Separating Living Rooms With Crown Moldings

Crown molding can be simple or intricate.

Crown moldings line the junction between the wall and ceiling. This decorative accent can be more than a way to hide the sharp corner at the top of a wall. Traditionally, you should use the same crown molding throughout the house, but changing the crown molding can delineate different rooms of a home with an open floor plan. Installing the crown molding should be done after painting the ceiling and walls or wallpapering the room.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Backsaw
• Miter box
• Coping saw
• Hammer
• 6d finishing nails
• Wood putty
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Measure the walls in the living room area.

2. Cut the crown molding to the length of each of the walls.

3. Trim the ends of each piece of crown molding meeting at an outside corner to a 45-degree angle with a backsaw in a miter box.

4. Trim flat the end of one of the two pieces of crown molding that meets at an inside corner.

5. Miter the other piece of crown molding that meets at the inside corner to a 45-degree angle.

6. Cut the outline of the crown molding along the outside angle of the mitered piece for the inside corner with a coping saw.

7. Attach the cut crown molding pieces to the walls by nailing 6d nails into the studs at the top and bottom of the crown molding around the living room area.

8. Fill in the nail holes with wood putty and allow the putty to completely dry.

9. Paint the living room crown molding to match the decor of the living room.

Tips & Warnings

• Install a matching chair rail and baseboard to unify the trim in the living room.

• Use a 4-inch wide crown molding for traditional 8-foot ceilings in a living area.

References

• 52 Easy Weekend Home Improvements: A Year's Worth of Money-Saving Projects: Time-Life Books
• Architectural Trim: Ideas, Inspiration and Practical Advice for Adding Wainscoting, Mantels, Built-Ins, Baseboards, Cornices, Casings and Columns to Your Home; Nancy E. Berry
• Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement; Creative Publishing