Moulding Types
Primary trim is used in most installations. This category includes baseboards, casings and crown moulding. Typically, it’s the most functional trim since it covers the gaps between two areas, but it can also be highly decorative, setting the style and tone of the room.
Design-enhancing trim — such as chair rail, panel moulding and architraves — adds extra dimension and style to any room. Walls and entryways with these extra touches will definitely stand out.
Decorative trim, also called décor moulding, has a detailed design embossed into the moulding, which adds specific accents to a room. These distinct designs or patterns allow homeowners the opportunity to dress up a plain space while adhering to a budget. Corner blocks, plinth blocks, rosettes and other accessories are often used in conjunction with ornate moulding.
For more help, see our Moulding Glossary.
The Most Common Moulding Types
While there's a wide variety of moulding and trim products available, it’s helpful to know the types that you’ll typically see in a home. We’ll cover how to use these in more detail below but here are the most common moulding and trim types:
- Flooring Moulding: Flooring moulding makes the transition from one type of flooring to another type of flooring more attractive, helps keep the flooring in place and covers the edges to prevent damage.
- Baseboard Moulding: Baseboard moulding is also known as wall base moulding. It runs along the bottom of a wall, covering the gap between the wall and the flooring and giving a room a finished look.
- Shoe and Round Moulding: Shoe moulding and round or quarter round moulding are rounded strips that can work with baseboard moulding to create a more attractive transition between a floor and a wall.
- Crown Moulding: Crown moulding runs along the top of a wall and is usually installed on an angle between the wall and ceiling, rather than flush against the wall. You can add other types of moulding below the crown moulding to create a more ornate look.
- Cove Moulding: Cove moulding, also called cove trim, is commonly used where walls and ceilings meet. Similar yet less ornate in design compared to crown moulding, it’s a popular moulding choice for many homes today. The concave design of cove trim moulding helps to soften the transition between walls and ceilings or other transitions, like stairs, cabinets or furniture.
- Chair Rail Moulding: Chair rail moulding runs along the walls of a room, parallel to the ceiling and floor and usually about a third of the way up the wall from the floor. It can help keep your wall from being damaged by chairs, but you can also use it for purely decorative purposes or to separate two types of wall treatments, such as wallpaper and paneling.
- Window and Door Trim: Window and door trim covers gaps between a wall and a window or door frame. Like other types of moulding, it can also improve the look of your windows and doors and even add an ornate appeal to a room.
Layered Moulding
You can create your own style by layering moulding products together to achieve a look that’s all your own.
- Combine two, three or four types of moulding as a way to define the scale of a large room.
- Buildups can be used for crown, chair rail, casing or baseboard moulding to dramatically enhance the character of a room.
- Lowe’s offers a large selection of moulding styles and species in convenient pre-cut lengths and price points.
See our DIY Basics video below, 4 Charm-Boosting Moulding Buildups, for moulding buildup ideas.
Traditional Corner Blocks
These products provide a decorative and functional accent. Moulding can be installed with square cuts by simply butting the square end of the moulding to the side of the block or rosette.
Chair
Originally intended to protect walls from the backs of chairs, chair moulding is a kind of wall moulding installed approximately a third of the way up from the floor.
How to Select Your Trim
The right trim can give your home a polished, well-thought-out look. The trim style should be consistent with the style of your home. When deciding which type of trim you want, consider the area where you want to use it, as well as the color and material. Also ensure that it's in proportion to the size and shape of the room.
Moulding Material Choice and Uses
Moulding comes in a variety of species and densities. Understanding the material differences and selecting the right one for your project are key to a successful installation and end result.
- Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a high-grade, composite material. MDF moulding is a lightweight engineered wood product that’s pre-primed, making it easy to paint. Its workability and stability make it a good choice for any moulding application where a paint-grade solution is desired. It comes pre-cut and works just like wood — but with less movement due to changes in humidity and temperature.
- Primed finger-joint products are available in pine and poplar wood. This engineered moulding is made by fitting smaller pieces together to create one long board. Finger-joint moulding looks best when painted.
- Poplar is a favored material by design professionals. The crisp grain lines and rich wood tones accept paint and stain, making it a perfect wood type for any room.
- Pine adds distinct character to a room. The lines from the grain and occasional knots can create interest and texture.
- Fir offers two distinct grain patterns. Mixed grain (MG) offers coarse, wide and light to dark patterns. Vertical grain (VG) has a more consistent and tighter grain pattern and less color variation. This wood should be stained to bring out its natural beauty.
- Oak moulding is typically milled from red or white oak, which is among the hardest and most durable wood species. Both have great grain appeal and are easy to sand, cut and finish. Your choice of stain color can really enhance the character of this material.
- Aspen is a light, soft wood that’s typically used for ornate moulding profiles. It has a straight grain and fine, uniform texture.
