Crown molding is one of the most famous trim styles found in building construction. It works as a connector between the ceiling and the wall while increasing the beauty of the room at the same time.
Today, we are going to discuss and find out whether crown molding should be the same color as the walls or not.
Should crown molding be the same color as the walls?
One should not apply the same color on the crown molding and the walls. Same colored crown molding and walls do not complement each other well. The purpose of crown molding is to add a new dimension on the wall. It fails to do so if it is painted the same color as the walls.
The crown molding enhances the architectural beauty of your house. The architectural beauty provided by crown molding mostly depends on the color you choose for your crown molding. The most common practice is to have different colors for your crown molding and the walls.
But you can certainly have the same color for crown molding and the walls. However, that will complicate the purpose of using crown molding in the first place. Most people use different colors for crown molding and the walls because of practical reasons.
Practically, different colors for crown molding and the walls serve greater purpose than same colored crown molding and walls.
It is wise to use lighter colors on crown molding as it goes well with dark colored walls and ceilings. Selecting the wrong color for crown molding can affect the outlook of your room massively.
So you will need to think long and hard before you make up your mind about the color of your crown molding.
Should crown molding be white?
You can have any color of crown molding you want. We are used to seeing white crown molding in most houses. That is why there is a general belief that crown molding should be white. White crown molding has benefits of its own.
It can increase the beauty of your house significantly by making the rooms look bigger and better.
So you can choose to get your crown molding painted white if you prefer the benefits provided by it. But there is no obligation to get it painted white. You can paint your crown molding any color you want instead of just going with the flow of white crown molding.
4 reasons why crown molding does not need to be the same color as the walls
There are several reasons behind not having the same color for crown molding and the walls. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Purpose:
The main purpose of using crown molding in your room is to add an extra layer of style on the wall. If you use the same color for crown molding and the walls, this purpose will not be achieved.
The same colored crown molding will work as a disguise rather than an extra layer of style.
If you want to utilize the crown molding in the best way possible, you will have to use a different color for crown molding.
Personal preference:
Your personal preference can be the most key factor when it comes to choosing the color for your crown molding. This is why the crown molding can be any color you choose rather than the color of the walls.
Coexistence:
The same colored walls and crown molding will fail to coexist. They will fail to represent their own beauty because of having the same color. Darker color walls and lighter color crown molding work better together rather than same colored walls and crown molding.
General rule:
It is a general rule in building decoration to have separate colors for crown molding and the walls. If you have the same colored crown molding and the walls, it might be an exception. Exceptions in decoration do not always succeed.
That is why it is wise to stick to the general rule and have different colors for crown molding and the walls.
Things to consider before painting crown molding
There are some crucial things that you need to consider before you start painting crown molding. Let’s discuss them in detail.
The color:
Choosing the color for your crown molding is the most crucial thing to consider before painting crown molding. Most experts suggest that your crown molding color should not match the color of your walls and ceiling.
If you have painted dark colors on walls and ceiling, then you will have to choose lighter colors for your crown molding.
The color of your crown molding needs to match the color of other trims of your room like baseboards and cabinet trims. You will need to take all these things into consideration before you start painting using a color.
The paint type:
What kind of paint you are going to use on your crown molding is another important thing. Thin paints work better on crown molding as it takes more time to dry making the paint job more smooth and successful.
In this case, enamel paint can be a good choice for crown molding.
The timing:
You will need to decide the exact time of your painting. The most popular practice is to paint the crown molding before installation if you have a plan to use a paint sprayer. But you can paint the crown molding after installation if you intend to paint with brushes.
If you are going to paint your crown molding with paint brushes, then you will need to paint the crown molding after you have painted the ceiling.
Should crown molding match ceiling color?
It is not popular to have the same color for your ceiling and crown molding. The crown molding is added as a connector between the wall and the ceiling to increase the architectural beauty of your house.
If you decide to paint the crown molding the same color as the ceiling, the purpose of using crown molding will go in vain.
This is why it is important to have a different color for your crown molding. A different shade of color will add a different style on the wall and ceiling.
You can paint your crown molding the same color as your ceiling to satisfy yourself. But it will not be wise to do so if you consider the consequences of having the same color for crown molding and ceiling.
Should crown molding be darker or lighter than walls?
Selecting the color of crown molding is your personal choice. But there are some general rules that you should consider if you want to fully capitalize the use of crown molding. One of those rules is that your crown molding should be lighter than your walls.
Using lighter colors for crown molding can change the outlook of your room significantly.
As a light color, many people prefer different shades of white as it will be lighter compared to most colors applied on walls other than white. You can also go for a lighter shade of the wall color you are using to give birth to contrast between the two.
Using lighter colors for crown molding compared to the wall’s color can be more fruitful than using darker colors.
Should crown molding be the same color as baseboards?
It is not necessary that your crown molding’s color is the same as the baseboards. But having the same color for crown and baseboards can work as a style statement. Baseboards and crown molding both work as trim for your room.
That is why it is better to not have different colors for crown molding and baseboards.
If you want to experiment with the style of your house, you can decide to have different colors for crown molding and baseboards. You can go for the combination of dark and light colors or you can use different shades of the same color on crown molding and baseboards.
Should crown molding match other trim?
There is no obligation that your crown molding’s color should match the color of other trims. There can be more than one type of trim present in a room. The most popular practice is to have the same color for all the trim.
You can decide to follow this rule and have the same color for crown molding and other trims. Other trims may include baseboards and cabinet trim.
Having the same color for all the trims will certainly give your room an enhanced look than having different colors for different trims. Different colored trims will also look shabby and out of place in a room.
Final Thoughts
It is not wise to have the same color on the crown molding as the walls. Due to personal preference, one can have the same color for crown molding and walls. But it is not suggested by experts as same colored crown molding and walls can decrease the effectiveness of using crown molding.