How Big a Molding for a Foyer?

Tall molding is ideal for foyers with high ceilings.

Molding, or trim work, is an architectural feature that helps define the style of your home. It provides windows, doors, ceilings, floors, walls, staircases and built-ins with the finishing touch that creates visual cohesion. Although trim is often associated with traditional architecture or upscale decor, it comes in a range of styles and materials suitable to a variety of tastes, according to the book “Ultimate Guide to Crown Molding.” Ceiling height is the primary factor in determining the ideal molding size for any room, including a foyer.

Ceiling Height

There aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to selecting the molding that best suits an entryway, according to the book “Trim: Step-By-Step Projects.” You should, however, take the overall space into account, including your foyer’s square footage and any vertical space imparted by ceiling height. Higher ceilings and larger, more open entryways generally call for larger moldings. Small entryways with ceilings of low or average height can easily be overpowered by large moldings, especially if those moldings are dark or ornate.

Cornice Molding

Cornice, or crown, molding is used to trim the area where a wall meets the ceiling. It’s usually more of an architectural focal point than the baseboard molding installed where a wall meets the floor because baseboards are often obscured by furnishings. In general, the cornice molding in a foyer with an 8- to 9-foot ceiling should measure between 2.5 to 4.5 inches wide, according to the “Ultimate Guide to Crown Molding.” Cornice molding ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 inches wide is best suited for a foyer with a 9- to 10-foot ceiling, while an entryway with a 10- to 12-foot ceiling can handle cornices that run as wide as 12 inches.

Baseboard Molding

Ceiling height and square footage become less relevant when selecting baseboard molding for your foyer. Instead, use the same size baseboard installed throughout the rest of your home to create a sense of uniformity. If all of the baseboard molding in your home is uniformly wide, for example, you can easily carry it into a foyer with an average to high ceiling. If, however, your entryway has a significantly higher ceiling than any other room in your home and you’ve chosen a correspondingly larger cornice molding, it may be appropriate to balance out the space with a baseboard that’s taller or more ornate than what's used throughout your home.

Considerations

Traditionally, a house’s architecture dictates its trim details, including both the design and size of its moldings. For example, Federal-style homes tend to have simpler, more slender moldings than Georgian or Victorian houses. Most modern tract houses are finished with basic window and door trim and very simple baseboards and often don’t have any type of cornice molding except for in formal dining rooms, living rooms and foyers. When it comes to selecting the appropriate molding for any space, a home of a particular architectural influence may allow you fewer suitable options than one that’s more generically designed.

References

• Trim: Step-By-Step Projects; Mark Feirer
• Better Homes and Gardens Ideas & How-To Trimwork; Paula Marshall, Editor
• Ultimate Guide to Crown Molding; Neal Barrett