Modern Millwork: Trends and Tips for Upgrading Your Home’s Interior

By Brian P. Norton, Outside Sales Representative, Canton

When it comes to enhancing the beauty and functionality of your home’s interior, millwork is a timeless option that continues to evolve with new trends. What’s popular today is a far cry from what we saw around the turn of the millennium, and certainly from the homes built in much older communities. 

Millwork is but one of many interior design options facing someone building a new home. For others, whose home was built even just a couple of decades ago, the millwork is starting to look a little out of style, perhaps placing the overall identity of the home in another time and place. And for others yet, the notion of upgrading part or all of a home’s millwork is seen as a strategy to completely reinvent the look and feel of the home, breathing new life into a space that is starting to feel outdated…but without breaking the bank (full interior redesign and renovation)!

From the growing popularity of minimalist designs to creative ways to update older homes, there’s a whole new world of millwork out there nowadays. Here’s what homeowners should know about using millwork today.

But What Exactly Is Millwork? 

First, some background. For those outside of the profession, the term “millwork” can be confusing or unfamiliar. In the world of home design and renovation, millwork refers to any wood products that are custom-made in a mill and applied to the interior of a home. This includes the trim around doors, windows, baseboards, crown molding, wainscoting, and even decorative beams. These elements not only add character but also elevate the overall design of a space:

• Casing: The trim around doors and windows.
• Baseboards: The molding that runs along the bottom of the walls.
• Crown Molding: Decorative trim where the ceiling meets the walls.
• Wainscoting: Paneling that covers the lower portion of a wall, often seen in dining rooms or foyers.
• Beams and Shiplap: Popular design elements in today’s home interiors.
• Doors: Interior doors or passageways to outdoor areas, such as French doors.
• Railings: Utilitarian handrails along staircases that can function as design elements as well.
• Balusters and Banisters: Millwork pillars and posts under handrails along hallways or stairways.
• Mantels: Decorative woodworking above a fireplace.
• Corbels/Brackets: A decorative or functional projection jutting out from a wall to support the ceiling or some other structure above it.

Millwork is not limited to decorative purposes; it also serves functional roles, such as providing protection against wear and tear and hiding imperfections in construction. While traditionally crafted from wood, modern millwork can also include materials like MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and composites, both of which are cost-effective alternatives.

Trends in Modern Millwork

If you’ve watched the home-improvement shows on cable television, or visited a friend’s or family member’s home designed or built within the past few years, you’ve likely seen the trends yourself. Gone are the days of elaborate mills with lots of shapes and contours, and what’s replacing them are simpler approaches that are growing in popularity with each passing day. 

1. Minimalist Millwork: One of the biggest trends today is a move towards minimalist millwork styles. Homeowners are opting for simple, clean lines with minimal detailing. Designs inspired by the modern farmhouse and contemporary craftsman styles are particularly popular, combining sleek, unfussy edges with a rustic charm. You might see square-edge moldings or subtle “eased edge” details, which provide a softer finish to millwork without sacrificing the clean, sharp appearance.
   
2. Painted Millwork: Painted millwork is another dominant trend, with 99% of moldings and doors now painted, typically in neutral tones like white or soft grays. However, accent walls featuring painted millwork in darker colors are becoming a bold design statement in primary bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices. Feature walls made of panel moldings or slat walls stained in lighter wood tones, like white oak, are also gaining popularity.
   
3. Accent Walls and Beams: Homeowners are increasingly incorporating accent walls and ceiling treatments into their millwork designs. Shiplap walls, timber beams, and coffered ceilings can create visually interesting and inviting focal points in great rooms, kitchens, and even basements. Timber beams, reminiscent of rustic barn aesthetics, are seeing a resurgence in modern homes.
   
4. That 70s Show(piece): Some retro trends from the 1970s are making a comeback in a big way, particularly with textured wood treatments. Whether it’s a slat wall behind a bed or stained wood paneling in a home office, the use of subtle wood textures adds warmth and depth to contemporary spaces.
   
5. Home Offices as Design Focal Points: The home office has become a key room to elevate with custom millwork, especially with the work-from-home movement that surged as a result of the pandemic. Adding wainscoting, wall paneling, or a coffered ceiling can instantly transform an ordinary home office into a stylish, inviting workspace — not to mention a proud showpiece for guests entering a home and taking a tour. 

Tips for Incorporating Millwork in Your Home

Whether designing a new-build, looking to update out-of-fashion styles in an existing home, or looking to completely transform a home cosmetically with a limited budget, millwork is becoming one of the central design considerations for homeowners and their interior designers. As design experts ourselves, we like to partner with designers and homeowners alike to serve as experienced consultants who pride ourselves on providing “exactly what you need,” no matter what your heart and mind can dream up. 

Here are a few of the tips we pass along when clients enter our showrooms looking for inspiration, guidance, design visions, and a wide range of millwork products and materials:

1. Start Small with Accent Pieces: If you’re looking to update your home but don’t want to commit to a full-scale renovation, millwork offers several cost-effective options. Installing wainscoting or crown molding in select rooms can provide a significant visual upgrade. Consider adding an accent wall in a primary bedroom, living room, or even a basement entertainment area. These spaces are perfect for creating dramatic focal points without breaking the bank, and they can be done a few at a time, to spread the cost, disruption and workload over a period of time, as opposed to doing it all at once.
   
2. Mix and Match Materials: While traditional wood moldings are always a classic choice, there are plenty of alternatives for those looking for something different. As mentioned earlier, MDF is a great option for painted moldings and can be more budget-friendly. You can also explore the use of metal or composite elements alongside wood to create a unique and modern aesthetic.
   
3. Refresh Doors and Windows: Replacing outdated doors or window casings can make a tremendous impact on the overall appearance of the home. Flat, six-panel doors that were popular in the ‘90s can be swapped out for more modern styles with clean lines or minimal details. Paired with fresh casing and baseboards, this update can make even an older home feel new.
   
4. Consider the Wood’s Natural Appeal: While painted millwork is highly popular, there’s still room for natural wood finishes in modern design. Lightly stained wood, particularly white oak, is a favorite for beams, paneling and accent walls. It adds a warm, organic touch that contrasts beautifully with sleek, modern interiors. While darker painted trims and doors certainly have their place, they can be accented by lighter stained tones without “clashing” or feeling disconnected from one another. Complementary approaches bring both balance and visual appeal when done creatively.
   
5. Don’t Forget the Ceilings: Ceilings are often overlooked but can be a great opportunity to incorporate millwork. Shiplap or coffered ceiling treatments can enhance the architectural interest of a room and draw the eye upward, making a space feel larger and more cohesive at once.

Bringing It All Together

Millwork is more than just functional; it can be a key element in personalizing your home and keeping it up-to-date with current trends. Whether you’re looking to make subtle improvements or undertake a larger renovation, there are countless ways to incorporate millwork into your design…in practically every room of the home! 

With minimalist designs leading the way, the trend is moving toward simplicity, focusing on clean lines and understated elegance. Whether you’re modernizing a home from the ‘90s or adding character to a new-build, millwork offers a versatile and impactful solution.

Brian P. Norton Serves as Outside Sales Representative in our Canton location. Have questions about millwork or looking for design inspiration? Contact him at BPNorton@manslumber.com or by phone at 734-714-5804.