How can I use crown molding in a small home with small rooms?

I don't think so Julie, but you could use narrow moulding. Our bedrooms have narrow moulding. It still gives a finishing touch. And in one angled room the cutting of the moulding, because of the precision with which it was cut, adds to the positive impression the molding makes.

The cupboards in my sons kitchen has crown molding at the top to close up the small gap. It isn't as tall as the normal crown molding you see people use up at the ceiling. Perhaps you can find something that is shorter than the normal tall crown molding you see used. The larger molding would have looked funny in my sons small narrow kitchen.

I’ve used fabric rope in different strong colors glue gunned in the space where the walls meet the ceiling. If you want to highlight a couple of colors, glue a second rope — same size or smaller — to the rope you just put up. You can use other trim, like lace, for a different effect. You can go chabby chic or casual, nautical, whatever you want. I wouldn’t necessarily do this in every room, but maybe one or two for specific effects. I even framed a red painted short hallway wall in thick red rope. There are 4 black and white pictures hung on that wall and the effect is striking. Maybe this will promot more ideas. Have fun and enjoy the finished, polished look. FYI, I did these about 17 yrs ago and they’re still up there with any fading.

I have crown molding throughout my home and it is small, 8 ft ceilings. Bedrooms and hallways have 3 or 3.5 inch crown but family room, dining area has the 3.5” and an additional piece of molding placed lower on the wall to give the appearance of a 7 inch crown. I love it! Including some pictures, space between lower molding and top crown is the wall painted with the same trim color. The last photo is a bedroom with just the top crown 3.5”.

The key is to use a crown to scale. I have crown molding in my camper! But we used a product that was about half the width of typical crown. Look at moldings that are designed for a different use but give the profile you like. They are out there, you just need to use some imagination.