Defining a Home’s Architectural Style Using Interior Trim & Mouldings

Often referred to as a nice finishing touch or “icing on the cake,” interior trim & mouldings have historically not gotten the attention and recognition they deserve for pulling a design aesthetic together. But thanks to an increasing number of passionate interior design influencers around the country, everyone from pros to enthusiastic DIYers are beginning to really appreciate the power of trim as an essential element in fully expressing home design.

Defining Every Architectural Style in Every Room

In addition to creating a seamless expression of an individual home’s style, updating interior trim actually increases home value. From base trim to wainscoting to crown mouldings, it’s the tasteful, ornate flourishes of trim and mouldings that depict a Colonial, the bold, simple details that define a Craftsman, and the humble, warm touches that represent a Farmhouse.

Every room in a home has its own voice. Here’s how Westlake Royal Building Products™ 100% cellular PVC interior trim and mouldings fill out the character of six signature home styles.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod interiors exude a cozy warmth and practicality often described as New England charm. Our trim collections vary from subtly geometrical to boldly simple to clean and sophisticated. Areas to consider: transom windows, entry door sidelights, window casings, and dining room picture rails.

Use a Stop, 1×6 Trimboard, 1×4 Trimboard, Stool and Beaded Planking to achieve this look.

Colonial

Colonial home with interior trim

The Colonial home style is defined by a combination of rustic simplicity and rich detail. The symmetry and confident formality of this home style is best expressed by interior trim with a stately presence—everywhere from baseboards up to crown mouldings.

Use a Stop, 1×6 Trimboard, 1×4 Trimboard, Base Cap, Stool, Crown, and Beaded Planking to achieve this look.

Craftsman

Craftsman interior with interior trim

Noted for its honest, handcrafted look, every Craftsman-matching embellishment has a purpose and varies by small degrees of formality. It’s marked by simple, tailored door casings and minimally ornamented window casings.

Use a Craftsman Casing (11/16”x2-¼”), Craftsman Casing (11/16”x5-¼”), Craftsman Casing (11/16”x3-¼”), Craftsman Stool, Square, and Craftsman Base to achieve this look.

Eclectic

Ecelctic interior with interior trim

Eclectic homes take their design cues from a little of each architectural style. Interior trim that fits with this style does the same, adding a layer of ornamentation while retaining a clean formality.

Use a Casing to achieve this look.

Farmhouse

Interior trim that embraces the humble practicality of the Farmhouse home style is represented by cleanly projecting rule lines along the header and side jambs. Flatter rule lines put a contemporary take on this trim style.

Use a Reversible Wainscot Beaded/Nickel Gap, Stop (¾”x1”), 1×2 Trimboard, 1×4 Trimboard, 1×6 Trimboard, Stool, 5/8×6 Trimboard, and a Stop (⅝”x1-½”) to achieve this look.

Modern

Interior trim collections that reflect the Modern home style’s cleanly expansive function and flow range from understated to extroverted. Go the minimalist route and use trim to protect walls and floors from scuff marks and handprints. Amp up a neutral-colored dining room with contrasting and complementary colors. Like light mocha accents over cream-colored walls, for example.

Use a Stop, 1×6 Trimboard, Drip Cap, 1×4 Trimboard, Stool and Reversible Wainscot Beaded/Nickel Gap to achieve this look.

High Style and Low Maintenance

Westlake Royal Building Products Trim and Mouldings come in enough variations to accentuate any home style. And because they’re made from PVC, they’re built to last with minimal maintenance. The trim is ready to cut and install, is dent- and scratch-resistant, and won’t crack, split, or warp.

Inspiration Gallery: Crafting Custom Exterior Trim

One of the many benefits of working with Kleer cellular PVC trim, Royal cellular PVC trim & mouldings, and TruExterior poly-ash trim is that they not only offer lower maintenance and fewer hassles than wood, but also provide authentic looks and similar workability. Depending on the look of your exterior project or outdoor space, the materials can be milled and routed to meet authentic, architecturally correct custom exterior trim.

Here’s a look at some of the ways builders and remodelers have used Kleer, Royal, and TruExterior trim to deliver unique looks alongside long-term performance.

Intricate Details

When it comes to Kleer, Royal, and TruExterior, the limits of workability for custom exterior trim are bound solely by one’s imagination. Nearly any look can be achieved, all with the peace of mind of long-term durability and low maintenance.

For example, TruExterior trim can be fabricated into an array of profiles typical of wood, from crown molding and gingerbread to columns and balusters to custom siding profiles.

DURATION Moulding & Millwork uses TruExterior to craft an array of standard trim profiles, including base cap, casing, quarter round, panel mould, and cove.

Cove moulding crafted from TruExterior by DURATION Moulding & Millwork.

The company also custom-engineers solutions for any need using TruExterior, including balustrades, columns and wraps, arches, and pre-assembled window surrounds.

A pre-assembled window surround made with TruExterior by DURATION Moulding & Millwork.

 

DURATION Moulding & Millwork used TruExterior to recreate Gothic columns, pilasters, decorative scroll work, crown, custom fascia, and dentil fascia, for an 1870s remodel. (See more about this project here.)

Royal Sheet Board is made for specialty projects, cutting cleanly for applications ranging from simple and modern to elegant and ornate.

Fabricators used Royal Sheet Board to craft the unique detailing on this church.

Kleer trim is often used to make pergolas, corners, fascia, soffits, rakes, casings, cornices, and all kinds of other applications.

Kleer trimboard also can be used to create curves and arches using heat-bending techniques.

TruExterior’s workability was ideally suited for a Queen Anne-style home by Architect David Williams McKee in the historic resort community of Chautauqua, N.Y. Using TruExterior for the detail work, including turned porch posts, decorative millwork, brackets, balusters, and gingerbread trim, ensured both an accurate look and high performance.

Cozy Accessories

Both Kleer and TruExterior make it easy to add fun to backyard settings, with easy crafting into chairs, planters, and even cornhole boards.

Kleer Lumber, Adirondack chairs
Kleer Lumber was used to craft these Adirondack chairs.
Balcony planters, brackets, and trim make with Kleer Trim.

TruExterior can be painted any color, including dark hues, and also can be stained. This rustic planter box was made with trim scraps and a custom finish to create the look of old barn wood.

Learn more about the extensive range of trim options from Kleer, Royal, and TruExterior here.