Categories: Decorating & Design

Fake Crown Molding

Are you tired of going out and comparing prices on crown molding? Weary from going from a home improvement store, and to the next one, looking for a bargain on molding? Even when it’s on sale it’s expensive, isn’t it? But, wow, doesn’t crown molding really add a special element to a room? Don’t give up the search; there has to be a way to put up crown molding without spending a lot of money. Have you thought about Styrofoam? When you use Styrofoam as your crown molding you border the room for little cash while creating convincing crown molding.

Purchase a slab of Styrofoam and use it to make the unique molding. The slabs are large and sold in various thicknesses. Choose the thickness you want then cut the molding yourself. To do this, first cut an old candle with a serrated knife. The transfer of the wax onto the knife will allow you to cut the Styrofoam easily and smoothly. Decide on how wide you want the molding to be and cut the amount of pieces you need to go all the way around the room.

It’s easy to cut designs into the molding with a knife or other implement. Just use a yardstick and cut along the edge of it with a knife to create grooves in the Styrofoam. Another option is to use an ice pick to make the grooves. It can be helpful to look at pictures of crown molding online to get an idea of how to cut grooves or otherwise decorate the molding. Create the designs you want on one plank, lay the next one beside it, and follow suit. If needed, you can miter the ends of the Styrofoam to fit corners.

When all the molding is designed how you want you can then paint it. Paint it any color you want but make sure the paint you purchase is suitable for Styrofoam. Some paints will melt Styrofoam so read the label or check with a clerk. When you paint Styrofoam it looks convincingly like crown molding but you still have other options. For example, you can wrap the Styrofoam with fabric or even wallpaper to create a different appearance. Or, after painting it, you can use a paint pen to add gold accents.

It’s easy to hang the lightweight molding with glue dots. You’ll find them at home improvement and craft stores. Stick the molding to the wall, near the ceiling, butting the pieces together. The molding also works well to make a chair rail – molding which goes on the middle of the wall, around the room.

After the molding is installed you can sit back and admire it. You’ll know it was cheap, easy and looks like the real thing. Then, you can do a whole other home improvement project with the money you saved.