Choosing the Right Wood for Molding

If you are looking for a way to add a touch of something special to help highlight the architectural details of your room or home, then you can't really go wrong with molding. Choosing the right wood for molding is an important part of this process, and one that you don't really want to overlook. Here are a few guidelines that you should keep in mind when you begin the process of choosing what type of wood you want to use in your home.

• What are your favorite woods? Make a list of your favorite wood types. This list will make the backbone of the woods you will want to choose from, so be as complete as you possibly can. Furthermore, if you can't easily remember what each type of wood looks like, add a little description of what each particular wood looks like. Include color, grain patterns, density, and so on so that you will know what you are dealing with.
• Do you want them treated or not? On the same piece of paper, especially if you have some free space, begin listing the types of treatment options you may want to use. For example, do you want to have a polyurethane treated molding, or do you want it untreated bare wood with only the stain (if any) to help bring out the color? Research each type of treatment option you have available, write it down.
• What is your design style? There are several different styles of molding that you can choose from, and it can be a little difficult to choose which one you want to use from a bare description. This means that you will want to take a look at some examples of the design style you want. The best way that you can do this is by looking through a molding catalogue and at your local home improvement store. As you look at each style imagine how it would look in your room, or home, and whether it is appealing to you. Write down your favorite choices, and keep looking. Remember you want to go with something that will help bring out the overall look of your home.
• What is the cost? While many people rarely like to consider the cost of their projects, you do need to stop and think about what the cost of the molding will be. Oftentimes, each particular type of wood will have its own unique cost, and each style of molding will add their own additional cost. On your list write down the cost for each particular style and wood type that you have written down.

By the time that you have finished making your list, you should have an idea of what you want. Go back over your list and use all the data that you have gathered to help make your final decision. This list that you have made should give you all the information that you will need to make your final decision. Just make sure that you choose something that will fit your budget and that you can live with.