Crown molding placed below the ceiling line creates a lightweight tray for lights.
Rope lights cast a romantic ambience in any room. Situated at the top of the ceiling in a ceiling tray, the lights exude a warm glow with a luxurious, customized appeal. Rope lights are very lightweight, requiring little support. For this project, use crown molding to create a stylized, simple tray ceiling. Pre-made, or stock, crown molding is available at any lumberyard or home improvement center. For best results, install a base of wood furring strips around the ceiling. Crown "corner blocks" are pre-made molding blocks that easily join sections of molding at corners, eliminating the need for tricky cuts and wood joinery.
Instructions
1. Measure for the position of the crown molding. Climb a ladder in one corner of the room, and measure approximately 6 or 8 inches down wall from the ceiling, depending on personal taste. Make a mark on the wall with the pencil. Measure down from all corners and mark.
2. Enlist the aid of a helper. Snap a chalk line on your wall pencil marks, creating a perimeter line all around the room. The bottom of the furring strips will sit on this perimeter line.
3. Nail furring strips to the wall at the perimeter lines with 1 1/2-inch finishing nails.
4. Measure 1 1/2 inches up from the bottom edge of the furring strips all around the room to create a new perimeter line on the furring strips. The bottom of the crown molding will sit on the furring strips on this new perimeter line, creating a layered look for the tray ceiling.
5. Nail the crown molding corner blocks in each corner with 1 1/2-inch finishing nails.
6. Measure and nail the crown molding strips to the furring strips on the wall. The bottom of the crown molding should sit on the new perimeter line on the furring strips. Use 1 1/2-inch finishing nails.
7. Prime and paint the tray ceiling molding. Allow it to dry.
8. Place rope lights in the tray ceiling molding, behind the crown molding where it meets the furring strip. Because the slant of the molding holds the rope lights in place, you do not need to secure the rope lighting to the tray. Simply place them in the tray and turn on the lights.
Tags: furring strips, crown molding, , 2-inch finishing, 2-inch finishing nails, crown molding