1 A small band of chocolate brown frames the Hermès orange walls in this interior. This could be done with paint or even meticulously applied ribbon, if all your angles were regular. Image via Elements of Style
2 White moldings, including a chair rail, add tailored opulence to a rich blue wall. Image via The Lennoxx
3 The door details in this bedroom are highlighted with contrasting paint that matches the lime green walls. Jason and John's House Tour
4 Painting a contrasting stripe down the stairs can turn a functional area into an appealing design element. Design by Estrella Salietti via mixr.se
5 Picture frame moldings elevate a closet door to a piece of decor, and a chair rail and faux-wainscoting help turn an entryway into a glamorous foyer. Design by Celerie Kemble, from Domino, via Bride's
6 Thick white moldings above white paneling keep this navy blue room airy and nautical instead of dark and oppressive. Design by Michele Bonan via Lonny
7 The thick white paneling in this room balances the apricot-colored walls, so the effect is sunny and not syrupy. Design by David Caffieri via Lonny
8 I'm not always a fan of thin picture moldings, but on a black wall in this modern space, the proportions work to add architectural interest and decorative drama. From Mackenzie's House Call
9 Thin picture moldings create a faux-paneled bedroom. Via Apartment Therapy
10 A similar color scheme as image 9, but with slightly thicker molding. Which do you prefer? Image via designwithchristine.
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You have to be very, very, very careful with moulding as it could end up a total gong show. If your furniture (or even layout) doesn't go with it, it won't flow and it will look unnatural and DIY-ish.
I like Picture 1; it works because it brings interest to a small space. The other rooms look too busy to me.
I like 1 and 5 and agree that the rest are too busy. There are too many lines going in different directions and the eye doesn't know where to go. I'd prefer highlighting a beautiful piece of part or furniture. But the moldings?
And I can't imagine how much work it takes to install.
Dark walls and white trim make me cringe when not done right (which is almost all the time).
You see it all the time in new construction in the suburbs. People just love to throw red and dark blue on the walls with the glaring super white trim.
I like 1 except for the dark outline around the orange and I liked 10 but I feel there were too many "panels".
It looks fabulous on the stairs. I like when it adds a little bit of architectural interest when there otherwise is none; or when it's historically accurate. The dark borders in the first image make the room look cartoony.
Picture 1 is like living inside a Hermèsbox but I still like it!
This is definitely suburban decorating. Every home on my block looks like the pictures.
A little too fancy for my style, but they sure are beautiful!
I really like number 1.
Gotta agree with PeteG. He would have appreciated seeing a neighbor's home where every wall, window and door casing was piped with decorative molding; a DIY job by the proud homeowner. Garish.
The kicker: the home's basic architecture is in that vaguely Texas Tuscan style suburban home, with textured walls and rounded corners. (Like my home; which is why I would never dream of doing this kind of faux architectural element.)
I do admit I like #5 by Celerie Kemble. Low-key and appropriate. The pooch ain't so bad, either.
The trick is highlighting molding is to make the background almost disappear as in pic #5 and six. If the molding isn't chunky enough it looks too busy and cheap. Pic #10 is nice because the contrast is subtle. You know it's there but it's not smashing you over the head.
the people who own the house i rent a room in painted the living room like picture 8, only the molding was clearly there beforehand and the dark blue came second, so the insides of the molding "frames" are really sloppy looking as they didnt use a tiny brush to get into the corners.
i dont like it, but as its a temporary living situation (ie less than a year left) im not about to drop money into changing it
agree this can look terrible if not done by experts and/or in keeping with the style of the home
I agree with the people who advise caution with molding. It really does have the capacity to look dreadful and to limit furniture placement.
My own apartment in NYC had molding when I moved in. Over time, I saw how disproportionate it was and came to the conclusion that "Park Avenue French" is just pretentious.
Further, molding is a magnet for dirt and dust and it really is not a good idea unless one lives in a very unpolluted area.
Last year, I had a contractor do away with my pretentious Park Avenue French molding. He took it down and then replastered my walls, a process that took time and effort (and money).
It has made all the difference both in cleanliness and in my ability to hang art and place furniture. My apartment looks MUCH better and feels way cleaner.
That said, molding well executed can look beautiful.
The first photo is particularly striking. I love it.
Added moulding would clash with my tract ranch's basic, informal architecture. Besides, I prefer a simple, solid background for furniture, art, and lighting because it's more flexible.