The Decades-Old Home Feature An Interior Designer Wouldn't Add To A New Build

The question of whether crown molding is outdated has the interior design world divided. As decorative trim that's installed where walls meet the ceiling, when properly executed, crown molding can add value to a home by adding architectural character that elevates the look of formal rooms. It's important to pick the right style if you're planning to install crown molding in your house. Obviously an ornate neoclassical motif would look all wrong in a modern kitchen, just as a pencil-thin profile would get totally lost in a Victorian parlor. Proportions matter as much as style, and thickness, scale, and overall room size should all be considered before committing to the look. But according to Loren Kreiss, the CEO and Creative Director of @kreiss, if you're gutting your home in order to renovate it or you're undertaking a new build, there's absolutely no reason to add this decades-old home feature.

"They're superfluous and fussy," Kreiss said in a recent Instagram post. "Almost everything on the market is trash that lacks authenticity and value." He isn't entirely wrong. You can find plenty of cheap crown molding made of MDF, PVC, polyurethane, and even foam at your local home improvement store. There's nothing inherently wrong with using them to create a more elegant look in your dining or living room. But these modern materials can warp, chip, and discolor over time. Even with decorative profiles ranging from dentil to egg-and-dart, finding molding that combines timeless design with durable, high-quality materials is difficult and expensive. And when you're in the midst of a major renovation or construction project, any aesthetic benefits may not justify the hassle.

Interior designer Carla Aston agrees with Kreiss, explaining on her website that "moldings can be a beautiful thing, except for when they're not." According to Aston, when crown molding is poorly or cheaply done, or when it simply doesn't match the overall style of a house, you're better off without it. She offered several examples of crown molding mistakes you should avoid. If you've got simple builder-grade interior doors, don't overdo it with large rosettes and heavy fluted molding around the frame. "Fussy," she agreed. The interior designer also cautioned that if you are going to install crown molding, you shouldn't forget about how it transitions from room to room, especially on chair rails and around corners. "Start your moldings so the design looks well thought out and purposeful," she suggested.

Along with carefully measuring to figure out how much it costs to install crown molding, if you plan to DIY, be realistic about the amount of precision cutting, painting challenges, and tricky cleaning it will require. Although Jaegar Lumber is in the business of selling crown molding, the company's website says you should avoid installing crown molding in any room with a vaulted ceiling. According to their team, "it's usually very challenging. It may also look awkward as the molding won't attach as it would with a flat ceiling." Even if you manage the installation, and can conquer your fear of heights every time it needs to be cleaned, crown molding on a vaulted ceiling creates an optical illusion that further enlarges a room. This effect quickly makes a space feel overwhelming instead of inviting.