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Updated January 2022
Do your kitchen cabinets look unfinished or leave an awkward gap below the ceiling? Adding crown molding to upper cabinets is a simple DIY upgrade that instantly refines the look of a kitchen. We installed crown molding on our uppers in about three hours, and it made a dramatic difference — transforming a clean, modern edge into a more finished, classic profile.
Why We Added Crown Molding To Our Kitchen Cabinets
When we completed our kitchen renovation last year, we intentionally left the upper cabinets with a square, modern edge and skipped crown molding. At the time we liked the minimalist look and had never installed crown molding before. After gaining experience installing crown on the ceiling, we decided the cabinets could benefit from the same detail. Crown molding helped bridge the gap at the top of the cabinets and gave the room a more layered, finished appearance without a major remodel.
After installing the molding, the cabinets read as more intentional and cohesive with the rest of the kitchen trim. The change is subtle but impactful.
Steps For Adding Cabinet Crown Molding
This project breaks down into four straightforward steps and can be completed in a single afternoon. The process is accessible for most DIYers and doesn’t require advanced carpentry skills:
- Attach scrap wood above your cabinets to provide a nailing surface
- Measure and cut the crown molding
- Nail the crown molding in place
- Caulk and paint for a seamless finish
Tools & Materials Needed
Gathering the right tools and materials ahead of time will make the installation faster and less frustrating. Below is a practical list of what we used:
- Crown molding (primed or unfinished depending on finish)
- Measuring tape
- Nail gun (a cordless model that doesn’t require an air compressor is convenient)
- Wood glue
- Crown-holding jig or Kreg Crown Pro for accurate 45° cuts
- Miter saw
- 1×2″ wood or pine scrap to raise the mounting surface
- Paintable caulk
- Paint to match your cabinets or desired trim color
- Short-handled paint brush and painter’s tape
If your cabinets are stained wood rather than painted, match the crown molding’s species and stain or consult your cabinet manufacturer for coordinating trim options.
Step 1: Measure Your Cabinets
Measure the top edges of all upper cabinets carefully and buy more material than the linear measurement. Because crown molding is cut at angles, mitered pieces require additional length. Measure twice (or more) before cutting to minimize waste.
Step 2: Attach Scrap Wood Around The Top
If your cabinet doors reach close to the cabinet top, attach a scrap 1×2 along the entire perimeter of the upper cabinets to create a solid nailing surface for the crown molding. We used leftover 1x2s from another project, securing them with wood glue and a nail gun. The scraps will be hidden behind the molding, so they don’t need to be finished wood—just straight and secure.
Make sure the scrap wood runs continuously around each run of cabinets so the molding has a uniform surface to sit against.
Step 3: Cut Your Crown Molding
Cutting crown molding uses the same principles whether you’re installing it on a ceiling or atop cabinets. The important steps are:
- Measure carefully (double-check lengths)
- Use a miter saw and a crown-holding jig or protractor for accurate 45° cuts
- Test-fit each piece before fastening
A jig such as the Kreg Crown Pro clamps the molding at the correct angle and greatly simplifies miter cuts. Take your time on corner pieces and dry-fit assemblies before final nailing.
How to cut crown molding
If you want a visual walkthrough, there are many helpful video tutorials that show measuring, cutting, and fitting crown molding. The same techniques used for ceiling installation apply here.
Step 4: Nail The Crown Molding Into Place
Once each piece is cut and dry-fit, attach the crown molding to the scrap wood with a nail gun. Use small nails spaced every few inches to secure the molding without splitting it.
TIP: Tape & Glue Your Outside Corners
Outside corners can be fragile when nailed directly. A reliable method is to apply wood glue at the joint, hold the miters together with painter’s tape while the glue sets, and then remove the tape once dry. Alternatively, clamp or temporarily screw a small scrap block behind the corner to secure both pieces while they’re fastened.
Step 4: Caulk & Paint Your Crown Molding
Fill seams and nail holes with paintable caulk, smoothing the bead for a clean transition between molding and cabinet. We use a fast-dry caulk so paint can be applied within an hour. After caulking, paint the molding to match your cabinets or to the trim color you prefer. If the molding is primed white and you’re painting a similar shade, one coat may be enough; darker or contrasting colors may need two coats.
Use a small brush for precise edges and remove any painter’s tape once the paint is tacky but not fully cured to keep lines crisp.
Once the paint dries, your cabinets will have a polished, finished look — and the whole project requires relatively little time and expense.
How Much Did It Cost?
This was an inexpensive upgrade. Our only material cost was three 8-foot pieces of crown molding, and the total came to roughly $35 for the whole project. With a small investment of time and money, the visual return on this upgrade is substantial.
We’re glad we added crown molding — it helped shift the kitchen from a strictly modern aesthetic toward a more traditional, layered look that feels refined and intentional.
More DIY Molding Projects
If you enjoyed this project and want to try more trim work, consider other molding applications such as board-and-batten, built-in bookshelf trim, chunky crown made from baseboard, or decorative wall molding. These additions are cost-effective ways to add architectural interest throughout your home.
More DIY Kitchen Cabinetry Projects
Other simple cabinet upgrades to consider include painting cabinets, installing hidden hinges, removing upper cabinets for an open look, darkening wood stains without heavy sanding, or refinishing Ikea cabinets. Each update can dramatically change the feel of your kitchen without a full renovation.
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