How to Add DIY Craftsman Trim Around a Window | Thrifty Decor Chick

In our first home, we had no window trim at all, so I added this Craftsman-style molding around most of our windows in that house. I’m sharing that tutorial here, and a simpler version as well. 

First up, the simpler version that works if you already have casing around your windows, but want to beef it up a bit. 

Before we start, here’s a helpful diagram of this type of casing around a window:

You can see here how simple it is really…and if you’re starting with existing trim it’s even easier! 

Tutorial #1:  Adding to existing window trim.

I’ve been working on some updates in our mud/laundry room, and I figured I’d beef up the window trim in this room while I was at it: 

This is a before before pic of the room, but it’s the best I have of this window. 

The beauty of this version of the tutorial is I only had to focus on the top and bottom of the window — no need to remove the casing on the sides.

To remove the apron, make sure to score the caulk around the trim first — then tap a flat painter’s tool or a crow bar under the trim to start pulling it away from the wall: 

You’ll probably have some long nails still intact — you can pull those out, or just do as I do and hammer them into the drywall: 

Make sure they are fully pounded into the drywall and not popping up at all. You’ll want to remove any residual caulk leftover as well. 

I use a simple 1×4 primed piece of wood for the new apron:

That’s it! 

The topper of the window trim is made up of three pieces of trim — thin lattice molding, a 1×2 and a 1×4: 

I like to build and paint this portion off the wall — it’s just easier than of up on a ladder. 

Since my window measures 35 inches across (with the vertical trim on each side), I cut the 1×4 at the same width (35 inches) and the other two at 35.5 inches so they are longer by a quarter inch on both sides. 

This gives the window more dimension and interest, instead of all of the trim lining up perfectly. (You’ll see this in photos below.)

A nail gun is very helpful for this project! Nail the 1×2 onto the top and the thin lattice to the bottom: 

Once all of the pieces are secured, you can fill holes, caulk and paint before installing on the window. 

Before installing the new topper, I had to remove the existing trim at the top of the window. To do this, I used a level to mark a straight line where I wanted to cut.

Make sure to score the caulk around this portion before removing (just like the bottom apron): 

When that part is removed from the wall, you can place the new topper right on top of the existing side casing around the window. 

After everything is installed, I like to do a fresh bead of caulk around the window and where the new trim is installed. It will give you a more professional and finished look! 

I find it easier to mark where I want the caulk with painter’s tape — this gives me a super clean line on the wall when I pull the tape away: 

They are called Turbo Caulk and save your fingers big time. And when you’re done, they make a great “cap” for the caulk in between projects.  

Here’s how this simpler window trim looks when complete: 

You can create this same DIY Craftsman trim over doors/walk throughs as well:

If you’re starting from scratch and have no trim around your window at all, you’ll want to use this next tutorial! 

Tutorial #2:  Adding Craftsman trim to windows with only drywall. 

This method will give you the true, classic Craftsman window casing, since you’re starting from scratch. 

At our first house, I wasn’t able to create this look because our window sills weren’t wide enough. Instead, I installed some very skinny trim around the window that would match up with the sill:

To do the trim I wanted to do I’d have to take the whole sill (or stool, as it’s technically called) off and that intimidated me. But then I saw Cristina’s tutorial — I ended up following her instructions and they worked perfectly! 

First up, I removed the apron underneath the sill:

We had a frigid winter one year and the window was iced up and when it melted into the wall. That area below the apron was a big bubble of water. 😖

If you don’t score all the areas (with a razor) that are caulked, when you pull the trim off it will pull the paint/drywall away:

Just like the earlier tutorial, take a crow bar and start pulling up the wood.

The only issue I had was the ends of the sill started digging into the drywall as I pulled up:

When I worked on one end at a time (instead of trying to pull the whole thing up at once) it helped a bunch. I just focused on one side and got that up and clear of the drywall, then got the whole thing out.

Here’s what it looks like underneath:

After all that I took the skinny trim off the sides of the windows:

I kept that all for future projects. (I used it on all of the wainscoting in this room.)

Also, our window sills are deeper so I had to use 1×8 wood instead of the standard 1×5. I followed Cristina’s instructions and used the old sill as my guide to cut the new one. 

The only thing you need to keep in mind is your trim that will be on the sides of the windows – mine was 3 1/2 inches and I wanted the stool to stick out a bit from that, so I traced the original onto the new wood, but gave myself four inches:

Here’s how it looks installed on the window:

I followed my traced lines with a jigsaw to cut it out. Don’t worry if the lines aren’t perfect!:

They will be mostly covered with the new casing on each side of the window. 

The parts that aren’t covered are easily fixed with caulk. (My BFF.):

I took my sander to the edges of the new sill because this pine has really sharp edges. I do this on all of the door trim I’ve installed too:

I just knock it down a little so it doesn’t have such a hard corner, but it’s not necessary. 

After replacing the sill at the bottom, I installed the side casings and then I built up the top portion and installed it just as I did in the first tutorial. 

Remember the 1×2 and stop on top and the new sill/stool on the bottom will be a bit wider than the other pieces. 

Here’s how this Craftsman molding treatment comes together on a window: 

I couldn’t BELIEVE how much better the room looks with the beefier trim around the windows:

Here’s a closer look at how chair rail, wainscoting and window trim work together:


I labeled the wood I used so you can pin this for later:
 

This simple trim work around your windows will take any room to the next level! It makes such a huge difference on windows and doors. 

If you have any questions about either tutorial, please let me know in the comments!