An oft-ignored or forgotten trick for increasing any room's decorative quotient is the use of crown molding. If the proper crown molding is used and painted, an otherwise drab and boring room can quickly shift to something more vintage or classy, and it won't require a great deal of money either.

Below, we here at Lakeside Painting have listed a few decorative crown molding ideas for both the DIY enthusiast and any homeowners looking for a new look for their home. 

Decorative Crown Molding With Shadow Boxes

A cool trick that you'll see in some homes is the complimentary use of crown molding and shadow boxes. For those unfamiliar with shadow boxes, they are a type of molding that are installed in the middle of walls, creating a very classical, Victorian look. Shadow boxes, if done well, are very attractive to the eye, and can either be painted the same color as the wall or contrasted with the main wall color.

Crown Molding Painted Gold

Ceilings can be rather boring. Installing ornate crown molding will, in and of itself, instantly enhance the room's visual attractiveness and aesthetic. Now, what rooms would be best served by such crown molding? Well, homeowners are only limited by their imagination, cost and concerns of room-to-room variety. That said, ornate crown molding would function well and look great in a dining room, study/library and a master bedroom. Another option is to install such molding in an entertainment room, a place that is a gathering place for the family. 

Once installed, it's time to pick a paint color or stain. Let's consider paint for the moment, though. 

If you're a homeowner looking for a dynamic look, think of asking a painting contractor to paint the crown molding a metallic color, such as metallic gold, contrasted with a cream color for the ceiling and walls. This will create a very classical, antique or even Art Deco look.  

Stain the Crown Molding

Instead of painting crown molding, we also recommend stains. Any number of stains can be chosen and the benefit here is that the grain's natural beauty can be seen and highlighted. It goes without saying that the crevices of the molding will be darker than the protruding services, but this will only make the molding's three-dimensionality that much more dynamic. 

This look would work well in both rustic and country homes as well as in modern, city dwellings. 

Pair the Crown Molding With Wallpaper

Do not mistake this for wallpaper that mimics crown molding or enhances pre-existing molding. What we're suggesting here is that instead of painting a room's walls after installing crown molding, think about finding a really amazing wallpaper—vintage, modern, artistic, etc.—and then have the crown molding installed. 

Check out a few of our wallpaper suggestions for ideas: Flavor Paper's Onda, Thibeau Design's Canterbury Collection, and Majestic Black & White Damask Wallpaper.