Crown mouldings are one of the most effective ways to elevate the look and feel of a room. Whether you are restoring a historic brownstone or adding character to a newer space, crown mouldings bring architectural charm and a finished look to any room. Our project Dream in Fort Greene was filled with plaster crown mouldings on the parlor floor.
While plaster and wood are long-time favorites, there is one modern material that has quickly become one of our go-to solutions. Resin crown mouldings combine classic profiles with modern-day practicality. We are using resin crown mouldings at our in-progress project in Queens, New York, that we call Rooted in Ridgewood.
Here is a breakdown of the most common types of crown mouldings and why resin crown mouldings may be a great option.
Plaster Crown Mouldings
Many historic homes feature plaster crown mouldings that were hand-carved and incredibly detailed. These original mouldings are part of what makes old homes so special. When they are still intact, preserving them is always our first choice.
However, plaster is heavy and delicate. It can be expensive to repair and is not easy to replicate. For new installations or partial restorations, it may not always be the most practical option. When we are doing a full restoration and we want to keep the integrity of the original building materials we’ll splurge, but it isn’t always necessary
Wood Crown Mouldings
Wood mouldings became popular in the early twentieth century and are still widely used today. They can be painted or stained depending on the look you want and are available in many standard profiles.
Wood is a great option for matching baseboards and other trim throughout a home. The main challenge is that wood can warp over time and is not ideal in rooms with a lot of moisture or temperature changes. It is also less flexible when dealing with uneven walls or ceilings, which is something we see often in older homes.
Resin Crown Mouldings Offer Style and Flexibility
This is where modern materials really shine. Resin crown mouldings are made from lightweight and flexible composite materials that are easy to work with. They can mimic the look of plaster or wood but come with added benefits.
Here Is Why We Love Resin Crown Mouldings
- They are lightweight and easy to install, which helps keep renovation timelines on track
- They can flex slightly to adjust to uneven surfaces, which makes them ideal for old brownstones
- They are available in a variety of traditional and historic styles
- They are resistant to moisture and do not warp, crack, or rot over time
- They are typically more affordable than plaster or custom millwork
Once painted, resin crown mouldings look just like their traditional counterparts. They provide all the visual detail with less maintenance and cost.
Where Crown Mouldings Work Best
Crown mouldings are not required in every room, but they can enhance almost any space. We often use them in the following areas:
- Living rooms and parlors where they create a sense of formality and elegance
- Bedrooms to soften the ceiling transition and add warmth
- Kitchens and bathrooms especially when using moisture-resistant materials like resin crown mouldings
- Hallways and staircases to add continuity and visual flow throughout a home
When paired with baseboards and window or door trim, crown mouldings help define the architecture of a room and bring a cohesive design to life.
What Crown Mouldings We Use
We added new crown mouldings to our Parisian-inspired brownstone Carroll Jardin. See what we used at this project below:
Besides Carroll Jardin, we also added crown mouldings to our project Park Slope Paradise. For Park Slope Paradise, we used a single profile, linked below:
