According to the Encyclopedia Britannica (for those of you not old enough to remember a shelf of these in your classroom, google it) “moulding (which can also be spelled moulding) in architecture and the decorative arts, is a defining, transitional or terminal element that contours or outlines the edges and surfaces on surfaces…” It can be made of any applied material, such as plaster, wood, or wood alternatives.

Moulding Serves Four Functions:

1. it adds decoration to a room on the walls or ceiling (strip moulding or trim)

2. it is a decorative finishing element that is used for capping cabinets, columns and most often covers a gap between the top of walls and the ceiling, (crown mold)

3. it protects the wall surface at the floor (baseboard and shoe mold)

4. it frames or trims a door or window (casing)

Strip Moulding or Trim

Strip Moulding or trim adds a decorative component without offering the walls or ceiling much protection. It can break up walls or ceilings to allow creative wallcovering combinations or to draw the eye to various features.  It can be creative in design and result in a beautiful aesthetic.

Chair rail is one of the simplest and most common types of strip moulding. It is a straight horizontal strip that typically runs across the room and divides the wall into an upper and lower half.  Traditionally it was used to literally keep the backs of chairs from hitting the wall, however now it is typically a design element.

Paneling is another type of moulding and can be used on walls as well as ceilings. It is decorative thin sheets of wood (panels) framed together by narrower and thicker strips of wood. Wainscoting is a specific form of panel moulding that typically runs only up to the height of a chair rail or lower.

Crown Moulding

One of the most known types of moulding with a plethora of decorative moulding profiles to choose from, crown moulding adds an elegant aesthetic to dress up a room.  There are many types of crown moulding; from simple clean lines to the more decorative crown, such as cove, dentil, and bead pearl. Many realtors consider crown moulding a nice detail that can increase the appraised value of a house.

Baseboard and Shoe moulding

The baseboard is a popular type of trim and serves as the counterpart to crown moulding.  It covers the joint where the wall meets the floor, is not as noticeable, and can be much plainer than crown moulding. Paired with baseboard and stained or painted to match the trim, shoe moulding is a small, thin rounded strip of moulding that adds a decorative touch and covers any gaps that may exist between the bottom of the baseboard trim and the floor.

Casing

This type of moulding typically is used to “trim” the perimeter of windows and doors.  It is typically less wide (tall) but thicker than baseboard.  It can be both decorative and functional, enhancing the look of a door.  It conceals the space between the wall and the door jamb.  Door casings come in a wide variety of styles from clean and simple to ornate and elegant.