Dress Up Interiors With Millwork

The difference between this moulding and what most homes have is heft and detail. Substantial crown trim defines a space; this treatment uses three pieces, shown later. Clean lines and just enough detail create simple, notable style.

Create unity by using trim to echo the details of the casing treatments around windows and doors. Here, that means choosing simple, clean-lined trim.

Rather than covering a wall in pricey wood, design faux paneling for about $90 per 8-foot section. This look uses plain boards edged with bead moulding and matching paint on the lower wall and trim. The frames can be adapted to any room by adjusting the scale.

Trim may be labeled for one place on the wall but works just as well somewhere else. This room uses the same trim at the floor and ceiling.

Instead of shopping for the perfect crown moulding, build it up. This treatment takes a substantial base moulding, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), then adds casing and bead moulding for detail. At the floor, the same base moulding is flipped and paired with quarter round.

This MDF grid creates the look of paneling with less wood. Line panel interiors with bead moulding for more detail, and install casing at the top over a board to create a finished profile. The same technique was used to build up the door casing.

This more formal wall treatment creates a sophisticated framed surround. The delicate frames add a subtle pattern to the walls and emphasize elements, such as art and sconces. It costs less than $1 per linear foot to create the frames.

Change the look of moulding with your paint selection. A single color (Skyline Shadow, #AR1318) imparts subtlety. Draw attention to trim by painting walls and trim in contrasting shades, such as warm brown walls (Fish Market, #AR619) with cream moulding (Sunday Times, #AR915).