Trim and Moulding Terminology to Nail Your Next Project

The word “trim” can be a very broad term. Did you know that there are multiple different types of interior trim in your home that you should know about? If you want to add some character to your home, or if you are building your dream home and there is some trim you want to incorporate, take a look at these diagrams. We not only have a diagram labeling all of the trim types, but we will also list a definition for each type so you can better understand the different types of trim in your home.

Tongue and groove is often used as the entire interior walls in some rooms, or even a simple accent wall. The simple symmetrical horizontal grooves offer a unique touch without drawing too much attention to the walls.

Tongue and Groove/Beadboard Wainscotting

Tongue and Groove are planks that join together and interlock making a single flat surface.

Shoe Moulding

Shoe mould is found at the bottom or base of your baseboards. You will not find these in every home as their main purpose is to cover the gap in between baseboards and flooring.

Baseboard

Baseboards come in primed MDF or Poplar, they serve as both functional and cosmetic. They are found covering the joint between the wall and floor.

Outside Corner

Outside corner mouldings is a style of  moulding that is used to cover a raw corner in your home.

Mantel

Mantels are the top shelf of a fireplace.

If there is a fireplace in a room it is often a focal point and choosing a mantel that fits your style and design of your home is very important.

Fluted Pilaster

Fluted Pilasters are used to add elegance to a home by framing the vertical sides or a door, window or mantel with fluted pilaster moulding.

Window Stool

The window stool is part of the window sill.  Installing interior casing around a window always starts with the window stool, which is the flat horizontal part of the trim, where most people set plants.

Apron

A window apron is the decorative trim directly beneath the window stool of a window.

Panel Wainscoting

Panel Wainscoting covers the lower, most vulnerable portion of a wall, it provides a decorative feature to a wall/room and it’s main function is to resist any damages due to everyday use.

Chair Rail

Chair Rail is the moulding on an interior wall that is wraps horizontally around a room. Some people associate chair rail as a type of trim that prevents chairs from rubbing against the walls.

In this grand room you can see the panel wainscoting wrapped around the entire room with the chair rail separating the panel wainscoting and wall for some contrast. You can also see the room has an elegant touch with crown moulding.

Panel Moulding

Panel Moulding is trim that goes over walls to create a design feature.

Casing

Casing is trim that frames an opening, window or door and is typically less wide than baseboards.

We offer a number of different casing styles, this one in particular is a Modern style design, it offers a simple design that is very popular in homes today.

Corner Block

Often used for decorative purposes, a corner block is a trim block placed at the upper corners on each side of the wood framing around a door or opening.

Plate Rail

Plate Rail is a narrow shelf along the upper part of a wall that wraps horizontally around a room and is often used for plates or ornaments.

Crown Moulding

Often used for decorative use, crown moulding is installed at the point where a wall meets the ceiling at a 30-45 degree angle.

Frieze

Typically installed near crown moulding, frieze runs vertical beneath the crown moulding.

Mullions

A mullion is part of a frame on a door that divides the frame into different sections.

Bottom Rail

The bottom rail on a door is the lowest horizontal member of the frame of a door.

Door Jamb

A door jamb is the vertical portion of the door frame and is used to secure a door in the frame.

Plinth

A plinth block sits at the bottom of the door frame, it can be thicker or wider than the baseboard, casing or architrave.

Baseboard

Baseboards come in primed MDF or Poplar, they serve as both functional and cosmetic. They are found covering the joint between the wall and floor.

Shoe Moulding

Shoe mould is found at the bottom or base of your baseboards. You will not find these in every home as their main purpose is to cover the gap in between baseboards and flooring.

White trim on a whitewall is extremely popular in homes today. You can see the 9” contemporary poplar baseboard with 2.5” contemporary shoe mould is the perfect trim style for a white on white room.

Lock Rail

The lock rail is the horizontal member of a door where the lock is fixed.

Lock Set or Passage Set

Most doors need some sort of hardware whether it’s a knob or a lever these can be purchased as a passage, privacy or dummy.

Panels

Usually found on a wall, door or ceiling, a panel is a flat or curved component, typically rectangular that is installed onto a surface.

Cross Rail

Also referred to as “intermediate rail”, a cross rail is the horizontal rail on a door that is not the top or bottom.

Top Rail

Similar to cross rail,a top rail is the horizontal rail on a door found at the top.

Crown Moulding

Often used for decorative use, crown moulding is installed at the point where a wall meets the ceiling at a 30-45 degree angle.

Stiles

The outermost vertical member of a door.

Casing

Casing is trim that frames an opening, window or door and is typically less wide than baseboards.

Backband

A backband is typically added to casing to provide thick edges around a window or door. It gives a much more elegant unique look to a house.

Here you can see a more traditional style of trim. This is our Ornamental Baseboard and Casing containing both shoe mould and backband. Including backband on casing provides additional detail to an opening.  

Architrave

The top main beam of an entrance, window or door. Architrave is used as decorative trim to add more of a design to your home.

Window Stool

The window stool is part of the window sill.  Installing interior casing around a window always starts with the window stool, which is the flat horizontal part of the trim, where most people set plants.

Apron

A window apron is the decorative trim directly beneath the window stool of a window.

Many people over look a window stool and apron. It is quite often that people do not know that there is a proper name for something like this. It is important to ask about a window stool and apron especially if you want an area to place pictures, plant, lights and more.

After reviewing the diagrams of interior trim and reading the definitions you should have a better understanding of all of the trim in your home. If you have any questions or require a quote contact us so we can help with your project. Visit our Trim page to view all of our styles