• Crown molding adds a touch of elegance to any room. It completes the walls and ceilings, giving the room a more finished appearance. As well, crown molding mirrors the baseboards, lining and edging the walls. Typically, it is painted the same color and can blend with or contrast against the walls and ceiling. There are several styles of crown molding from which to choose.
  
  

8 Foot Ceilings

• For typical rooms with 8-foot ceilings, the best size of crown molding to use falls between 3 and 5.25 inches in height. Using taller crown molding will overpower the room and make it seem small and squat. Before putting up the crown molding, be sure to finish both sides with primer and paint or stain, as this will deter warping.
  
  

9 and 10 Foot Ceilings

• The higher the ceiling, the taller the molding. So for ceilings that are 9 and 10 feet tall, use crown molding between 5.25 and 7 inches. Narrower molding will seem insignificant against the size and grandeur of the room. And for additional luxury, consider adding in decorative corner molding.
  
  

Vaulted Ceilings over 10 Feet

• For really tall ceilings, crown molding is often built up to be tall enough. This requires creating your crown molding by using more than one piece of molding. Although the pieces can be put together in multiple ways, a common method is to install a piece of baseboard trim along the wall first, but placed upside down. Then the crown is placed on top, exposing the bottom few inches of the base. The built-up design adds dimension to your ceiling.