Crown Molding Shelves

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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.

11 Recommendations and 158 Ideas

Updated 16/03/2023
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Best for displaying multiple decor
Traditional Versatile Floating Shelf Ledge

Traditional Versatile Floating Shelf Ledge

Alcott Hill®

What we like: Multiple size options

Not great for: Wide items

This single traditional floating shelf with authentic mold ridges and taper that goes from the wide shelf to the narrow base adds stylish lines and a classic nuance. Available in six widths, you can choose a size that suits your wall.  

$57.99 $65.99

Designer Advice:

Floating crown molding shelving can work as wall decor due to having a flat side that rests flush against the wall. The stacked ridges on the outer layer add texture and dimension mixed with a vintage Victorian vibe. And shelving in different sizes makes a fun visual aesthetic you can reconfigure for different looks and storage solutions. 

What Users Say:

Sturdy and well made! Good for pictures and small objects. Wouldn’t put anything too heavy on it though!

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Thick Victorian Crown Molding Floating Shelf

Thick Victorian Crown Molding Floating Shelf

Ballucci

The most classic and well-known type of crown molding floating shelf is the tall, thick Victorian type. Smooth siding paired with sharp concave edging creates an even balance that softly stands out.

Tall Victorian crown molding shelves can be bought individually, in pairs, or larger sets. For a monochromatic finish, combine white crown molding shelves with black and white photos. Add a small splash of one color for the color to pop. 

$43.99 $45.99

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Extra long Arched Molding Shelf Mantel With Geometric Shaping

Extra long Arched Molding Shelf Mantel With Geometric Shaping

Originally built to outline fireplaces is the extra-long molding shelf. These types can look fantastic on your regular living room walls above a sofa. You are not required to own a fireplace to use these types of shelves, though placing this type on top of a fireplace is stunning.

The boxier geometric shaping of these shelves settles nicely into traditional and modern décor. Add glass-contained candles for a glamorous and glitzy extravagance, or two identical decorative bowls for picture-perfect symmetry.

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Metal and Wood Farmhouse Crown Molding Shelves

Metal and Wood Farmhouse Crown Molding Shelves

Bungalow Rose

One of the most unique types of crown molding shelves are ones mixed with other materials besides just wood. Classic crown molding with metal and wood mixtures lend a hand in farmhouse décor.

Add a mixed material crown molding shelf to a kitchen, entryway, or living room. If your shelf is thick enough, you can place a glass mason jar on it and fill it with your favorite aromatic flowers. 

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Fancy Multi patterned Shelf Moulding With Egg and Dart Style

Fancy Multi patterned Shelf Moulding With Egg and Dart Style

Design Toscano

These types would classify as your grandeur crown molding shelves. They are sculpted using multiple types of patterns within one thick and largely built shelf.

Their heavy appearance makes them the perfect match for the Mediterranean décor style. Pair these multi-patterned shelf mouldings with a high wingback tufted leather chair for a classic exuberance. 

$796.86 $922.26

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Dentil patterned Shelf Molding Mantel

Dentil patterned Shelf Molding Mantel

World Menagerie

Shelf molding with dentil patterns has a more masculine sense to them. The small rectangular dentil-patterned pieces are either situated upright, to emphasize the height of the shelf, or horizontally, for a braided wrap-around image.

Let the dentil pattern speak for itself with the lack of décor pieces. You can also use this type as an elegant display shelf around the top of a room. 

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Flat Ornate patterned Ledge Molding

Flat Ornate patterned Ledge Molding

One Allium Way®

These flat ornate-patterned ledge molding shelves are subtle in molding. Most of their energy is placed in their accented siding which prevents your shelf from looking too classic.

This type of crown molding shelf is perfect for someone who finds pleasure in the classics but also doesn’t want to go overboard. Vintage, antique, or farmhouse décor styles pair magnificently with this type of subtle shelf. 

$111.99 $149

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Bumpy Crown Molding Shelf With Key Hooks

Bumpy Crown Molding Shelf With Key Hooks

A bumpy crown molding shelf gives a wall a playful and cheery attitude. These key hook molding shelves couple perfectly in entrances, kitchens, and craft rooms. Select one with an attached corkboard or chalkboard for your kid’s room.

If you are not looking for all the bells and whistles that come with bumpy bubbly crown molding, then you can pick one with the shelf alone. This type of molding shelf is narrower, so they are more ideal for smaller or thinner decorative items.

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Best for indoor or outdoor use
Crown Molding Floating Shelves

Crown Molding Floating Shelves

Ekena Millwork

What we like: Primed for color customization

Not great for: More than 5lb weight

This single white floating shelf comes in three-width options with authentic crown molding details. The tapered design goes from a wide frame to a shorter low cap with notches that accents the multiple molding lines.

