19 Crown Molding Ideas That Will Add Character and Elegance to Any Room

This decorative trim makes any space feel more polished and complete.

Crown molding is a decorative trim—placed where wall meets ceiling—that lends a touch of polished elegance and personality to a space. In its early days it served the very utilitarian function of concealing gaps and cracks, but today it’s utilized primarily as an aesthetic addition to a home. Design-wise, crown molding typically features clean lines and minimal detailing, but there’s an entire spectrum of options available depending on your personal style. From ornate millwork to rustic wood to midcentury-inspired, let these pretty crown molding ideas inspire you.

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Elegant Detailed Molding

Designed by Alexandra Kaehler, this beautiful crown molding almost looks like frosting atop a cake with its multiple layers and carved design. It's in the same color family as the painted brick walls but just a shade or two lighter. The result is a seamless and cohesive look, drawing the eye upward and adding a sophisticated finishing touch to the space.

Greek Key Design

In this historic home with interior design by Peter Dunham Interiors, the stacked crown molding features a Greek key design that lends a classic and sophisticated touch. It's just subtle enough to blend in with the clean lines of the room while adding some decorative flair.

Coffered Ceiling with Crown Molding

This cozy cottage bedroom by Maggie Griffin Design showcases a rustic coffered design on the ceiling paired with crisp white molding and paneled walls. The wooden beams lend some additional warmth and contrast while tying into the whole rom-com-esque design.

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Colorful Contrast

Fancy yourself a more-is-more maximalist? This eye-catching dining room design by Kaehler might just inspire you. A green and red patterned wallpaper is contrasted with a robin's egg blue crown molding and matching wainscoting.

Detailed Trim

Crown molding is inherently decorative, but adding detail to the trim provides an extra touch of character. “Before installing the molding, draw a pattern template to hold against the trim in order to visualize the detailing and determine whether it aligns with the furniture, fixtures, and aesthetic of the space," says interior designer Lindye Galloway.

Simple and Elegant

Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs opted for understated elegance in this dreamy blue bedroom. The minimalist crown molding matches the walls and built-ins while contrasting with the ceiling, creating clean, crisp lines that enhance the room's classic and serene aesthetic.

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Contemporary Geometric Millwork

This elongated, geometric millwork adds the right amount of flair to this beautiful dark blue room designed by interior designer Sarah Storms. "I do love mixing contemporary design aesthetic with formal crown molding," she says, noting that she combined multiple pieces for this intricate molding. "There is a petite roping detail just above an enlarged dental molding that is fluted. There are some other less ornamental molding pieces, but these all harmoniously come together to create a stunning ceiling detail," she says.

Architectural Extension

A more unique path is the buildout of moldings around a ceiling's perimeter, says interior designer Carter Averbeck of Omforme Design. "It's simply an extension of an architectural feature; a detail that can add an unexpected finishing touch to a room," Averbeck says. Note how the wood crown molding ties into the wainscoting, windows, and fireplace.

High Contrast Grid Design

Contrast is the name of the game in this bright and airy Scandinavian-inspired design by Harvest Architecture. The walls are a crisp white while the ceiling and crown molding feature a striking, dark wood grid design. This detail ties into the door frame, as well.

Intricate Crown Molding

The crown molding in this home bridges classic and contemporary styles with its intricate design and neutral color palette. The molding enhances the architectural charm of the space and highlights the transition between the living area and the staircase. Painted in a creamy white, it complements the mushroom-hued walls for a harmonious feel.

Classic Tray Ceiling

This classic tray ceiling is paired with layered crown molding for a wow-worthy moment. Designed by interior designer Maggie Griffin, the crisp lines of the molding and uniform white color create a sophisticated and traditional feel. The textured wallpaper in a slightly darker shade creates the right amount of visual interest.

Stained Wood Crown Molding

We often see crown molding painted to match the room, but sometimes embracing wood tones is exactly the right call. Here, interior designer Lindsay Laine opted for a medium-tone stained wood that matches the lower wainscoting and contrasts with navy walls and white ceiling.

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Crisp Gridwork

In this bright and inviting living room created by Veida Sadri Design, the crown molding feels like a natural extension of the ceiling and fireplace's open grid-work design. The decision to paint everything all-white makes the space feel larger and more cohesive.

Wallpaper Harmony

Wallpaper is definitely enjoying a moment in the design spotlight right now. Here, Griffin matched the golden-beige color in the wallpaper's design to the crown molding and ceiling for a playful and cohesive finish.

Tiered Crown Molding

The tiered crown molding in this fresh and airy bathroom by Liz Williams Interiors offers a crisp, polished touch to the space. Its clean design pairs perfectly with the classic white cabinetry and marble surfaces, tying together the room's elegant yet relaxed aesthetic.

Subtle Swirls

The crown molding in this traditional, vintage-inspired room by Peter Dunham Interiors showcases a swirling pattern that lines the entire perimeter. It feels like an elegant finishing touch in this warm and inviting space.

Monochromatic Saturation

Create a warm, inviting space by painting the molding, walls, and ceiling one color. "I love the unique, monochromatic look achieved by coordinating trim and paint colors because it brings a cohesive elegance to the space," says Galloway. "Not only does the color drenching create the impression of a bigger space, but it also emphasizes the texture and detailing of the trim."

Rectangular Pattern

If you like the idea of a more intricate crown molding but prefer subtlety, consider an etched design like this one used by Deni + Dove Interiors. The molding features a series of rectangular indentations that provide the right amount of texture. Matching the color to the walls and ceilings keeps the space more muted, as well.

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Layered Trim

Layered trim allows you to play around with a few different design aesthetics. "The charm of layered trim lies in its ability to add just the right amount of visual interest to a space, seamlessly blending with a variety of design styles," Galloway says. "Once you create your foundation, incorporate trim with varying lengths for a layered look that gives the space added dimension.”

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Read the original article on Martha Stewart.