Molding with decorative trim has a special way of bringing a room’s decor to life. Since there are many detailed designs and embellishments to choose from, it’s easy for your home to reflect your style, quirks, preferences, and personality. The good news is, Acoustic Homes offers fully-fledged decorative trim services in the Charlotte, NC area. Whether you need decorative trim such as accent walls, wood paneling, or picture frame molding, we are proud to help you boost the aesthetic appeal and value of your home. What’s more, we are with you every step of the way to ensure the trim type and style you choose is just right for you.
Types of Decorative Trim
There are many types of decorative trim. Therefore, choosing a molding style that suits you can be confusing. So if you find it tricky to distinguish between pierced molding and architrave molding – for instance – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with the full explanations below.
Accent Walls
Accent walls, also called feature walls, are walls with a different design from other walls in a room.
Accent walls are a great way to break up the monotony of four walls, especially if the wall paint is indistinct and plain. Sometimes the other walls are textured and decorated, while the accent wall has no decorations or patterns, in which case it serves to tone down the room’s look. Overall, accent walls are a great design element with a mighty effect that can make any room more enjoyable.
Shiplap
Shiplap is a style of paneling that involves wide, flat boards that are placed horizontally. Because the boards have grooves cut at the top and bottom, they can easily lock together and overlap to form a tight seal. In fact, the style’s name originates from a time when shiplap was used to waterproof ships. Today, shiplap is used as a creative architectural element by many homeowners, and you can incorporate it into your kitchen, bathroom, living room, or other preferred space. If you happen to be in the Charlotte, NC area, we can nail this natural look for you, whether you want to transform your interior or exterior.
Wood Paneling
Wood paneling used to have a mainly structural purpose before plaster or drywall came along. However, it’s now a highly decorative style that adds character to most modern homes. Common styles include;
- Board and batten. This can be exterior siding or interior paneling that features a series of wide boards overlaid with narrow strips (battens), which cover the joints.
- Tongue and groove. In this instance, the panels are made when the “tongue” of one board neatly interlocks with the “groove” of another.
- Beadboard. This is similar to tongue and groove, but connects panels instead of single boards.
- Flat panels. A type of wainscoting strongly associated with high-end or luxury designs.
- Raised panels. Also, a type of elegant wainscoting with 3D or protruding components.
If you need a helping hand to choose the right type of wood paneling for your project or home, contact our team at Acoustic Homes to get some handy pointers.
Panel Molding
Panel molding are 100% decorative trim pieces that go over an already existing wall. The pieces are first joined together to create a frame, which is then installed on the wall in raised-panel construction. This creates a focal point that adds depth and style to the room. This raised trim style is suitable for almost any room in your house, such as the living room, bedroom, and kitchen.
Faux Wood Beams
As the name suggests, faux wood beams aren’t made from natural wood. However, they look just like the real thing and come with the added advantage of being lightweight. These decorative structures are therefore easy to install on your ceiling, from end to end. They’re typically hollow with three solid sides and create a warm and homely appeal for homeowners on a budget.
Ceilings
Decorative panels for ceilings are a popular trend that’s been around for centuries. When it comes to creating an accent, most property owners tend to focus on wall decor and furniture, but the ceiling can also be used to create a bold statement. Part of this includes crown molding, which is trim that’s found where walls and ceilings intersect. Ceiling decor can be simple or elaborate, but either way, it can transform the room in a subtle but impressive way.
Picture Rail
Picture rails feature molding installed higher up on the wall, and they allow you to hang paintings and photographs without damaging your walls. That means you can hammer nails into the molding rather than the wall. All in all, a picture rail is a decorative element that helps create a warm and inviting environment suitable for many artsy personalities.
Picture Frame Molding
The name describes this decorative trim well, but, to put it another way, picture frame molding involves square or rectangular shapes that resemble empty picture frames. These can be single frames or a repeated pattern that spans the whole wall. They are a purely decorative wall design element used to add more style and character to plain walls. Typically, the trim is painted a different color than the wall, or it may have the same color but with pronounced shadow effects. Sometimes, picture frame molding is actually used to frame photographs or art.
