The one problem with the overall design of new homes is that they are simply rather plain and somewhat lacking in character. If you are into stark modernism that may be great, but if you are selling your home it needs to stand out and plain white walls inevery room just won’t really cut it.
Moldings are a great way to add some style and personality to any room and relatively easily and inexpensively as well. Here are just a few of the options available, any of which would add instant character and charm to even the ‘boxiest’ of rooms:
Crown Moulding
The term crown moulding covers a fairly large family of mouldings which are designed to gracefully flare out to a finished top edge. Crown moulding is generally used for capping walls, pilasters, and cabinets, and to create interior and exterior cornice assemblies and door and window hoods.
Decades ago, crown molding was created from plaster and it took weeks to install. These days consumers have a choice; real wood, MDF or flexible crown molding which is a plastic designed to mimic the appearance of wood.
In most newer homes the walls and ceilings simply join flat. The addition of crown molding gives the room a greater sense of definition and depth and this seemingly fairly small change can really make a huge difference visually.
Chair Rails
Chair rail mouldings have a both a practical and decorative function. They can be applied to any wall, usually between 24 and 48 inches from the floor. They are a beautiful accent to the room, adding style, elegance and personality. At the same time they protect your walls from dents and scratches, the very purpose for which chair rails were originally designed.
Some homeowners also chose to use chair rail molding as a replacement for panel molding on walls and even ceilings and they can also be a great way to define the dining space in an open plan living room.
Ceiling Medallions
Decorative ceiling medallions are a very popular way to add a touch of class and elegance to a bare ceiling. They are easy to install and are a reasonably priced way to add architectural interest to any room. Often ceiling medallions are used to accent the ceiling based lighting fixtures in a room, but they are just as attractive when used alone, as a stunning focal point of any given room’s ceiling. Whichever you chose, the results are usually spectacular. The addition of a ceiling medallion can transform a room easily and inexpensively.
Ceiling Medallions can also be found in many different styles. They can be round, square, oval or even triangular. You can also choose a hexagon or star design, allowing you to go as modern, or as classic, in your decor style as you like.
Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings are a breathtakingly elegant addition to any room, large or small. These recessed ceiling additions may often look ornate, intricate and complicated but they are in actual fact very easy to install. They can be found in a great number of design options from the simplest of latticework to the ornately embellished.
Though the end result often looks as though you have spent a great deal of money on an expensive renovation, the addition of coffered ceilings to your rooms is in fact quite inexpensive and can add a great deal of perceived value to your home!