DIY Choosing Trim Molding

• Custom Molding Ideas
• Crown Molding Installation
• Crown Molding Lighting
• Painting Trim

Installing decorative trim molding is one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve the appearance of a room. This page contains some examples of trim molding ideas for baseboards, chair rails, cases and crown.

Paintable vs Stainable Molding

The molding profiles available at most home stores usually includes a couple of different grades, the grade to choose usually depends on whether you plan to paint the trim or you want a natural wood finish.

Trim molding around staircases and banisters is sometimes left natural and the wood finished with stain and varnish. A solid hardwood molding like oak or maple should be used in cases like this where the beauty of a natural wood finish is important. Moldings that dominate a room like door cases, window cases, chair rails and baseboards are usually done with a paintable grade and the trim decorated with paint to complement the walls and room décor.

Trim molding is labeled stainable if it is solid wood of top quality with no seams, knots or other blemishes. This is because the wood will show through the finish and these imperfections would be unacceptable. Paintable molding is one that is manufactured, usually by gluing wood pieces together but may also be form using plaster, MDF or polystyrene foam. Paintable moldings will usually cost considerably less than solid wood, so if you need to save money plan to paint the trim when possible.

There are a few types of molding sold as paintable, these include plaster and polystyrene foam used to make crown molding and ceiling medallions. It also includes wood molding made with short strips of leftover pieces, glued together, to make long pieces for cases, crown molding, chair rails and baseboards. Molded MDF is another paintable molding made by pressing a profile in medium density fiberboard. MDF molding will usually come pre–primed while the glued wood is available both primed and bare.

Building Custom Trim Molding

In addition to the prefab moldings commonly available, you can also build your own custom moldings like the baseboard pictured here. This custom molding and many others are easy to make using the commonly available molding profiles below and 1by finish lumber. This trim is made using a 1x4 or 1x6, base cap and shoe molding to simulate old style trim in a historic house.

For more custom trim molding ideas see this link where you'll find some examples of easy to build decorative trim. Most of the wood profiles on these pages are available in several sizes. Check your local supplier for availability, the size you need can probably be ordered if it's not in stock.

Common Molding Profiles

Base Cap: To build a baseboard use base cap molding to trim the top of a simple 1x6. Use shoe molding, pictured below, to trim the floor. This molding profile is also available in larger pieces for trimming walls and ceilings. This is usually done on the exterior of a house where the siding meets the soffits or around the ceiling on a porch.

Baseboard: Used to trim the gap between a wall and the floor. A decorative edge is cut in the top of these one piece baseboards. These are quick and easy to install but for a more traditional look use a 1x6 and the base cap pictured above to build a baseboard. In old houses the baseboards should always be simulated like this if possible to maintain the distinctive architectural features of the original moldings.

Cases: Used to cover the gap between jambs and the wallboard around doors and windows. Several one–piece moldings are available or a unique casing can be created using two or more different moldings.

Chair Rail: Used to protect a wall from scratches caused by chairs placed too close. This molding is usually used in dining rooms where this is a common problem. This is another molding that is available in a one–piece style, or it can be built using two or more separate pieces of decorative molding.

Corner Bead: Used to protect wall corners preventing plaster chipping at vulnerable edges. Also used to finish outside corners when installing paneling. This corner bead works well to create custom case moldings when used to wrap the outer edge of a 1x4 or 1x6.

Cove Molding: Used to fit into the right angle between walls and ceilings as well as many 90° angles in woodworking projects. This molding, in combination with corner bead molding, can be used to finish corners when installing wall materials such as paneling.

Crown Molding: Used to fit into the right angle formed between walls and ceilings. This one–piece molding can be used alone or in combination with other trim to created a more ornate crown. For more on crown molding see Installing Crown Molding.

Half Round: Used to finish edges on plywood and other sheet goods. Also use this molding to build custom moldings for crown, chair rail and casing.

Picture Rail: Used to hang artwork. These moldings were used extensively in older houses to protect plaster walls that would be easily damaged with picture hooks or nails.

Quarter Round: Used for inside corners on paneled walls and as shoe molding to trim the floor around baseboards. Specially milled shoe molding is cut with one edge a bit smaller the the other for a more attractive finish. Install the molding with the short side against the floor.

Rosette: Used with casings and some custom moldings to form corners when building door and window frames as well as some crown and ceiling moldings.

Stop Bead: Used at the stop point for a swinging door or along the edge of a window sash. Also use a decortive stop bead to enhance crown molding, chair rails, door and window casings.

Threshold Saddle: Use this molding to cover rough flooring when installing a new interior door. Also handy for a transition between wood and carpet or tile floors. Cut a shallow rabbet along one edge if there is a difference in floor height.