Does crown molding serve a function, or is it purely decorative?

Actually, crown molding was originally installed for practical reasons; only later did it become desired as a decorative element in a room—while still retaining its useful function. “The reason for trims and moldings in the first place was to cover gaps where different building materials came together,” says Dixon. “There’s always space where walls and ceiling intersect, so someone thought, ‘Let’s just put a piece of wood there to cover the crack!’”

These are used to give an elegant transition between the wall and ceiling. Crown moldings can also be used for cabinetry finishes and capping walls.

Over time, crown moldings became more and more elegant, and now, says Dixon, “we have this wonderful history of moldings.”