Woodwork Trim

Many elements make a room distinctive. Before furniture and finishing touches, like rugs and curtains, the character of the space starts being defined. Plain walls tend to be austere. Working with wood trim gives meaningful support for lifestyle and interior design. Using such basic wood accents like skirting boards, doors, door frames, architraves, windows and their frames and sills, and even picture frames sets the tone for the space. Regularly, in modern houses, the same style of trim appears throughout the living space. This continuity gives a sense that each area belongs with the other.

In older homes, a formal trim appears in the public areas of the home, more subdued in family areas, and a thin, basic trim for servant or storage space. Even the type of wood, like oak then maple then pine, indicates who uses the room.

To soften the angle where the wall meets the ceiling, many choose crown molding or a curved form of an ogee molding. If the line of connection between wall and ceiling is not perfectly straight or even, this wood trim discretely covers the flaws. Some decorators use wood trim to better hold down the edge of wallpaper - especially when the covering is heavy and thick.

Some prefer the trim to be stained then varnished. This does well to bring out the warmth of the wood. Others prefer a distress look. This requires nuts and bolts (often in a canvas bag) for pounding before finishing the trim with stain or paint.