Are you the proud owner of a boring crackerbox condo? Do you have a functional house that needs something extra? Fortunately, it’s possible to make your good but lousy investment look great too without too much fuss. Better than a paint job, more permanent than a new bedroom, and with a strong message: “I love what you’ve done to this place!” Hit here’s a little trick that often gets overlooked:

crown molding

Increase your resale value and give rooms in your home a finished look by adding crown molding where the ceiling meets the wall. Although it’s a subtle addition, if you long for the days when buildings were filled with romance and houses drenched in detail, adding this classic architectural detail to your rooms is a relatively small investment with a big payoff.

If crown molding is so great, why isn’t it standard?

Well, back in the days when walls weren’t straight and drafty spaces were the norm, crown molding wasn’t just a fine decorative touch; they were the practical things you used to keep warm. Unfortunately, in these days of drywall, perfect corners, and modernity, it is sorely missed. A sentiment evidenced by the fact that we are seeing more new homes and condos being built that incorporate the finishing touches, including crown molding, from the ground up.

If your home isn’t one of the lucky ones, and most homes built in the last 40 years aren’t, you can add it yourself or with the help of a contractor in no time.

Choose your time…

There are as many styles of crown molding as there are styles of shells. Variations in width, color, and decorative details give you plenty of leeway when recreating the look of your home. Think of the possibilities:

-Classic

– Renaissance

-Baroque

– rococo

-Federal

– art deco

-Victorian

-Colonial

-Modern

But not any time…

But if you’re planning on decking out your 1959 Eichler in a rococo finish, you better know what you’re doing. Although he should always express his creativity in decorating his home, if he wants to get the most out of his moldings, he should pay special attention to matching the architectural style of your home. Please.

Once you’ve settled on a style, it’s a good idea to repeat it throughout your home rather than shift it from room to room. Unlike your furniture and decorations, crown molding becomes part of the building itself and should therefore be considered as an architectural detail.

If you really want to make your rooms stand out, there are a number of other frivolous but satisfying details you can add. Ceiling medallions, corbels, door trim, baseboards, window trim, and pilasters make a world of difference and, when handled correctly, add a profound sense of beauty to any room they are placed in. .