most of the ornamental design patterns that you see on today’s crown molding originated from the ancient Greeks. Egg and dart, dentil and acanthus leaf are the most obvious examples and these were used extensively in ancient times by both the Greeks and the Romans.

With the rebirth of the arts in the Renaissance period came a renewed interest in classical architecture as well. The rules of the classical orders were applied to the interior decoration of rooms. These were the rules of “3″. A column, the basis of classical architecture, is divided into 3 parts: base, shaft and capital. The base and the capital were then further divided into 3 parts and prescribed rules applied to the relationship and the proportion of these divisions as well. The same divisions that apply to a column are also applied to the wall. The wall is divided into the baseboard, the wall and a crown molding. The lower wall can be further divided into the base, dado and chair rail. Finally, the upper wall is divided into the picture molding, frieze and crown molding.

When beginning any decorative project to include several types of molding, it is recommended that you choose the style and size of crown molding first, as it is the most prominently displayed. Then select the rest of the moldings to match. Regarding the proper sizing of the crown molding, advice is abundant and many guidelines have been written. Most often the advice directs you to select the size of the crown molding based on the height of your ceiling. This may be a common approach to this aspect of the design process, though, as larger crown moldings have often been used to impressively decorate rooms of more modest proportions. What IS important is to properly scale the casings and other moldings to the size of the crown molding that you wish to use. When choosing crown molding for your interior, feel free to select the size and style that YOU like. Historically, larger crown moldings were more frequently used than what is recommended today by many interior designers. Change is anticipated as the current architectural renaissance continues and more designers and homeowners endeavor to add warmth to their homes and to personalize their interiors. So have a go at it and don’t be intimidated . You are limited only by your imagination.

Patricia Tomaskovic is the President of http://www.goceilingmedallion.com Visit us soon and let us help you decorate with style. We look forward to serving you.

We are an on-line store offering home decorating products, specializing in ceiling medallions and crown molding, as well as numerous other decorative ceiling items, including tools and supplies for creating your own custom ceilings.