If your home doesn’t have the style and panache you wish it had, adding crown molding can help.

Photo: jkrooms.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON CROWN MOLDING, or read the text below:

It can mask any imperfections between the wall and ceiling and add formality, polish, and a sense of history, literally “crowning” the room. For those with basic carpentry skills and some patience, it can be a very satisfying do-it-yourself project.

Before you start, set up a short scaffolding using sawhorses and planks, so you can reach the ceiling and move easily while you work. Most pros use a compound miter saw on the outside corners, which are the most visible. For inside corners, use a coping saw to carve away the back of the cut for a clean joint.

How do you know which edge is the top of the molding? Look for the ogee, the common element in most crown molding that looks like a wave. It goes closest to the ceiling.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on walls, consider:

Wallpaper Basics
5 DIY Wood Wall Treatment Ideas
Quick Tip: Installing Crown Molding