The best crown molding materials to upgrade your home include wood, PVC, and plaster
Looking to add architectural interest and elegance to your room? Crown molding, also called cornices, add character to your space by attractively separating walls and ceilings and decorating tops of door casings or cabinet tops. Learn how to give your home the royal treatment by choosing from the best types of crown molding materials for your home’s style.
Over 2,000 years ago, ancient Greeks chiseled heavy stones to create “crown moldings” for Roman temples. Today’s homeowners can install a one-piece crown on their own or hire a professional for a more complex project.
“Adding crown molding is the icing on the cake,” says interior designer Eileen Patterson. She notes that crown molding can beautifully frame a room, but you need to marry the crown molding materials to your home style. While you can use a slim style for a contemporary home, you may use a more detailed or decorative crown molding for a traditional home.
Compare the difference between materials like plaster, wood, and PVC to find the best trim for your space.
Wood is one of the most popular choices for crown molding. Available in a variety of colors and options, wood can be easily stained and painted. Choose from a variety of woods such as pine, walnut, oak, or ash. You can also create an elaborate hardwood crown molding with a carved or milled design.
The cost of common wood crown moldings like pine, maple, poplar, and aspen are $10 per linear foot, while hardwoods such as oak and mahogany cost between $10 to $15 per linear foot installed. Exotic woods like ipe and padauk run between $15 to $45 per linear foot installed. Hardwoods can be stained to bring out their natural grains, while softwoods are often cut and sanded before they are painted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatile | Costly |
| Durable | Susceptible to moisture |
| Natural insulation | Requires maintenance |
Best for: Variety
Plaster is the king of crown molding and the most expensive option. It is typically paired with plaster walls. A material perfect for crown molding on vaulted ceilings and grand interiors, plaster crown molding requires custom ordering and professional installation. Plaster crown molding casts beautiful shadows.
Premade plaster will run between $9 to $20 per linear foot. You will need to hire a plaster repair contractor with experience in plaster molding installation.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Intricate designs | Costly |
| Durable | Heavy material |
| Fire resistant | Requires skilled labor |
Best for: High-End and High-Style Projects
Looking to add crown molding to your bathroom or an area with high humidity? PVC crown molding is a great solution for trimming spaces where moisture is an issue. A major benefit of PVC is that it won’t rot or warp if it gets wet.
A budget-friendly choice, PVC crown molding costs between $4 to $8 per linear foot installed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Limited design options |
| Moisture resistant | Paint adhesion challenge |
| Durable | Lack of natural appearance |
Best for: High Humidity Hot Spots
Flex is a rubbery material that is flexible enough to wrap around bay windows and curved walls. Flex crown molding is a special-order material that can be pricey, yet is more cost-effective than a custom carpentry job required for intricate architecture.
The cost for flex molding varies as it is a special-order item and can range from $50 per linear foot to $500 and above based on the job.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatile | Limited design options |
| Lightweight | Costly |
| Crack resistant | Paint adhesion challenge |
Best for: Curvy Walls and Windows
Looking for an easy and fast way to add crown molding to your room? Polystyrene foam is ideal for sprucing up your room in a jiffy. The light foam material is great for DIY projects, as the only tool required is scissors. This simple budget-friendly crown molding works well for homeowners who are looking for a quick solution more than a design elevation.
Polystyrene foam runs from $3.50 to $8 per linear foot installed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Less durable |
| DIY friendly | Limited design options |
| Moisture resistant | Not environmentally friendly |
Best for: DIY No-Fuss Projects
Polyurethane is a versatile and cost-effective crown molding that is a good fit for most installations. Along with being insect- and rot-repellent, polyurethane can be easily painted and is available in intricate profiles that mimic plaster.
Polyurethane crown molding is $5 to $10 per linear foot installed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Limited insulation |
| Durable | Lacks authentic appearance |
| Lightweight | Paint adhesion challenge |
Best for: Versatility
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is stable and low-cost crown molding compared to solid wood. MDF is great for rooms where the trim is painted. The ultralight crown molding is a cost-effective alternative to wood and comes in a plethora of profiles.
MDF is reliable and cost-effective at only $4 to $10 per linear foot installed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Dense material |
| Consistent quality | Moisture sensitive |
| Versatile design | Less durable |
Best for: Spaces With Painted Trim
Crown molding can increase the value of your home, as it elevates its aesthetic appeal. It also masks blemishes and imperfections along the ceiling line. If you can install crown molding throughout your home, it will add a lovely cohesiveness that will increase your home’s appeal and value.
Unless you have experience installing crown molding or a desire to learn the craft, it is best to hire a professional. Every crown molding joint is composed of compound angles that require a bounty of patience, an understanding of spatial relationships, and the proper tools and materials.
If you are a novice, you will most likely make a few mistakes through trial and error. For labor alone, it’ll cost you anywhere from $3 to $8 per linear foot to hire a professional. Ultimately, it may cost you less to find a crown molding installer in your area.
Instead of opting for crown molding, picture rail molding or chair rail molding can be used as an alternative for a unique and stylish touch. These decorative moldings are installed horizontally along the point where the walls and ceiling meet, and unlike traditional crown molding, they do not extend as far down the wall. Picture rail molding is usually placed higher on the wall and offers a practical solution for hanging artwork or photos without having to create holes in the plaster or drywall. Chair rail molding is often used for both decorative and practical purposes, functioning as a protective barrier against chair backs and creating an eye-catching division between different wall treatments or paint colors.
While crown molding on a ceiling will often still be referred to as crown molding, it may also be called cornice or ceiling molding. This decorative trim is designed to add an elegant and finished touch to the junction between the walls and ceiling, enhancing the overall aesthetic of a room.
Cove trim and crown molding differ in their profiles and installation locations. Cove trim boasts a concave shape that curves inward from the ceiling to the wall, creating a subtle slope. It usually adorns the angle created by the junction of the ceiling and wall.
On the other hand, crown molding has a more intricate design and is placed horizontally on the wall's upper part, where it meets the ceiling. Crown molding usually protrudes outward and can be highly decorative while hiding the joint between the ceiling and walls. Both cove trim and crown molding enhance a room's aesthetics, but their unique shapes and placement cater to different preferences and architectural requirements.
