Wood Makes the Mood

The rich patina of wood dresses up a painted wall, adding beauty and distinction to any room. Wood moldings used to be architectural details reserved for the rich, but today, home improvement centers offer stock moldings that can affordably finish any decor. Whether you want to accent every room or make a small area stand out, enhancing the walls will enhance the mood. Here are four style-savvy mood-makers for any home.
 

• Crown Molding. Go for high drama with crown molding, a timeless trim that softens the joint where the ceiling meets the wall. Crown moldings can be plain and simple or richly carved and can be applied individually or stacked to form a deep header that adds height and grandeur to any room. Crown molding works well with traditional decor, lending an air of formality to living and dining areas.
   
• Chair Rail. Install country charm with chair rail, a decorative technique that uses quarter round or cap molding to divide wall treatments. For a color-coordinated look, install chair rail 36” above the floor and apply wallpaper above the wood and paint below (or vice versa). Chair rail is common in kitchens and dining rooms, where it protects walls from damage from chair backs. It’s also a colorful way to jazz up hallways and entryways.
   
• Picture Molding. Transform an ordinary wall into an elegant focal point with picture molding. Apply molding in rectangular frame shapes to add dimension to a painted space or use molding to frame a panel of wallpaper or emphasize paintings and prints hung inside the enclosed area. Picture molding can also be used to dress up doors. If the door is paneled, install the molding inside the panels for a frame within a frame effect.
   
• Ornamental Accents. Carve out period style with ornamental medallions inspired by Victorian era woodcuts. Place wherever you want the eye to focus. A diagonal of pre-cut rosettes up the side of a plain staircase draws attention to a space that would otherwise be ignored. Carved cornerpieces add presence to the corners of door frames and window casings. A floral appliqué over a doorway turns an ordinary passage into a gracious entry.
   

Care for wood molding like fine furniture, dusting it every week with a clean, absorbent cloth and cleaning 3-4 times a year with wood soap. Touch up scratches with a stain pen in a matching finish — just run the marker over the stain and rub gently into the finish with a clean, soft cloth. Dents can be filled in with wood filler, sanded smooth and color matched to the wood with a stain pen.