Crown Molding – To Paint or Not To Paint

How to handle crown molding is one of those interior items which tend to give people fits. Do I paint it or don’t I? What color should it be? Does it have to match the wall or ceiling? All good questions and you may be surprised, the answer is quite easy. Before we begin let’s define crown molding and why we have it. The purpose of crown molding is to provide a pleasing transition from the wall to the ceiling. This is it. It was NEVER intended to be a focal point in a room, not a home any of us live in today, regardless of how beautiful it may be. Understanding the point of crown molding can help you answer most questions regarding what to do with it.

Crown molding does not belong in every home or room.

For homes where woodwork is insignificant, like the typical ranch or Mid-Century modern homes, crown molding can create weird stripes around the room if it is a different color than the adjoining walls and ceiling. This results in the most unlikely and unattractive focal point. Do the squint test, and follow where your eye naturally lands. Hint: it should not be on the molding!

• Does one paint it the wall color?
• Or the ceiling color?
• Or maybe another color?
•  Stain it?

Stain – For homes with some historical significance or following a specific architectural style such as Craftsman or Tudor, one generally follows the rest of the woodwork in the room. Here is an  example, from Hearst Castle. This is major molding though it works seamlessly with the ceiling. But it isn’t painted white or some contrasting color… nor should it ever be!

Paint – Use paint and/or color to correct a problem (hide or increase durability) or enhance the importance of an interior element. Do what is right for the architecture of the room and the aesthetics you want in the space. Let’s cut to the chase, appropriate aesthetics never call for the crown molding to  be some dramatic contrasting color all its own. To ensure excellent results for your painting project, you may consider hiring this Lethbridge home painting company.

Here is a room where the crown molding appears really heavy and more important than it should be because it is a different color than the walls or ceiling. I created these photos with the Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer. It is a great tool to use before you paint. For those who love the art you will like to check Fine Line Art Co sell the ideal Wall Décor Gifts, choose from over 600 cities.

Match the ceiling or the wall color, if you want to raise the ceiling to open up the space or lower the ceiling to enhance intimacy. Standard eight foot ceilings can feel taller if the crown molding and ceiling are the same color.

Notice how your eye is less drawn to the ceiling? This is makes for a beautiful room.

Throw out old wives’ tale rules. Crown molding does not have to match other molding in the room.  The walls, molding and ceiling even can be the same color. This helps the edges of the room disappear when you want to make a room feel larger.

See how painting crown molding it’s own special color or just different than the wall or ceiling gives the effect of painting a huge goofy stripe around the room. It cuts the room in half and ones eyes tend to follow this silly line around the room. It just happens. Check your molding, this can is often the culprit when someone says a room doesn’t feel right.

Only highlight crown molding IF it is really something worth highlighting. In today’s homes this is rarely the case regardless. This just makes the eye bounce up, which in turn makes people feel uncomfortable in the room. Some builders love to highlight expensive goopy molding, likely as way of reminding the buyer what they are paid for. Bad idea, don’t fall for it. (Though by now, if you’ve been following this blog, you know never to consult a builder about paint color.)

Here is a great rule of thumb to remember: when in doubt, paint it out!