Is crown molding out of style? 

Over the years, crown molding has been used to add value and increase aesthetics to your home. Thanks to the elegance and exquisiteness it adds to any house or room it’s installed in. Better still, it adds a visual appearance that makes a house feel more upscale, especially in rooms with vaulted or high ceilings. 

However, in recent years, some new homes seem to be leaving out crown moldings completely. Does this mean that the popularity of crown molding is coming to an end? Is crown molding out of style? Continue reading this post to find that out! 

Why do some new homes not have crown molding? 

Crown molding refers to the decorative trim installed between the edge of the wall and ceiling. More notably, it’s usually made of wood, but it can also be made from other materials like polyurethane, foam, and plaster. Hopefully, seeing that your main concern is whether the crown is going out of style, you already know what crown molding is! 

Crown molding is mainly used in home upgrade projects since it’s more costly to install due to additional labor and material costs. For that, most tract home builders don’t include it if it’s not added to the budget. 

In addition, the style of crown molding seems to be changing over time as design preferences evolve. For instance, it was common to have elaborate moldings in various rooms in the past. However, in recent times, modern homes are leaning towards more simple and less ornate types of molding. Moreover, molding designs are expected to continue evolving over time together with the architecture. 

Should you install crown molding in your home? 

If you’ve got the budget, installing crown molding is a great idea since it will increase your home’s value. Even better, there are various styles of crown molding to choose from, making it easy to find the right style for your home. 

However, if you can’t afford crown molding, you can always add it later. Alternatively, you can install it in 1 or 2 rooms now, and add a few more rooms over time. Installing crown molding later is quite simple since it attaches to already existing walls with ease. 

Remember, there are 3 main factors you need to consider when installing crown molding in your home. That includes; 

• Prospective buyer

It’s important to consider the prospective buyer of your home when adding crown molding to the rooms. This includes checking the preferred taste and style of the prospective buyer when the time to showcase or sell your house comes. If you’re not sure how fast or when you’ll list/ sell your home, choose a crown molding with a neutral & timeless look. 

• Matching style 

Another important factor to consider is whether the crown molding you intend to install matches the architectural style of your home. For instance, if your home has a modern & contemporary design, avoid installing an intricate molding that seems like it was retrieved from a medieval 5th-century castle. However, if you’ve got a traditional European-style home, some buyers will expect your mold to have a certain level of detail. 

• Your budget 

Lastly, consider the amount of money you’re willing to set aside for crown molding installation. At the same time, you have to consider how much money you’ll spend on buying the crown molding. In general, the cost of installing crown molding ranges from $500 – 1600. However, the cost can increase up to $3000 for more elaborate hardwoods. 

Should I put crown molding in every room? 

Determining the room to install crown molding in is usually a matter of personal preference. Also, that decision will be influenced by the style of your home. In most cases, crown molding is used to turn regular square rooms into comfortable, elegant spaces. 

That aside. Most homeowners love crown molding and prefer to install it in every room. However, some people view it as an accent and choose to only install it in specific rooms. Whichever the case, whether you want to install crown molding in every room or not is your call! 

If you cannot afford to install crown molding in every room, certain locations are more popular than others. As a result, most homeowners prioritize crown molding installation in these areas. They include; 

• Foyer. Installing crown molding in an open foyer adds extra liveliness when guests first enter your home. 
• Dining/ living room. Living and dining spaces are usually the main entertaining areas for guests in many houses. Besides, guests are more likely to spend most of their time in these spaces. Therefore, adding crown molding in these rooms will give them something beautiful to look at. Moreover, it will enhance your living space and give it a more finished look. 
• Master bedroom. Any upgrade in the master bedroom, including adding crown molding, adds value to your home. 

• Home office/ study. Adding some crown molding in your home office/ study is a great way to jazz up your workspace. 
• Master bathroom 
• Kitchen. Crown molding is usually installed above kitchen cabinets to make the kitchen space appear bigger. In essence, it gives the appearance of the cabinets extending up to the ceiling. 

Other helpful tips to consider when buying crown molding 

• Start and end in logical places 

In some instances, the crown molding will run around the room up until the wall stops because of the room’s shape, leaving no place to end the molding. As a result, the molding will appear unfinished, forcing you or the installer to turn it back into the wall, leaving your room with an unfinished & weird edge. To avoid this problem, check any architectural structures in your home that may prevent a smooth transition between the moldings. More importantly, make sure that your crown moldings look seamless and purposeful. 

• Fit the room-scale 

Next, consider the scale of the room you intend to install crown molding. In that regard, you should not go too small in a big room or too big in a small space. Instead, the molding should scale to fit the room and opening in that space. Generally, if the ceiling is higher than 10 feet, consider choosing a ½” wide molding for each foot of ceiling height. 

• Match the style and design of your home 

Always consider the overall style of your home when choosing a ceiling crown molding. For instance, if you want to keep a transitional style throughout your home, keep the crown molding style lean and less detailed. Also, if you like ornate crown molding in a traditional home and contemporary design, keep your furnishings simple with a little pattern and clean lines. That way, your home architecture will stand out, while giving your space a serene feeling. 

Conclusion 

Is crown molding out of style? Although some homes don’t have crown molding, this form of trim is still fashionable and popular in both luxury properties and historic homes. Moreover, crown molding isn’t expected to go out of style any time soon since it adds a level of sophistication and visual appeal to any room in your home. Best of all, you can always install crown molding at a later date as part of your home improvement project if you don’t install it during the original build.