If you’re planning to upgrade your kitchen with new ready-to-assemble or pre-assembled cabinets, don’t forget about trim and molding! Consider adding cabinet molding to take your new cabinet installation to the next level and make your kitchen cabinets look polished and complete.

There are a huge variety of types, styles, patterns and shapes when it comes to molding. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, start here. We’ll take a look at each common type of cabinet molding, where it’s used and the purpose it serves. Read on!

Crown Molding

You’ve probably heard of crown molding, a popular type of molding that helps your cabinets look finished and elegant. Crown molding is installed at the top of the cabinets and is a great way to add an extra touch of personality. If your cabinets are feeling plain, adding crown molding could give your kitchen a fresh and finished look. You can find a variety of crown molding styles, with various heights and levels of projection, ranging from plain to ornate. Popular looks include cove and dentil crown molding.

Depending on the height of your kitchen ceiling, crown molding can be installed against the ceiling or with some space left above.

Riser Molding

Riser molding is paired with crown molding to help raise the crown a bit higher to allow it to bond with the ceiling. This is a great choice if your crown molding isn’t quite thick enough to reach the ceiling and you want to close off the gap above your cabinets.

Light Rail Molding

Used at the base of your upper cabinets, light rail molding adds a decorative touch while concealing under-cabinet lighting. Choose a light rail that complements the style of your crown molding for a seamless, finished look.

Base Molding

Base molding adds visual interest and a sense of foundation to your lower cabinets. Installed at the foot of the cabinets, base molding gives the space a more finished appearance. If your kitchen already had molding around the edges of the floor, adding base molding to your cabinets creates a seamless, integrated look.

Toe Kick Molding

Toe kick molding is a simple addition that serves to cover the exposed wood under the bottom edge of your lower cabinets, giving it a clean look.

Outside Corner Molding

Outside corner molding is an optional addition to your cabinets that adds a decorative, traditional detail to the outer corners. When selecting an outside corner molding, be sure it blends well with the other molding on your cabinets.

Scribe Molding

If your walls and ceilings are uneven or inconsistent, leaving unsightly gaps after cabinets are installed, scribe molding is an easy solution. Scribe molding is a thin trim used to cover a small gap left between the back side of your cabinets and the wall. It gives the installation a cleaner look.

Now that you’re well-versed on the many cabinet molding options available, you can get started choosing the molding and trim that meet your needs—for both style and function!