I Love This $38 Vintage-Inspired Find So Much, I’ve Bought It 3 Times

Over the past couple of years, I’ve added some awesome architectural interest to my apartment with the help of a handyman and some key materials from Amazon and beyond. This crown molding majorly transformed my bedroom, for one, and it looks pretty convincing, if you ask me. I’ve also had picture frame molding hung in my living room, and I splurged on a faux mantel for that area and on one for my bedroom.

To give my apartment even more character, though, I decided to tackle the fifth wall in each of the areas with my next project, having ornate ceiling medallions installed. I liked this Ekena Millwork style so much that I’ve now purchased it three times — one for my bedroom, living room, and kitchen!

Made to resemble plaster, this medallion is actually lightweight urethane and can easily be adhered overhead using adhesive. The “carved” detailing on it is beautiful. And while I’ve left my medallions white, they come factory-primed so you can easily paint them if you want, whether you’re aiming for a color drenched, monochromatic vibe or a high-contrast look. At just $38 a pop, these medallions are inexpensive enough but look super luxe, especially from the distance that most people view them at.

When surrounded by the right decor, these medallions definitely pass as authentic (most of my guests assume they’re original — the biggest compliment!) and make my ceiling look much more “finished.” Sticking with the same medallion style in each room is my trick; the fact that they match makes them seem like they’ve just been there all along.

Putting these up really is as simple as applying adhesive to them, sticking them to your ceiling, and then reinstalling your light fixture through them once the glue has set. Keep in mind that while some types of adhesive are advertised as being renter-friendly, they may leave some residue behind during removal. It’s best to check with your landlord before installing a medallion like this to avoid any conflicts down the line.

For $114 total spent, I really think these medallions make all the difference in my apartment. I only wish my bathroom had the right kind of overhead light to install one in there, too!