13 Wall Moulding Ideas To Add Elegance To Any Room

Wall moulding, also known as decorative wall paneling, is a millwork wall covering that gives an elegant look to any room.

It can be ornate and intricate or simple and modern.

Wall moulding has been around for centuries and has been used in various ways in different periods of design.

It was used in ancient Greece and Rome to add architectural interest to buildings and in the 15th century to cover up the seams between walls and ceilings.

It was also used by the Dutch in the 17th century to imitate the grandeur of wood-paneled walls and by the English in the 18th century to add a touch of elegance to homes.

Today, wall moulding is used in a variety of ways to add architectural interest to rooms.

It can be used to cover entire walls or just a portion of a wall. It can be used to frame a fireplace or a door.

It can be used to create a wainscot or a chair rail. It can also be used to create a picture frame or a decorative pattern on a wall.

1. Create Picture-Perfect Wall Moulding

This look is created by adding a box frame to the wall and then adding a smaller box frame inside that one.

You can create as many layers as you want, but a simple two-layer box frame looks best.

This wall moulding idea is perfect for just about any room in the house.

Here, the box frame moulding is used to create a focal wall in the living room.

The moulding is painted white and the wall is painted a light blue-gray color to create a soft contrast.

2. Make Your Moulding Stand Out

If you want to add a touch of elegance to a space, consider adding wall moulding in a contrasting color.

“We painted the moulding a darker color than the wall to make the moulding stand out,” says designer and artist, Marissa Zajack.

“It’s a simple way to make a big impact in a room.”

In Zajack’s dining room, the wall moulding was painted in a deep, rich navy, which instantly draws the eye to the beautiful architectural detail.

3. Make Your Moulding Pop

Here’s a great example of how a pop of color can make a room.

This simple moulding design is painted a bold green, creating a focal point in the space.

The moulding is also used to create a frame around the artwork, which is a great way to showcase a piece of art.

Pro Tip: If you’re going to paint your moulding a bold color, keep the rest of the room neutral to make sure the color doesn’t overwhelm the space.

4. Accentuate Your Wall Moulding

If you have an existing wall moulding design, you can accentuate it by painting the trim in a bold color.

This will also work to highlight the architectural details and add a pop of color to the room.

Don’t be afraid to use color in your wall moulding design.

You can always add a colorful rug, throw pillows, or artwork to the room to tie the trim color into the rest of the space.

5. Add Moulding To Your Staircase

If you have a staircase in your home, you know how big of a focal point it can be.

If you’re looking for a way to add some visual interest to your staircase, consider adding some wall moulding.

You can go as simple as adding a chair rail to the wall, or as elaborate as adding picture frame moulding up the entire wall.

In this staircase from The DIY Mommy, she added picture frame moulding to the entire wall and painted it a bold black color.

6. Create A Moulding Headboard

Treat your bedroom walls to a touch of elegance with a DIY wall moulding headboard.

This project is a great way to add a focal point to the room and show off your style.

You can keep it simple with a single panel or create a more dramatic look with multiple panels.

To create this look, measure the width of your bed and then decide how tall you want the headboard to be.

Add a few inches to the height to give the headboard some presence, and then use painters tape to mark off the area where you’ll be placing the moulding.

You can also use a pencil to lightly mark the area where you’ll be placing the moulding if you feel more comfortable doing that.

It’s important to note that the moulding will not be attached to the wall.

Instead, it will be placed directly on the wall to create the look of a headboard.

Once you’ve marked the area where the moulding will go, you can use a level to make sure your lines are straight.

Then, you can begin attaching the moulding.

7. Add Moulding To Your Ceilings

The ceiling of any room is often the most overlooked area, but it can be the perfect place to add some moulding.

If you have a coffered ceiling, you can add moulding to each section of the ceiling to create a beautiful design.

For rooms with flat ceilings, you can create your own custom design using moulding.

This living room uses moulding to create a beautiful starburst design on the ceiling.

8. Make Your Moulding Modern

Moulding doesn’t have to be ornate to be beautiful.

For a more modern take on wall moulding, use simple geometric shapes, like the rectangles in this living room, to create a focal point.

The moulding in this room is painted white to match the walls, but you can also paint it a different color to make it stand out.

9. Create A Moulding Wall

Moulding can be used to create a wall design, and the possibilities are endless.

You can create a grid, a diamond pattern, or even a more freehand design.

In this space, a grid design is used to create a focal point behind the bed.

The grid is then filled with wallpaper to add a pop of color and pattern to the room.

10. Add Moulding To Your Furniture

If you’re looking for a way to elevate your furniture, consider adding wall moulding to your existing pieces.

This can be done by adding picture frame moulding to the front of dressers, drawers, and cabinets.

In this stunning bedroom, the designer added wall moulding to the front of the nightstand, giving it a custom look that coordinates with the wall moulding.

11. Create A Moulding Frame

Wall moulding can be used to create a frame on the wall that can then be filled with art, wallpaper, or paint.

“I love the look of a simple frame on the wall with a beautiful piece of art or wallpaper,” says designer and artist Jessica Davis of Nest Studio.

“It’s a great way to add visual interest to a space without any clutter.”

This look is perfect for a dining room, where you can use the moulding frame to highlight a beautiful piece of art or a bold wallpaper.

If you choose to use wallpaper, you can also use the moulding to create a wainscot look by adding a chair rail and using the wallpaper below it.

12. Add Moulding To Your Bathroom

If you’re ready for a bathroom renovation, consider adding wall moulding to your space.

By adding a simple square or rectangle design to your wall, you can elevate the look of your bathroom.

Try painting the moulding and the wall inside the moulding a different color for a bold look.

You can also add a simple design to the wall above your vanity or tub.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full renovation, you can create a faux wall moulding design using paint.

13. Create A Moulding Accent

If you’re looking for a way to add architectural interest to a room, consider creating a wall moulding accent.

Here, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel used moulding to create a faux headboard in this bedroom.

The moulding adds a touch of elegance to the space and gives the look of a built-in bed.

Conclusion

Adding wall moulding can take your room from boring to elegant in no time. There are so many different options to choose from, it’s easy to find one that will work perfectly for your space.