These Crown Molding Design Ideas Are Edgy AF (2024)

Bohemian at heart but living in a classic six? Create some stylistic tension by offsetting more conventional crown molding with an easy breezy wall color and layers of paisley.

If you’ve got a minimal vibe going, don’t worry—crown molding won’t necessarily ruin it. Take cues from this New Orleans manse designed by Sara Ruffin Costello and paint your molding in a contrasting color that can help draw the eye upward without ruining the carefully curated look the rest of your decor strikes.

Crown molding doesn’t have to be ornate to make an impact. The crown molding in this eclectic living room, designed by Studio DB, lends a streamlined Art Deco flourish to the otherwise spartan space.

If you’re not a big fan of color, molding is your secret weapon. Keeping the crown molding almost flush with the ceiling lends a more contemporary look to the all-white primary bathroom of this charming California cottage decorated by Madeline Stuart.

A great hotel room is always one of the first places to look for inspiration you can use at home. By using molding as trim slightly lower than the crown molding, a sense of grandeur is added to this suite at the Beekman hotel in New York City.

A mix of styles doesn’t have to clash. In this Brooklyn home, one wall makes a focal point of a mirror with ornate trim, while the opposite wall showcases a sleek fireplace with a subtle marble surround.

Sometimes, embracing tradition pays dividends. Here, a classically decorated room papered in grasscloth needs a dose of crown molding to add dimension.

There’s nothing like a little crown molding to draw the eye upward. In the New Orleans home of designer Michelle R. Smith, crown molding makes the grand proportions of this dining room even grander.

Did somebody say modern farmhouse? In designer Shawn Henderson’s upstate retreat, crown molding elegantly pairs with a beadboard ceiling in a matching masculine gray hue.

Designer Ghislaine Viñas turned this showhouse room into a funhouse bonanza. Ornate crown molding perfectly complements the bold patterned walls.

This comfortable living room has a great sense of proportions, in large thanks to the coordinated wall and trim colors. Designed by Robert Couturier, the walls, moldings, and trim of this Gramercy pad are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dix Blue.

The studied aesthetic of landscape architect Thomas Woltz’s central Virginia home is enhanced by the clever use of different shades of green for the walls and trim. The lighter trim color adds depth and a sense of playfulness.

The cabinetry and trim in the dressing room of Luis Bustamante’s Madrid home pop in black. The use of the contrasting color adds graphic interest and creates a dignified, masculine vibe.

The use of crown molding helps provide a sense of scale in this charming children’s bedroom. The four-poster beds add extra height, allowing the trim detailing to take a supporting role.

This project by designer Kelly Wearstler utilizes subdued moldings and trim to offset the punchy fabrics and bold marble fireplace. Though the ceiling is patterned, the overall effect is cohesive thanks to a subdued, warm-toned color palette.

Black-stained flooring? Deeply veined marble? Pitch-black molding? This luxurious primary bathroom is proof positive that molding can feel totally contemporary and sleek.

The grand proportions of the bed and cozy armchairs make it clear that this bedroom is all about comfort. The crown molding is that final flourish that creates a sense of relaxed elegance and intimacy.

This bright living room captures a bold, playful spirit. Crown molding is used to enhance that, creating a sense of volume and providing a frame for the deep saturated hues used throughout.

A ceiling crown is a great way to add visual interest to a grand room. While there is a lot going on, every surface has its own detail to offer, yet the resulting effect is rich and inviting.

The trim around the fireplace adds graphic interest that picks up the patterning of the floor. The crown molding helps to keep the focus lower to the ground in this case, rather than competing with it.