Reasons Why You Should Add Decorative Molding To Your Home

In today's guide for helpful tips and tricks on how to elevate your home on a budget, we’re talking about molding!  Learn about how different styles of molding can increase your home’s value and curb appeal, without breaking the bank.  Explore how molding can add elegance, hide imperfections, and create a high-end, finished look in any home.  Installing molding can easily enhance your home’s interior, and provide numerous opportunities to add accent colors, creatively frame a room for a focal point, and then some. Molding is a great investment for homeowners, and most of it is easy enough to work with on a DIY budget.  Let’s take a look at reasons why you should consider adding decorative molding to your home to increase market appeal!

What type of molding can you expect to find? 

There are hundreds of specific detailed styles and variants to each of these categories, but we’ve broken down the basics to make them easier to explore!

Crown Molding comes in a large variety of materials, and can range in style from traditional to victorian to art deco to greek and more.  It is used as both a decorative and transitional molding choice at the intersection of walls and ceilings. Like most moldings it is used to hide any imperfections and gaps, as well as elevating the elegance of a room. This is a great way to add value to your home on a budget, as it creates the illusion of higher ceilings and gives the room a larger, fuller appearance and refined finishing.

Baseboard Molding is generally known as skirting board, and protects from kicks and scuffs along the floor, as well as elevating the general look of the room. Installing this type of molding can help cover any uneven gaps in flooring and walls.  

Casing molding is a specific trim used to conceal gaps between door and window frames and the drywall, creating a polished and finished look.  Common style options for this type of molding include colonial, craftsman, farmhouse, bevel, etc.

Chair Rail molding is a horizontal strip of trim placed about 2 to 3 feet from the floor, wrapping around the perimeter of a room; it’s specifically designed to protect the wall from damage from chair backs, however it’s most commonly now used as decorative elements. You’ll find this most commonly in kitchents and dining rooms or high-traffic areas of a home.

Wainscoting/Paneling is a decorative panel or molding added to the lower third of a wall.  This is increasing in popularity for large walls with blank space where it might not be convenient to hang a frame or canvas. It adds depth and dimension to the space, textural interest, and elevates a space with ease.

Picture Rail allows you to hang art on the wall without damaging it as well as serving decorative function. This is very commonly found in vintage architectural styles like Victorian or Craftsman design homes/ It’s about 1-2” in width and is generallyinstalled about a foot or so below the ceiling. It’s perfect for those who love to change their decor frequently, allowing you to use special picture and canvas framing hooks and cables.

Shoe/Quarter Round Molding is installed over the area where flooring meets the wall, perfect for hiding gaps and irregularities on baseboards, stairs, kitchen islands, and more. It’s a great way to add detail as well to other baseboard molding. Most generally found in more traditional, classically styled architecture.  Some people opt to stain it in coordination with floorboards, while others paint it to match with the rest of the baseboard molding.

What types of materials are available for molding and how do they vary per pricing?Choosing the right type of material for your molding can affect its look and final payoff in the completed room, so let’s take a look at different price points to match your budget.

• Wooden Molding - Usually made out of pine and painted, or you can opt for a stain and varnish trim in ash, oak, walnut, and more.  Pricing varies depending on the type of wood and the intricacy of the design work, starting at $2-$10 a foot for your more basic options up to $40-$50 per foot for the customized and elaborate designs, wider trim sizes, and variety of hardwoods.

• Polystyrene molding - This a flexible, budget friendly option and great for adding rounded shapes due to its pliability.  It is paintable, but may take several coats to smooth out the surface. Average prices begin around $1-$4 per foot, making it extremely budget-friendly.

• MDF Molding - Made of sawdust and resin, medium-density fiberboard is a less expensive option than traditional wooden options.  It allows a homeowner to select more intricate designs and wider trim for an average of $2 to $10 per foot.

• PVC and Polyurethane Moldings - Generally priced between $1-$5 per foot, these moldings are light weight, molded and extruded.  Another budget friendly option on the list, they’re easy to cut, easy to install with adhesive,  Best for environments with moisture such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.  There aren’t as many design options as for Wood, MDF, or Plaster, but it’s still a great choice.

• Plaster Molding - Is custom-cast for a one-of-a-kind look for larger, elaborate designs on higher ceilings or in entry ways for extra pizazz.  Professional installers can help you decide what would look best and how wide of a trim is optimal.  It’s the priceless option on the list, ranging between $10-$30+ per square foot for the most ornate

Here at Pinto Carpentry, our expert staff of carpenters and industry professionals will be happy to match your home’s new indoor railings and custom stairs to any style aesthetic.  Pinto Carpentry serves most areas of Northern and Central New Jersey, and select areas of South Jersey as well.  Pinto Carpetry is here to serve your needs for repairing indoor handrail, replacing indoor handrail, or working on new construction for indoor handrails.  Our expert stair builders are also experienced in repairing and replacing stair treads and risers, creating custom indoor wooden stairs, and fully customizing a stair design and fabrication for commercial or residential builds.  Pinto Carpentry has more than 20 years of industry experience in crafting the finest indoor handrails and bespoke stair builds from curved stairs, circular stairs, bifurcated stairs, modern stairs, and more!  Check out our full portfolio of work and feel free to inquire about any designs that strike your fancy. 

Please note that Pinto Carpentry does not work on exterior stairs and handrails.