Whether you’re planning a remodel or new construction, a decorative moldings rundown can help you make some important design choices. 

A Rundown Of Decorative Moldings

Decorative moldings fall into several categories based on their function. Here are some of the most popular types:

• Base — Used to cover the joint where a wall meets a floor, base molding also protects the wall surface from mops, brooms and vacuums. Base molding is typically used in very room of a house and tends to be more utilitarian than ostentatious.
• Casing — Case molding is used to frame windows and doors. Case molding also covers gaps between wall material and door and window frames. In most houses, case molding is coordinated with base molding.
• Crown — Crown molding covers the joints between the wall and ceiling, creating a sense of drama and drawing attention to the vertical elements of a room. Cornices, a more ornate style of crown molding, are typically used in entrances and formal rooms.
• Wall — Often set at a height of 30” to 36”, wall molding is frequently referred to as chair railing. Wall molding can be functional, as in chair railing, but it can also serve to cap lower wall paneling and to break up large, blank walls.
• Panel — Panel molding is purely decorative and serves to divide walls or ceilings into smaller rectangular areas. This type of molding is sometimes called picture frame molding.

Molding Materials

Although molding is frequently constructed of soft woods that result in an inexpensive product, there are other types of molding available. Hard wood molding can lend a sophisticated feel to a room, especially when it is stained instead of painted. Polyurethane molding is perfect for outdoor use and in applications that called for a curved or rounded installation.