Crown Molding Shelves

Crown molding is the pinnacle of a classy room. A properly installed crown molding can catch the attention of a very decor conscious person, and change their perception. A crown molding ledge takes that class and gives it a new medium. USe the ledge to display photos or trophies, and the crown molding will do most of the showcasing work for you.

Crown Molding Shelves

Buying Guide

Tara Gosselin Interior Design Expert

Tara is a San Antonio-based, award-winning landscape architect, garden writer, and educator with deep experience in eco-friendly design and hands-on horticulture. She helps homeowners turn ordinary yards into sustainable backyard retreats that blend edible planting, seasonal beauty, and thoughtful outdoor living. Her plant-first approach gives readers clear strategies for creating landscapes that feel restorative while working in harmony with the land.

How do you make a picture ledge on crown molding?

To make a crown molding ledge for pictures, you need to measure, cut, assemble, and hang your new shelf ledge; you are building narrow boxes to create the ledge.

This is a DIY project which requires attention to detail. Determine what size ledge you want, then gather your crown molding pieces. These can be unfinished solid wood crown molding to leave as is or paint later or choose already painted versions.

Next, you need to make precise cuts, creating the shelf top, box front, box sides, box bottom, and wall cleat. For a 36” shelf, build a base with slightly smaller measurements. Assemble these base pieces with pocket holes and wood glue. Allow glue to dry.

To complete the assembly, line up the top shelf and attach with more glue, then cap the bottom of your box the same way. For hanging, drill holes in the back edges of the shelf, approximately ½” from each edge. Depending on how much weight you plan to place on your ledge, design the best size wall cleat and screw it to a wall stud. Then, place your shelf on top of it and secure it in place.

How do you install floating crown molding?

To install floating crown molding, use a hidden strip of wood to screw the bottom of the crown molding into, securing it to the wall and making it appear as if it is floating.

Purchase already cut crown molding to your size specifications or cut your own. Measure the location you wish to install the crown molding and mark it with a pencil. Next, locate a small piece of wood approximately ¾” thick and 1¼” high. It will need to fit in the void space caused by the angle of the crown molding.

Once level, screw the wood piece into the wall. These screws need to go at least 1” deep into the wall studs for maximum security. If the piece of crown molding is 6” deep, a ¾” thick wood strip should offer enough support. For a ledge that is deeper than 6”, use more substantial wall cleats to hold the crown molding in place.

Next, add your crown molding on top of the secured wood strip. This method can be used for simple crown molding or to make a floating crown molding ledge.

How high should a crown moulding ledge be?

When it comes to determining the height of a crown molding ledge, there are a few rules. If your ceilings are a standard 8-feet high, the height of your crown ledge should be two and a half to six inches. If your ceilings are nine feet high, your crown ledge should sit at three to seven and a half inches tall, and for ten-foot-high ceilings, keep your crown ledge at three and a half to eight inches high.