Who this guide is for
- Homeowners adding crown molding or cornice
- People comparing foam, MDF, wood and plaster
- Anyone matching molding to a room's style
- Homeowners briefing a decorator, carpenter or plasterer
Lightweight foam and polymer molding
Foam and polymer molding is light, easy to handle and budget-friendly, and it resists moisture, which can suit rooms where wood or plaster would be heavy or vulnerable.
It can lack the crisp detail of denser materials up close, so it suits simpler profiles and rooms where you want effect without weight.
- Light, easy to handle and budget-friendly
- Resists moisture
- Less crisp detail than denser materials
MDF and primed molding
MDF molding takes paint smoothly and gives a crisp, consistent profile at moderate cost, which makes it a common choice for painted cornice in dry rooms.
Like other MDF, it dislikes moisture, so it suits living spaces rather than damp rooms unless a moisture-tolerant grade is chosen.
- Takes paint smoothly for a crisp profile
- Moderate cost and consistent
- Dislikes moisture; suits dry rooms
Solid wood molding
Wood molding suits stained or natural looks and period authenticity, and it can be milled to detailed profiles. It is heavier and more work to fit and costs more.
Wood rewards a quality finish and suits rooms where character and a natural material matter.
- Suits stained, natural and period looks
- Can be milled to detailed profiles
- Heavier, costlier and more work to fit
Plaster and traditional cornice
Plaster cornice gives the deepest, crispest detail and suits period and grand rooms. It is the most traditional option and the most specialised to install.
Plaster work is skilled, so treat detailed plaster cornice as a job for a qualified plasterer.
- Deepest, crispest traditional detail
- Suits period and grand rooms
- Skilled to install; use a qualified plasterer
Proportion, profile and the room
Crown molding should suit the room's height and style: deep, ornate profiles overwhelm low or simple rooms, while a thin profile looks lost in a tall grand one.
Coordinate the molding profile with skirting and other trim so the room reads as a coherent whole.
- Match profile depth to room height and style
- Avoid overwhelming or lost proportions
- Coordinate with skirting and other trim
Crown molding checklist
- 1Decide on a painted or natural finish
- 2Consider foam for light, budget or moist rooms
- 3Consider MDF for crisp painted profiles in dry rooms
- 4Consider wood for stained, natural or period looks
- 5Consider plaster for deep, traditional detail
- 6Match profile depth to the room's height and style
- 7Avoid overwhelming low rooms with heavy profiles
- 8Coordinate molding with skirting and trim
- 9Use moisture-tolerant options in damp-prone rooms
- 10Brief a decorator, carpenter or plasterer on the choice
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a deep, ornate profile that overwhelms a low room
- Using a thin profile that looks lost in a tall grand room
- Putting moisture-sensitive molding in damp-prone rooms
- Failing to coordinate molding with skirting and trim
- Expecting foam to show crisp detail like plaster up close
- Underestimating the skill plaster cornice requires
When to involve a professional
- Use a qualified plasterer for detailed plaster cornice
- Use a qualified carpenter or decorator for wood and MDF molding
- Treat any ceiling condition problems as a separate professional question
- Requirements vary by location and project, so confirm specifics for your home
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
What crown molding material should I choose?
It depends on look, budget and room. Foam is light and budget-friendly but less crisp, MDF gives smooth painted profiles in dry rooms, wood suits stained and period looks, and plaster gives the deepest traditional detail but is the most specialised to install.
Is foam crown molding any good?
Foam and polymer molding is light, easy to handle, budget-friendly and moisture-resistant, which suits rooms where wood or plaster would be heavy or vulnerable. It can lack crisp detail up close, so it suits simpler profiles and effect-over-weight situations.
How big should crown molding be?
Profile depth should suit the room's height and style: deep, ornate profiles overwhelm low or simple rooms, while a thin profile looks lost in a tall grand one. Coordinate the molding with skirting and other trim so the room reads as a coherent whole.
Does crown molding need a specialist?
Detailed plaster cornice is skilled work best done by a qualified plasterer, while wood and MDF molding suit a qualified carpenter or decorator. Matching the installer to the material helps you get the crisp, coordinated result the molding is meant to deliver.
Keep reading