Architrave Molding
Also referred to as casings, architraves are exterior or interior decorative trim used to frame doors and windows. Therefore, it enhances the appearance of windows and doors. Depending on the type of architrave, the decorative effect can be contemporary, or it can be used to resemble Victorian homes. Generally, window and door casings are 2-3,” and the trim hides any gaps around them, which creates a smooth continuous frame.
Pierced Molding
Again, the name is descriptive enough because this type of decorative trim isn’t solid through and through. Instead, the design has gaps, which allow you to see the wall behind it. Pierced molding comes in a wide range of designs, with some designs reminiscent of Egyptian and Greek styles. We recommend them as a great and simple way to beautify your home, and that’s why we offer best-in-class pierced molding services for your convenience.
Corbels
Think of corbels as brackets that are placed vertically on a wall to create a 90-degree angle with a horizontal surface such as a ceiling or shelf. Corbels usually have a weight-bearing function, such as support for kitchen countertops and shelves. However, they can also be purely decorative and are often used to create a fancy and interesting look.
Where to Use Decorative Trim
Here’s a quick look that matches each part of your home to the type of decorative trim that’s best to install there:
- Walls and ceilings – panel molding, wood paneling, accent walls, corbels, picture frame molding, faux wooden beams, shiplap, and picture rail.
- Doors and windows – architraves molding or casing.
Types of Materials for Decorative Trim
The types of molding mentioned above can be created using different materials, such as
- MDF. Medium-density fiberboard is a cheaper alternative to wood. It sometimes comes with a natural wood veneer, and if not, must be painted first.
- Finger-jointed pine or poplar. This option features a solid board created by joining smaller pieces together.
- Primed wood. Primed wood is coated with paint primer, and this saves time and labor since an undercoat is not required.
- Poplar. Poplar has consistent, distinctive grains which can either be stained or painted. It’s suitable for any type of room.
- Pine. Pine has a more yellowish appearance than poplar, and its grains and random knots easily add character to a room.
- Fir. This option comes with either a mixed grain pattern, which has a coarser appearance, or a vertical grain pattern that offers a more refined look. Fir typically requires staining for best results.
- Aspen. Aspen can be recognized by its light and soft texture and straight, fine grains that make it more suitable for sophisticated molding profiles.
- Oak. Oak molding has tighter grains and can be made from red or white oak. They both produce durable wood that’s easy to process and comes out looking elegant.
- Polyurethane. High-density polyurethane is a low-cost and lightweight alternative to wood. It’s often easy to paint since it comes pre-primed.
- Polystyrene. Polystyrene molding offers many advantages. For instance, it’s lightweight and easy to cut and install.
- Polyvinyl chloride. PVC can simulate wood, but like polystyrene it’s also lightweight, waterproof, and easier to install.
Tips & Tricks
- Layering your molding. Decorative trim is all about creativity. That means you can easily create your own unique style by layering different molding styles.
- Size. Ensure that you have chosen trim work that correctly matches the height of your walls. Otherwise, trim work that’s not sized perfectly can detract from instead of enhancing the appeal of the overall decor.
- Hire professionals. Sometimes DIY decorative trim projects can be a hassle that’s best left to professionals. That’s why we offer the best decorative trim services around Charlotte, NC, to make your life easier. You may be interested in accent walls or looking to glam up your ceiling – make us your one-stop-shop for all this, plus more!
Professional Trim Installation
So, whether you’re aiming for a rustic or contemporary look or even something with Victorian vibes, you can get all your decorative trim needs sorted with Acoustic Homes. We pride ourselves on our quality craftsmanship and the passion and creativity we breathe into every project that comes our way. We service the Charlotte, NC, area, so if you’re close by, contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you transform your home.
