Is your home looking a little dull and lackluster lately? Do you feel like your rooms are missing that special something that makes them truly sing? Updating your interior trim could be just what you need to add personality, elegance and visual interest to your space. Read on to discover some of the most popular interior trim styles and how to choose the perfect option to take your home from drab to fab.
Interior trim serves both decorative and functional purposes in a home. From baseboards to crown molding, trim covers up imperfections and gaps while also adding beautiful detail. Whether your style is modern and sleek or classic and ornate, there’s a trim solution out there for you.
Popular Interior Trim Styles
When considering which trim styles to incorporate, it’s important to select options that complement your home’s existing architecture and design aesthetic. Here are some of the most popular interior trim styles:
Low-Profile Casing
This thin, minimalist trim is ideal for contemporary homes. Low-profile casing offers a streamlined look around windows, doors and other architectural details. Pros include its simplicity and ability to blend seamlessly into modern decor. Cons are that it lacks ornamentation, so it’s not the best choice for traditional spaces.
High-Profile Casing
On the opposite end of the spectrum, high-profile casing is thicker and more ornate, often with detailed molding. It’s commonly found in formal and traditional homes and adds a touch of old-world elegance. High-profile casing makes a bold statement but may overwhelm contemporary spaces.
Modern Casings
As their name implies, modern casings feature sleek, simple lines to complement contemporary homes. This trim style highlights clean architectural details. Modern casings add subtle sophistication without visual clutter.
Traditional Casings
For a classic aesthetic, traditional casings with intricate molded details are a perfect choice. Traditional casings range from simple carved accents to dramatic crowns of richly-carved floral motifs and other ornate designs. This elegant trim brings a formal, finished look to living spaces.
Baseboards
No trim treatment is complete without baseboards serving as the foundation. Baseboard trim runs horizontally along the bottom of walls, concealing gaps and imperfections. There are many baseboard styles, heights and materials to choose from. Keep in mind that wider, more decorative baseboards generally suit ornate interiors, while streamlined options work better in modern spaces.
Chair Railings
This horizontal trim is installed partway up walls to protect them from chair damage. Chair railings also add visual interest to dividing a room into upper and lower sections. Traditionally found in dining rooms, chair railings work in living spaces, bedrooms and more. They come in painted wood, PVC, wrought iron, and other materials to match any decor.
Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Trim
When deciding how to trim out your home, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Consider your home’s existing architecture and style. Is it modern or traditional? Formal or casual?
- Complement existing features and finishes. If your home is filled with ornate crown moldings, stick with that same traditional style.
- Balance simple and decorative trims. Mixing streamlined and ornate options creates visual interest.
- Create harmony between rooms. Carry over some matching trim elements from space to space.
- Use trim to highlight architectural details like niches, windows, doors and built-ins.
- Factor in durability and maintenance. Some materials like PVC are lower maintenance than wood.
Integrating Trim Styles by Room
Thinking about how to utilize trim throughout your home? Here are some ideas for popular rooms:
Entryways
You never get a second chance at a first impression! Welcome guests in style by framing entryways with simple wainscoting, crown molding or high-contrast casings. Trim sets the tone upon entry into your home.
Living Spaces
Incorporate trim in living spaces like living rooms and dens to add elegance and sophistication. Chair railings protect walls while also dividing the room visually. Baseboards ground the space. For height and drama, install ceiling beams or crown moldings. Trim transforms basic living spaces into luxe lounge areas.
Dining Rooms
Formal dining rooms demand elegant trim details like wainscoting, panel moldings and chair railings. Frame built-in buffets or china hutches with decorative crown molding to create a polished look. When hosting dinner parties, trim helps set the stage for sophisticated soirees.
Bedrooms
Trim can help bedrooms feel cohesive and pulled-together. Try framing beds or large windows with casings for an elegant touch. In small bedrooms, stick with simple, low-profile trims to help the space visually expand.
No matter your home’s current style, the right interior trim can take it to the next level. With so many trim options to browse, you’re sure to find choices that complement your existing architecture and design tastes. Just think–with a little strategic trim you can transform lackluster rooms into stunning designer spaces. Ready to get started? Browse trim styles online or chat with your local home improvement retailer to explore ideas. Your home’s new fabulous look is waiting!
