Tired of a particular room in your home and not sure what to do? Adding or updating your trim is a small change that can make a big impact. It’s truly not as daunting as you might think, here are 4 trim updates that you can make to your home to give it a high fashion flair.
Adding a chair rail is both practical and decorative, it will protect your wall from scuffs and dents while providing a beautiful accent to your room. Chair rails are perfectly paired with a wainscot design and are available in a variety of designs to suite the style of your home.
Chair rails are most commonly installed 24 to 48 inches from the floor. A good rule of thumb when deciding the height of your chair rail is to have it 1/4-1/3 of the way up your wall – for example a standard 8 ft. wall would ideally have a chair rail between 24 and 32 inches.
Once you’ve determined you’re height you can begin measuring and mark your wall. It’s important to remember that not all floors are level, be sure to use a level to set a straight line for your chair rail. When installing the chair rail start at an inside corner and apply it directly to the wall making sure to nail into the studs.
This is a fun, easy and inexpensive way to create impact on your walls. A panel mould is most often used to create or embellish panels on either flat or recessed walls. When choosing the layout it’s a good idea to use painters tape to map out the squares/rectangles which will help you visualize placement and proportion. As an added bonus it makes it easier to measure the amount of moulding that your project requires.
This is one area of trim that is totally customizable and your personality can really show through. You could paint the wall and trim the same colour for a monochromatic feel, or you could contrast the centre of the frame with a different colour, wallpaper or fabric to make the look completely your own.
Your ceiling is your 5th wall and the most forgotten surface. Adding moulding and trim elements to your ceiling is an excellent way to add interest and drama to your space. Get creative when looking at your ceiling. Play with a variety of crown and panel moulding accented with rosettes or add a layer of ambiance with custom beams or wood panels. Your unique masterpiece will have everyone looking up.
Crown moulding is the perfect way to soften the transition from wall to ceiling and add personality to any room. There are many different inexpensive designs available, making crown moulding an ideal way to dress up your home with minimal investment.
Not sure how to select the right crown moulding for your home? The two main considerations are size and design. For size you want to make sure that your crown moulding isn’t larger than the baseboard as this can throw your room off balance – you’ll want to select something that is the same size or slightly smaller. It’s also important to consider the height of the room – the higher the ceiling the bigger the trim. The design of your crown moulding is largely influenced by the style of your home. For a more traditional feel you will want to select a design with lots of curves and detail, a modern design is generally sleek and simple.
Anyone can install crown moulding and our friends at Metrie have provided a great how-to video.