Trim and Molding Styles for Your New Home

From simple to fancy, the trim and molding in your new home can change the look of any room. With so many trim and molding styles to choose from, it can be hard to remember all their names, so we’ve created a list here that you can reference at any time. Since new homes are similar to a “blank slate'', ready for you to add your own taste, bookmark this page and come back to it when you close on your home!

Baseboard - Simple in style and function, a baseboard is a narrow wooden board that runs along the base of a wall in order to cover the area where the wall meets the floor. Every home, at a minimum, has baseboards. Without them, the room would appear unfinished. 

Crown Molding - Similar to a baseboard but appearing at the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling, crown molding is more decorative in nature and makes a room look complete. This molding can be simple in design or made with more details.

Beadboard - Beadboard is wood paneling installed along the bottom portion of a wall and is defined by a series of long, vertical grooves. It was originally used to protect walls from chairs and other furniture knocking against it, and often gives the room a cozy, cottage-like feel. Check out our very own how-to design a beadboard!

Beamed Ceiling - Exposed beams in hallways and rooms are popular right now, even if those beams aren't load-bearing. Beams can be added to a ceiling to create a rustic look, or just because they look more interesting than a flat ceiling. You can also choose to expose the actual load-bearing beams in your ceiling and stain or paint them to match the style of your home.

Chair Rail - Designed to protect the walls from marks and dents caused by the backs of chairs, a chair rail is a long piece of wood installed around the perimeter of the room right at the height of the top of a chair. 

Coffered Ceiling - A coffered ceiling gives any home a richer look. This design is mainly found on high ceilings and features coffers — which are like large imprints — created by installing wood beams in a grid pattern of rectangles, squares, or other shapes. In residential homes, the imprints are usually larger compared to the smaller ones sometimes found in churches or other large public buildings. Take a look at our how-to design a faux coffered ceiling. 

Dentil Crown - Dentil crown is a piece of crown molding that incorporates small, rectangular-shaped blocks in a repeating pattern along the length of the wood. This design detail makes any room more formal.

Medallions - Originally cast in plaster or handmade from wood or papier-mâché, ceiling medallions were, and still are, used to dress up a ceiling where the light fixture hangs. Today's medallions come in a variety of designs, and are typically made from a foam-like material and mass-produced, making them easy to find and install in any home.

Wainscoting - Wainscoting is similar to beadboard and covers the bottom half or three-quarters of a wall. The wood has a wider pattern, and is typically used in dining areas, living rooms, kitchens, hallways, and entries. A fun version of wainscoting to try out is our very own how-to on board and batten wainscoting. 

Whatever you choose, your home will look complete and stylish with trim and molding! Be sure to check out our DIY Gallery for even more trim styles and home decor ideas to make your home truly unique and you.