Types of Moulding: How to Choose Trim Styles for Your Home

A room is shown, finished with various types of mouldings and trim.

When it comes to choosing the right type of moulding for your space, understanding the different styles and features is important. Moulding refers to decorative elements applied to walls, ceilings, and other surfaces to enhance aesthetics. It comes in various materials like wood, plaster, or composite and helps add depth and character to interior spaces.

Moulding and trim are often used interchangeably, but trim also includes elements like the casings around doors and windows, baseboards, and crown moulding that help to provide a polished finish to your space. We’ll help you choose the best type of moulding for your space in this handy guide.

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Popular Moulding Types and Their Uses

Moulding helps to significantly enhance three key areas in your home. Floor moulding, such as baseboards, hides the seam between your walls and floors, while ceiling moulding, including crown moulding and coves, softens the transition between walls and ceilings. For doors and windows, casing moulding creates a polished look while hiding gaps.

Floor Moulding

Floor moulding types, like baseboards and shoe moulding, conceal gaps between walls and floors and help to safeguard against dust and debris accumulation.

Baseboard Moulding

Modern baseboard styles are installed at the bottom of the wall and help to conceal the gap between the wall and the floor. They offer both decorative appeal and practical protection against scuffs and dings.

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Quarter round moulding is shown at the bottom of a wall.

Quarter Round and Shoe Moulding

Quarter round and shoe moulding are wall trim elements used alongside baseboards.

Quarter round is a quarter-circle-shaped moulding that covers gaps between baseboards and floors, giving you a seamless look.

Shoe moulding is similar but has a flat profile to give you a different style along with a polished transition that helps protect your walls.

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T-Moulding, Reducers and Thresholds

T-Moulding, reducers and thresholds are crucial components of wall mouldings and flooring installations.

T-moulding is used to bridge the gap between two different types of flooring materials, such as hardwood and tile. It not only enhances the look of the transition but also prevents tripping hazards and damage along the edges of your flooring.

Reducers create a gradual slope to prevent stumbling and to ensure a seamless flow between rooms with different floor levels. Reducers help to maintain the visual continuity of the space and add a safe and professional finish.

Thresholds are installed at the bottom of doorways to create a smooth transition between rooms with different floor types. They can also help to seal gaps beneath doors, preventing drafts, noise and dust from entering.

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Stair Nose and Handrail Moulding

Stair noses are a specialized piece of moulding that fits over the edges of your stairs, helping to prevent wear and tear on your stair edges, while providing a seamless transition between the vertical riser and the horizontal tread.

Handrail moulding is the part that you hold on to while going up or down the staircase. It comes in various shapes, patterns and materials, and can not only add safety to your stairs, but also match with your décor – giving you security and visual appeal all in one.

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Ceiling and Wall Moulding

Ceiling moulding adds a finishing touch to interior spaces by softening the transition between your walls and ceilings as well as adding depth and visual appeal.

Crown and Cove Moulding

Cove moulding and crown moulding are trim elements that have two distinct looks. While crown moulding may incorporate intricate details like "egg and dart" or "dentil" patterns, cove moulding typically lacks such ornate features. Egg and dart moulding consists of alternating oval and dart-like shapes, while dentil features a repeating block pattern.

How to Cut Crown Moulding

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Decorative Wall Panelling

Some of the more popular decorative wall panelling styles include shiplap, board and batten, and wainscoting.

Shiplap features horizontal wooden planks with overlapping joints, creating a rustic look, while board and batten showcases vertical boards separated by narrower battens, offering a clean and linear aesthetic. Wainscoting combines various panel designs on the lower portion of the wall, adding texture and elegance.

Accent Wall Ideas

DIY Wall Panelling

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Chair Rail Moulding

Chair rail moulding is a horizontal trim installed along walls that serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. It protects walls from chair backs rubbing or bumping it, while also adding visual interest to an otherwise empty wall space.

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Window and Door Moulding

Door and window moulding is important not only for aesthetic purposes – as it helps to bring together your décor and style choices – but it also offers draft and moisture protection, keeping your home warm and dry.

A door casing is shown on the front door of a home.

Door Casing and Architrave

Door casings and architraves are essential architectural elements used to frame and enhance the appearance of doors.

Door casings are the vertical and horizontal mouldings that encase a door, providing a transition between the door and the surrounding wall.

Architraves are horizontal mouldings positioned at the top of a door casing, extending across the horizontal door support. They often include decorative details and are used to add elegance and visual interest to your doorway.

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A window with casing and a sill is shown in a home office.

Window Casing and Sill

Window casings are the trim around a window, and along with sills – which are the horizontal base – they help enhance insulation, energy efficiency, and visual appeal while safeguarding against external elements and maintaining structural integrity.

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Popular Moulding Materials

Some of the most popular moulding materials include:

MDF Moulding

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) moulding is a composite wood product that’s often used for decorative trim and mouldings due to its affordability and smooth surface.

PVC Moulding

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) moulding is a plastic-based material that is durable, moisture-resistant, and suitable for use in both interior and exterior projects.

Wood Moulding

Available in various types like pine, oak, and more, wood moulding adds a natural and elegant look to interiors.

Vinyl Moulding

Vinyl moulding, made from PVC, is low maintenance, moisture resistant and usually comes finished, making it a convenient choice for various trim and moulding needs.

Popular Moulding and Millwork Accessories

A corner block is shown on the corner of a floorboard.

Corner block: Corner blocks provide an elegant transition between intersecting mouldings.
Rosette: Rosettes are decorative additions placed at the connection of door frames and casings.
Plinth block: Plinth blocks are placed at the base of door casings to create a seamless transition between door frames and baseboards.
Divider block: Divider blocks act as connectors between longer lengths of mouldings, ensuring smooth transitions.
Corbel: Corbels are ornamental supports that are often used beneath countertops, shelves, or mantels.
Ceiling Medallion: Ceiling medallions bring a focal point to chandeliers or light fixtures.
Fireplace Mantel: Fireplace mantels create a great display area for decor while also helping to frame the fireplace.
Column: Columns can be used as structural or decorative elements.

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When deciding on the type of moulding for your space, remember these general guidelines:

Enhancing a room with moulding is a straightforward DIY upgrade. Opt for crown moulding to elevate ceiling height or employ chair rails and wainscoting for a dining room.
Always take accurate measurements. Remember to factor in window and door openings. Be sure to also buy about 15 to 20 per cent more material than you need in case you make any errors or cut something to the wrong length.
Crown moulding and baseboards are typically available in 8-foot and 12-foot lengths.
Moulding styles span from classic to modern, including options like farmhouse aesthetics. Select a style that resonates with your personal taste.