4 Top Tips For Decorating With Moldings

People often think that decorative moldings can only be installed in the most sophisticated and elegant of homes. However, you can actually use them to create really original decor, at very little expense. Take a look and see what you think!

Nowadays, there’s a widely held belief that moldings are only suitable for ornate, sophisticated and classical style homes. However, they open up far more possibilities than you might imagine. In this article, we’ll give you some tips and advice to help you make the most of your moldings. It’s time to forget everything you think you know and unleash your creativity.

Why decorate with moldings?

One of the main advantages of using moldings in your interior decor is the variety of different designs on offer. You’re guaranteed to find one that suits your tastes, and the style of your home.

No one could deny that ceilings and walls that are decorated with moldings take on a very different aesthetic quality. Elegant and refined, these are original decorative features that allow you to embellish otherwise simple interiors.

1. Buy good quality moldings

By investing in good quality, you can be sure your moldings won’t peel, fall off, or ruin your paintwork. Sometimes, it’s better to spend a little more and make sure that the material is of good quality than to buy a cheaper product that you’ll only have to replace a short while later.

2. Think about proportions

Decorating with moldings is an excellent option for any home. But that doesn’t mean you want them to cover every inch of your walls and ceilings. If you want good results, you’ll need to consider the size of your rooms, and the height of your ceilings.

High ceilings give you the option of choosing larger and more ornate styles of molding. When it comes to low ceilings, on the other hand, it’s best to go for simple, linear designs. The same goes for smaller rooms – you need to choose something a little more understated.

3. Make your dreams a reality

You don’t need to use the first type of molding you see in a store. You could even choose a variety of different styles and sizes and use them to create your own designs.

The color you choose for your walls, ceilings, and moldings will play a decisive role in determining the overall look. For example, if the walls and ceilings are white, dark moldings can help create fantastic contrast and vice versa.

4. Install them yourself

Installing moldings is a lot simpler than you might think, and it will save you the cost of paying a professional to do it for you. First things first, you have to make sure that your chosen section of the wall is in good condition, and that it’s perfectly clean and dry. Any repairs or cleaning you might have to do should be done in advance.

Measure the length of the wall carefully and cut your moldings down to the right size (although you can also buy them made-to-measure). Starting at one end, apply the glue, and press down firmly on the molding to make sure that it sticks properly. Once it’s completely dry, you can paint it whatever color you like.

Different ways to decorate with moldings

Now that we’ve convinced you that moldings are a must-have feature for your home, we want to show you some of the different ways you can use them.

1. Separating spaces

For example, if your kitchen is open plan, moldings can be an interesting way to visually divide the rooms. You can decorate one half of the room with one type of molding, and the other with another (or no moldings at all).

2. Narrow hallways

People don’t usually put too much effort into decorating their hallways. For many of us, they’re simply there to join one room to the next, and their small size means we’re often fairly limited in terms of the decoration. But have you ever considered installing moldings in your hallways?

You can use all different kinds of designs, from square or rectangular panels, horizontal chair rail moldings across the middle of the walls, or crown moldings between the walls and ceiling. Any of these will look elegant and understated – perfect for small spaces.

3. Doors and windows

It’s all too easy to forget that moldings aren’t just good for decorating the walls and ceilings. Why not expand your horizons, and use them to create decorative casings for your windows and doors?

4. Dividing the walls

If, for example, you want to paint or wallpaper half the wall in one color, and half in another, moldings are a great way to visually divide the wall into two.

As you can see, you can use moldings almost anywhere in your house, without it looking over the top. Choose the design you like best, and let your imagination run wild.