What Are Decorative Panel Moldings Made Of?
Wall panel moldings can be made of wood, gypsum, plaster, or urethane. You may also see moldings made of polyurethane, which is the same as urethane; polyurethane is a polymer made of urethane.
Urethane panel molding is much more durable than its gypsum or plaster alternatives. Gypsum and plaster are much more fragile and need to be handled very carefully during shipping and installation. Polyurethane or urethane panel molding is also stronger than wood, so you don't have to worry about it breaking. Urethane is also one of the least expensive materials to choose for your home's molding needs. Most traditional millwork today is offered in polyurethane: It's stable, it's rot- and insect-resistant, and it comes in the same profiles you would find with plaster molding.
Popular Types of Wall Molding Panels
There are many different types of wall paneling moldings. If you're not sure what to use each one for or what they are, here's a quick breakdown.
Crown Molding
When it is done right, crown molding can easily lift your space and draw your eyes to the ceiling. It's a small detail that can add character to a room without becoming too distracting. Crown molding is often used to soften the transition between the wall and ceiling. It can also create a visually stunning effect.
Door and Window Casing Molding
You can use casing molding to frame a doorway or window. It's both a functional and decorative use of panel moldings. The casing around the doors and windows effectively covers any spaces or gaps there may be between the drywall and the frame. This type of molding is standard in most homes.
Chair Rails
Ready to modernize your chair rails? Chair rail molding can add white space to overly eccentric or busy wallpaper, or you can match your chair rail with a darker wall color to break it up. It creates visual interest and can even merge traditional and modern designs to convey both elegance and comfort. Chair rail molding is often used in the dining room to protect the walls from furniture damage, including scuffs and dents.
Wainscoting
Wainscoting is a decorative panel used on a wall. Its original use was to prevent damage to the walls. It also provides extra insulation and acts as a decorative accent. Wainscoting is usually installed on the lower part of the wall, but some people apply it to the entire wall surface.
Beadboard
Beadboard is a type of extremely durable wainscoting. It can be installed on the walls at any height. Beadboard is made up of thin vertical boards that are capped with a piece of decorative molding at the top.
Baseboard
Baseboard molding is another standard molding in most homes. The baseboard molding joins the trim on the walls and the floor. Baseboard molding is thinner than casing molding, but you can use both together to create a more cohesive look.
How to Use Wall Molding Panels
To add a decorative touch to any living space in the home or to dress up a drab commercial space, wall panel molding is a great option. Paneling and molding easily add depth, personality, and style. Here are some wall treatment and design ideas you can accomplish with molding.
- Stairwell and Stair Bracket: Wall panel molding enhances a boring stairwell. Install panel molding from the floor to the ceiling and you can create a regal design in a space that would otherwise be overlooked. Panel molding cut to fit each stair bracket can also add detail to your staircase.
- Ceiling Medallion: If you don't want a standard ceiling medallion, you can use wall panel molding to create your own. Simply find a design or pattern you love and do it yourself!
- Cabinetry: Decorative paneling molding can add character and detail to your kitchen cabinetry without requiring a full renovation.
- Picture Frame Molding: If you have any leftover wall panel molding, consider using it to create a picture frame molding. Place a piece of molding under each side of the frame, making sure to line the frame corners up. You can then glue the pieces together.
- Fireplace Mantel: Another unique use of wall panel molding is to frame a fireplace mantel. Doing this adds class and sophistication to the room. It also turns the fireplace into a focal point with very little effort.
- Update Your Doors: Tired of your plain, flat doors? Use molding for paneling to give them a quick and affordable upgrade. All you need is a few panels and some paint. You can also use the panels on the exterior of your front door for a more updated and contemporary look.
- Decorate the Ceiling: Use wall panel molding on the ceiling to create a focal point and revamp an otherwise plain and drab ceiling.
The Purpose of Millwork
This kind of millwork is purely decorative and has no real functionality. It is not used to structurally support the home. If you remove any of your wall molding panels, your home won't crash down. Instead, wall molding panels offer beauty while also breaking up what would otherwise be a simple room with four walls and a floor.
Choosing the Right Millwork
When choosing millwork for the home, consider aesthetics, balance, and proportion. The millwork you choose should match the current home décor, architecture, and style. You want your aesthetic to remain consistent throughout the home, and everything should feel cohesive.
Before installing your wall molding panels, consider sketching and planning the installation. You want to make sure to get it right. When it's installed incorrectly, what should be a beautiful element in the home can become a cringe-worthy sight.
Avoid non-mitered corners, molding painted the wrong color, millwork that doesn't match the rest of the home, non-cohesive collections, and molding that's out of proportion. For example, your wainscoting shouldn't be three-quarters up the wall in most cases.
How to Install Panel Molding
Wall molding can be installed with nails or glue. The installation process is relatively easy and straightforward if you have basic carpentry skills. You'll just need to measure your pieces, cut them and miter the corners, glue or nail them into place, and then spackle and sand the joints. Add paint if necessary, and you're done.
When you're ready to invest in your next home project, we're here to help. Our idea library is full of inspiration, and our staff would be glad to help you choose the right products for your needs. Let Decorative Ceiling Tiles help you elevate the look of your space today!