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Should I Get Crown Moldings in my House?

Should I Get Crown Moldings in my House?

Some say that crown moldings make all the difference between a plain, bland room and a classy masterpiece. Is this true? Others claim that crown moldings are a cheap, easy way to increase the resale value of your home. Is that really the case? Some people advise putting crown molding in every room of the house, while others say that there are some areas where crown doesn’t belong. So, what is the real story? Should you get crown moldings in your house?

Wow, that is a lot of questions! Let’s look at the issues one at a time.

Do Crown Moldings Increase the Value of a Home?

If you are looking for a quick-fix solution that makes your home value shoot way up, without a real investment on your part, crown moldings are not your answer. However, if you are ready to make a reasonable investment to get quality moldings installed well, then yes, they will increase the value of your home.

Like most things in your home, quality matters when you are talking about crown moldings. If you purchase the cheapest moldings from the nearest big-box home improvement store, you are not going to impress a knowledgeable realtor or home-buyer. Likewise, if the moldings are installed in a hackneyed, less-than-professional manner, they will not add any value.

The key to increasing your home value with crown moldings is to get elegant, high-quality moldings, and to make sure they are installed in a professional way. That way, you will be able to enjoy the classy addition to your rooms, and you will see an improvement in the marketability of your home when you go to sell it.

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Should I Put Crown in Every Room?

The answer to this question is complex, since it varies based on home style and based on your decorating techniques. Additionally, it is a matter of taste, which some people don’t agree on. To answer the question simply, crown molding is not an all-or-nothing decision. It is fine to have it in some rooms, while not using it in others.

Certain rooms in the house are almost always a desirable place for crown molding. For example, the living room is a classic location to use it. In many open-concept homes, the living room is also attached to a hallway, the kitchen, a sitting room, and/or a dining room. In this case, use crown in the living room and all attached areas.

Another great place for crown molding is in your entryway and main hallway. Other popular locations include the master bedroom, powder rooms, and classy bathrooms.

There are a couple of situations when you don’t want to use crown molding. If you have cathedral or vaulted ceilings, a typical crown molding will probably not fit or look good. Also, crown moldings need a distinct starting and stopping point, ideally going around a room in both directions and meeting again. If you have a room or hall that ends by adjoining another room with a different ceiling height, there might not be a good way to put up crown moldings.

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What Kind of Crown Molding Should I Get?

This is another matter of taste, but here are some basic concepts to consider:

  • In a room with tall ceilings, you need a heavier, wider crown to look good
  • In rooms with ornate details, your crown molding should also be more ornate
  • The baseboard and crown molding should be relatively similar in terms of the visual space they take up
  • There are ways to use a low-profile type of crown that looks classy without being thick and heavy. This is good for small rooms, or rooms with low ceilings.

Photo by Structures Building Company - Discover bedroom design inspiration

Should I Install Crown Myself, or Hire a Professional?

Crown molding is not a simple item for beginners to install. It needs to be cut at a specific compound angle (the bevel set at 33.85 degrees, and the miter at 31.62 degrees in most cases), which is difficult for an inexperienced homeowner to do accurately. In addition, the actual installation of the crown takes accurate setting and nailing, as well as skillful caulking. An experienced do-it-yourselfer can usually do a good job, but if you’re not already good at this, that fact will probably be evident in the finished product.

Professional Crown Molding Installation for Northern Virginia

If you live in the Washington, D.C. region, including Maryland and Northern Virginia, Williams Professional Painting is ready to serve you with expert carpentry services, including crown molding installation. Our design center expert can help you sort through the available styles of crown molding to choose the best options for your home.

In addition to molding installation, we offer interior and exterior painting, popcorn ceiling removal, drywall installation and repair, and kitchen cabinet painting. Serving Alexandria, Baltimore, Silver Spring, and the surrounding communities, Williams Professional Painting is your NOVA painting contractor.

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