- Polyurethane moulding is made from high-density polyurethane that won’t warp, rot or split. This product will create detailed patterns without the expense of wood. It’s lightweight for easy handling, saws like wood and comes pre-primed and ready to paint.
- Polystyrene prefinished moulding is lightweight and easy to cut with conventional saws, making installation a one-person job. It can be installed with construction adhesive or finishing nails and is slightly flexible, making it perfect for walls that aren’t true. Polystyrene moulding is also moisture-resistant, making it an ideal solution for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gives you the look of wood with moisture protection, inside and out. Strong and durable, PVC moulding is easy to cut and won’t chip, split or crack during installation.
Decorative Moulding Types
- Architectural moulding is a low-maintenance material that you can saw, mill and work just like wood. It’s even lighter than hardwood and handles more easily. It’s a premium polystyrene or polyurethane moulding with large profiles that mimic the look of built-up moulding. Architectural moulding doesn’t warp, rot or split.
- Decorative moulding gives your room a finished look and hides slight imperfections where corners meet. It’s easier to install than many people believe, especially when you use corner blocks to eliminate miter cuts.
- Prefinished moulding is a less expensive alternative to wood that comes in several different woodgrain patterns. It’s made from polystyrene and comes ready to install. The finish is applied at the factory, saving you the time and expense of finishing it yourself.
- Unfinished solid wood moulding is the most common decorative moulding used in homes. It’s assembled from pine or hardwood and milled in a multitude of profiles to correspond with almost any personal decorating style.
Wood Substrate Comparison
This chart is a handy reference of the most common wood substrates available. It has details to help you choose the right substrate to meet the demands of your project and budget.
Tools Needed to Install Moulding
In addition to a variety of moulding products to fit your style and budget, Lowe’s has all the tools, paint and additional accessories you need to successfully transform your space:
- Miter Box and Back Saw or Miter Saw: Use one of these to cut perfect angles.
- Coping Saw: The thin blade allows you to carve the end of a piece of moulding to fit flush against another piece.
- Hammer: Drive a nail into a piece of moulding with this tool.
- Finish Nailer: Use this in place of a hammer. Spring-action staplers shouldn’t be used on moulding.
- Finish Nails: These are available in various sizes and materials. The most common size used in moulding is 1-1/4 inches (3d) or 1-1/2 inches (4d). Use a galvanized or stainless steel nail for outdoors.
- Nail Set: Use this to drive the nail below the wood surface without marring the moulding.
- Tape Measure: Use a 25-foot tape measure for most applications.
- Level: An essential tool for making sure your installation goes smoothly, levels are available in traditional or digital versions.
- Eye Protection and Dust Mask: Wear safety gear when installing and cutting the moulding. Proper safety precautions should be a part of every project you undertake.
For painting or staining moulding, you’ll need:
How to Measure a Room for Moulding
- Measure the length of each wall, taking into account spaces for windows and doors.
- Remember to add 10% to the total length for mitering.
- Moulding is available in a variety of lengths. Use longer lengths of moulding in large rooms so that fewer cuts will be required.
For more tips and instructions, see Install Moulding.
How to Select the Right Size Moulding
While your choice of moulding style is a personal one, the size of the room and the height of the ceiling in the room play an important role in making moulding decisions. Lowe’s suggests you consider the following recommendations as a minimum size range to use, based in particular on ceiling height.
Where to Use Moulding
Walls and Ceilings (Chair Rail Moulding, Crown Moulding, Wall Moulding): Crown moulding softens the transition from wall to ceiling while adding charm and a luxurious feel to any room. Panel moulding is ideal for creating wall frames that can be dressed up with wallpaper fabric. The right moulding can really transform a room.
Floor Moulding (Baseboard Moulding, Base Cap Moulding, Shoe Moulding, Quarter-Round Moulding): These moulding elements are essential for covering gaps between floorboards or carpeted edges and adjoining walls. Base cap, shoe and quarter round moulding are typically installed on the bottom edges of a baseboard. They make the baseboard more attractive and can hide any gaps between the baseboard and an uneven floor. Shoe and quarter round moulding have a similar look, but shoe moulding has a more angled profile. Base cap is often more ornate. A great baseboard and supporting trim elements provide a smooth transition from the wall to the floor, guiding you seamlessly from room to room.
Doors and Windows (Casing, Architraves): When walking into a home, two of the first things people notice are the doors and windows. Give them a perfect view with the use of great moulding and trim elements. Focal areas, like entryways, can establish the foundation for the overall style and décor of the entire home.
General-Purpose Moulding (Corner Moulding, Lattice Moulding, Screen Bead): From adding function to an entryway to updating an office with much-needed shelving, moulding and trim make do-it-yourself projects easy. Use additional moulding and trim elements to create a customized look and feel.
For additional moulding uses, see Designing With Millwork.