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Is Crown Molding Worth It? Home Design Choices

Is Crown Molding Worth It? Home Design Choices

Many people seem to gravitate towards crown molding in their homes, but with the cost of getting it done, is it truly worth it? We will look into it and see if the crown molding is worth the added cost!

If the crown molding is installed properly and painted professionally, then it can add more value to the overall price of your home. However, it is difficult to install and can actually lower the value of the home if it is done incorrectly or if it is not painted properly.  

With this information, you will want to think about all the repercussions of getting crown molding installed in your home.

So, we have taken a look at how it can make your home worth more, and how to go about it if you would like to add crown molding, so keep reading to get all the information you need. 

What is Crown Molding?

Corner wall with crown molding

The term crown molding refers to a cornice that is placed on the top of the interior walls where the wall meets the ceiling. It can also be installed above cabinets and doors if you like the way that looks. 

This decorative element gives a finishing touch to a room and is often used in areas where a homeowner wants to have a more formal atmosphere, like in the formal dining room or kitchen. 

The name comes from the fact that this trim is mainly used on the top of the walls, hence the “crown”. The term molding comes from the fact that you cut the trim to fit your specific room, therefore molding it to fit your space. 

Does Crown Molding Increase Home Value?

In short, yes, it can. However, there are some conditions that have to be met in order to ensure that the installation is done correctly and it is painted properly in order for it to raise the value!

When it’s done well, adding crown molding can be a great addition to any home. This will allow you to add more value to your home and enables you to sell it for more money. 

However, as I mentioned, you need to ensure that everything is done right. If it isn’t, then this addition could add more issues to the home and bring down the value. 

Buyers don’t often want to spend money on fixing up a house but want to find a move-in-ready option that won’t require much work. If the crown molding is not done correctly, then it will have to be removed or remain an eyesore.

This will add more money to the cost of repairs to the home before move-in and cause some buyers to look elsewhere, or offer a much lower offer for the house.

So, you are taking a bit of a gamble by adding crown molding, and possibly wasting money if it’s not done right!

What is the Purpose of Crown Molding? 

The installation of crown molding is purely for aesthetic purposes as it doesn’t do anything for the strength of the house. However, because of the possible value that it can add to your home, it can be used for this purpose when you are planning to sell your house. 

Some people will gladly pay a higher price for a house that has these small design elements since it means that they won’t have to get it done themselves after moving in.

So, this could allow you to sell your house for a higher price and get better offers for it when you want to sell it. 

Some molding styles have a roman or old-world look to them, which is an aesthetic that many people like to go for.

So, if you intend to make a modern home look like a certain style, getting a particular style of crown molding can help you achieve that look. 

Does Crown Molding Make a Room Look Bigger or Smaller?

Crown molding will not make your room look smaller as long as the size of it is appropriate for the room it is in. With smaller rooms, you want to ensure that you choose a thinner option that will fit the size of the room, or else it could end up making the room look smaller than it is. 

However, if you choose a style and size that fits the room better, then it might make the room feel a bit bigger. Just take a look at multiple options and take the measurement to be able to find the right fit. 

If you want to make a room look bigger, then getting a thinner crown molding will help a good-sized room look bigger. Just make sure not to go with something too small, or else it may look unproportionate. 

If you need some help figuring out the measurements for the room you have, you should talk to a specialist at the home improvement store where you intend to purchase your crown molding or find a professional to do the installation for you. This will ensure that you get a good recommendation for the sizing for each room you want to install the molding in. 

If you have a large space to work with, you will have many more styles to choose from, so keeping the crown molding to those larger rooms can keep you from dealing with spatial issues along the way. 

Is Crown Molding Going Out of Style?

Although you might not see crown molding in every house, this isn’t because it is going out of style, but rather that not everyone can afford to install it.

This can be an expensive element to add to a house, mostly because the installation and painting should be done professionally to ensure that it is done to the highest standards. 

However, for those who can afford it, crown molding is often done in the home to add more value, which means that cheaper homes will often not have it.

So, it depends on which houses you are looking at. If you have been searching for a lower-priced option, then you might not see crown molding. 

Having crown molding is not going anywhere since it is still a very popular addition to houses for those who can afford it. There are also more modern options that have changed with the times, so it is not considered an old or traditional option.

If you have additional concerns around crown molding going out of style, then make sure to take a look at my dedicated article on the topic here.

What Rooms Should Have Crown Molding? 

You can put crown molding in whatever rooms you want it in, but some rooms come with it more often than others. These are typically the spaces that are used when you have people over.

This means that areas like the living room, dining room, entryway, and kitchen are all the main rooms where you want to install it first. The dining room and living room are two of the main rooms simply because they are the most used. 

However, if you love the look in other rooms, you can feel free to add it to your bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways. But you will have to see about the price of the molding and know what you will be able to afford. 

If you can’t do all the rooms that you want at once, it may be worth it to start with the most public spaces first, then move on to the bedrooms or bathrooms later on. This will add more value to the house even if you decide not to continue with the additions in the private rooms. 

But if you want to add more, you can always do so when you have the money saved to have it done. You can even choose to have it in other parts of the room beside the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling.

If you’d like, you can add it around windows, headboards, and cabinets. It all depends on what style you like and how much molding you like throughout the entire house. 

Conclusion 

If you have been thinking about getting crown molding installed in your home, you want to know that your investment is worth the price and time it takes to have it done.

No one wants work done on their house all the time only to find out that their money did not make as big of a difference as they thought it would. 

Well, you can rest easy because crown molding is a good investment when thinking about upgrading your home. Whether you are looking to do the whole house or just want to have it in a few select rooms, you can get your money’s worth well you sell by increasing the price of the home. 

Getting more for the home that you have lived in and upgraded is a great feeling, and even if adding crown molding is one of the only things you decide to do, you will find that many buyers will pay the higher price instead of paying the cost of the work themselves.

So, overall, it can be a great option!

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Lindsay Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of ProjectPerfectHome.com! I created this website to be a resource for everyone who wants to make the best home possible.