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paint finish guidance for crown molding

3 years ago

Hello! We are putting in 3.5” crown molding in our finished basement with very low ceilings (7’). We carefully considered the pros and cons and all the advice to do and not do this. We landed on doing it. So I think our plan is to paint it the same color as the walls (and do the same with the existing chair rail) to avoid making the room look too blocky. So for this, do we use a different finish than the walls? We have satin finish for the walls. Is that okay for crown and chair rail or should we pick up semi-gloss in the same paint color?

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Comments (12)

Sarah Scarola
Original Author
3 years ago
Sorry it cut off on the end. I meant to ask if I should buy semi-gloss paint in the same color that we are using for the walls.
btydrvn
3 years ago
Same finish on all elements... to further the need for them to blend and not draw attention to ceiling height
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Sarah Scarola
Original Author
3 years ago
Btydrvn - thanks for weighing in!
Jennifer Hogan
3 years ago
Typically I use flat on ceilings, eggshell on walls and satin on trim. Your starting with the shiniest gloss I use on the walls. If I were doing that I wouldn't go any shinier anywhere.
btydrvn
3 years ago
What color are the ceilings?
btydrvn
3 years ago
And walls?
Sarah Scarola
Original Author
3 years ago
The ceiling will be flat white. The walls will be Behr Silver Feather in Eggshell or Satin.

@Jennifer Hogan - I see your point.
Sarah Scarola
Original Author
3 years ago
To clarify. Just checked paint cans. We have Eggshell for the walls, not Satin as I said first.
Sarah Scarola
Original Author
3 years ago
Excuse the mess - just finished new drywall ceiling (if you can believe it, it was an even lower drop ceiling before. Have not hung up crown yet. Just finished all the mudding and patching on the walls.
Jennifer Hogan
3 years ago
I love the look of one color on everything and just a change in finish. By going with a satin (still not overly glossy) it is a subtle difference and just give a bit of interest without overwhelming.
btydrvn
3 years ago
Is the chair rail essential?...it seems to accentuate the ceiling height,in a negative way...even if it is all the same color ...in a room this size especially
btydrvn
3 years ago
Any horizontal lines will have this effect..if this were my space i would not add crown for the same reason...not wanting to draw the eye to ceiling height..in essence crown moulding is more appropriate in a formal space

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