• Crown moulding can be painted to add a pop of color to your ceiling.Chandlier image by NICS Escapee from Fotolia.com
  
  Crown moulding fits along the top of a wall and can add a sense of dignity and ostentation to even the smallest of rooms. Though this type of moulding is intended primarily to serve as a decorative break between the ceiling and the wall, it serves several purposes besides adding a high-toned elegance to the room. Do not be afraid to utilize crown moulding outdoors as well as inside.
  
  

Geometric Ilusion

• The authors of "1001 Ideas for Trim Work" discuss how crown moulding elicits a geometric illusion. This illusion makes the room appear larger, wider or longer than it is in reality, depending on the thickness of the crown moulding used in the room.
  
  

Visual Transition

• One of the decorative aspects of crown moulding is that it can act as a visual transition between surfaces. Use crown moulding for a less jarring transition between a vibrantly colored wall and a more muted ceiling.
  
  

Sizing

• Be aware of the size of the room when determining the width of crown moulding. Moulding that is too wide will create the illusion of the ceiling being lower than it is. On the other hand, thinly-sized moulding will tend to disappear if used in a room with high ceilings.
  
  

Paint to Cover Mistakes

• The first time you use crown moulding can be trying, because it takes practice to miter cuts so that the joints meet perfectly. Consider using caulk to make up for slight gaps. Painting the crown moulding will hide any mistakes and caulk. In older homes---where the ceiling and walls are no longer flush with each other---the use of caulk is essential to hide the gaps between the area where the ceiling and moulding meet.
  
  

Lighting

• When installing crown moulding to spice up your decor, try installing lights in the moulding, to add even greater class and ambiance. Cable lights are the easiest and least conspicuous. These lights resemble Christmas tree lights, featuring small bulbs that are strung together. The effect of light shining upward adds to the sense of elegance that is a natural component of crown moulding.
  
  

Paint to Wallpaper Transition

• Crown moulding can not only hide mistakes made when wallpapering, it allows for a pleasing transition between papered walls and a painted ceiling. You can add even more elegance by placing a wallpaper border just under the moulding.
  
  

Verdigris Look

• Another way to increase the classy look of crown moulding is to create a verdigris look. Verdigris creates an illusion of aged and weathered copper that resembles the greenish hue of the Statue of Liberty. Three different shades of green are recommended to achieve the verdigris effect. The weathering illusion can be created by dusting a special white powder---secured into a muslin square------over the moulding. This powder can be found at most paint supply stores.