Frieze Molding

Decorative Frieze Molding

The frieze molding is a wide band, often ornamented with beautiful motifs, that runs under the cornice or crown molding. A frieze can enliven your space with a signature theme.

Frieze molding installed about one quarter or one half of the way down a wall from the ceiling. When run around the perimeter of a room, these molding creates a space above known as a frieze. This space is usually decorated in a manner distinct from the wall space below. The difference between picture rail and frieze molding is that picture rail molding has a rounded top edge that projects from the wall. Frieze molding is typically flat with decorative ornamental design.

Frieze molding is very popular in neoclassical style homes. Combining chair rails and panel molding or frieze molding on the same wall creates three distinct wall fields. This arrangement known as by architects and designers as tripartite. This type of wall detailing expands the decorating opportunities, allowing you to panel, paint or paper each field separately creating a unique combination. These moldings are easy to install, requiring one or two finishing nails at each wall-stud location. Shaped frieze molding should be coped at inside corners and mitered at outside corners.