$63.99 $121.99

Designer Advice:

While crown molding shelves are typically historical in style, they can make great versatile pieces for any decor. And having a simple primer finish gives you a chance to get a finish - paint, stain, gloss, distressed, or patterned - unique to your tastes. The vintage style can look great in any room or environment, even as outdoor decor.

What Users Say:

Beautiful shelf. This shelf is good quality and strong.

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10
Beaded Crown Molding Floating Shelf With Corbels

Beaded Crown Molding Floating Shelf With Corbels

Red Barrel Studio®

Beading on any furniture is elegant, especially when it is arranged on a crown molding floating shelf. Hang your beaded crown molding shelves on full display in your formal, office, bedroom, or living room.

For soft elegance, find beaded arrangements that blend into the finish of the shelf. Shiny silver or gold beading on a white or black finished shelf will fine-tune focus on the design elements of the shelf itself. 

$51.99 $69.99

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Mirror and Shelf Molding With Concave Scotia Shaping

Mirror and Shelf Molding With Concave Scotia Shaping

This type of shelf molding does a great job at using negative space for its design style. Shelf molding techniques that jut inward and then back outward capture your attention immediately.

You can purchase concave crown molding shelves by themselves or paired with a lovely mirror to set in your entryway or bathroom. Their versatile design lets you place any décor piece on top without stealing the shelfs’ spotlight.

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Crown Molding Shelves

Buying Guide

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.

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.

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.

Best Ideas

Crown Molding Wall Shelf

Crown Molding Wall Shelf

If you're a fan of stylish and practical solution, you're gonna be amazed by this unique and original shelf. Check it out and enjoy an extraordinary functionality and an incredible design in your house!

Crown molding ledge

You can easily transform you bedroom by adding to it white boards and battens, which will give the room an elegant character. You can make the project on your own, but remember to measure everything correctly.

Crown Molding Shelf

Crown Molding Shelf

A very interesting type of product that provides additional storage and display space in the room. This is a wall mounted shelve made of poplar wood with a stained or painted finish. It is solid and provides a display space for different decorations.

Four season room traditional living room magnotta builders remodelers

four season room - traditional - living room - Magnotta Builders & Remodelers

Crown molding ledge 8

Country style board, batten and wooden shelving on a budget.

Crown molding ledge

A great DIY project, allowing to store all pictures and smaller knick-knacks in one place. Gallery wall shelves, made of crown molding, painted in white and attached to the wall, are a versatile decoration, which will fit into almost every kind of interior.

Crown molding ledge

wall-panels-wainscoting-idea by Crown Molding, via Flickr

Crown molding ledge 11

Shelf like this could house the Mr's collections without using floor space

Crown molding shelf diy

Wall shelf with antique finish. It is completely made of wood. Perfect solution for storing books, display decorations and more. Neutral design for all kinds of interiors.

How to make a crown molding shelf

Apart from providing a smooth, classic appeal to the space, this crown moulding has also a practical function, as it can be used smoothly as a bookshelf. Its white finish fits well into the surrounding decor.

Crown molding ledge

Aesthetic contemporary wall ledges for displaying frames with pictures or photos. A simple ledge is made of white-painted wooden materials and has an L-shaped side profile. It can be adorned with a more decorative crown ledge fixed at the bottom.

Crown molding ledge 4

wainscoting with shelves made with crown moulding pieces (actually are foam trim boards). for kitchen??

Crown ledge

Bringing in some smooth touch of classic elegance, the crown molding ledge beautifully encompasses this large bathroom mirror. Finished in timeless white, it adds brightness to the space, being a counterweight to the beiges and browns.

Crown molding ledge

Make sure you have all the necessary accent pieces and convenient additions in your household with these charming floating shelves that sport a simple design and yet are just packed with functionality, letting you display the charming knick-knacks or books beautifully.

How to make a shelf with crown molding

A crown molding ledge creates a simple, yet elegant addition to your corridor. It constitutes a great way to display your collections of photos or documents. Fits well into both modern and traditional interior.

Crown molding ledge 1

build a ledge shelf with crown molding DSCF1211 copy

Pottery barn crown molding ledge

"rain gutter" book shelves made with crown molding!

Crown molding ledge 16

window seat | House of Turquoise: Structures Building Company

Crown molding ledge shelves

Shelves basically consist of a 2×4 on the wall, 1/2″ MDF for the top and bottoms of the shelves, crown molding and then the decorative corbels. They are about 9ft long a piece.

Crown molding ledge 18

DIY Pottery Barn Mantle Shelf Copy

Crown molding ledge 17

wainscoting & charcoal gray paint

Beveled subway tiles look marvelous in this remodeled bathroom

Beveled Subway Tiles look Marvelous in this Remodeled Bathroom

Crown molding ledge

Duct work in the basement is fancied up with crown moulding and made to look like a tray ceiling...great idea.