I Love How This One-and-Done Product Adds Vintage Charm to a Plain Hallway

I am so charmed by old houses — the hefty door hardware! The intricate crown molding! The singular-use features that are long since retired (hello, razor blade slots)! All those details are more than just decoration; they’re also showcasing a bit of history.

Unfortunately, a lot of modern homes can be more sparse in their architectural details (my own included), so I’m always on the hunt for easy DIY upgrades that can help me borrow a little bit of old-house charm. One element I’ve been thinking about recently? Door pediments, which don’t get enough love but which are a prominent feature in this gorgeous hallway redo. A lot of things make this hallway makeover great, including the new pink and green color scheme and the beautiful light fixtures, but I think a standout feature is the newly added Architectural Depot scroll urn door pediment.

A door pediment is a piece of decorative molding installed over a door. You can find lots of different styles, but the one shown here — called a rams head — is a style you would have seen in intricate Victorian-era homes.

The product itself is made of lightweight urethane (plastic) and is pre-primed, so you can get straight to painting.

Here, DIYers Amber and Nate (@magical_manor) used the scroll urn pediment above a door in their hallway to give it a dramatic, luxurious look. 

What I find so impressive about this pediment is that Amber and Nate were able to just plop it on top of their existing door frame without needing to alter any of the existing molding. With that singular piece, the door now looks so grand — and doubly so in the new dramatic dark green paint.

This DIY upgrade also doesn’t require a ton of time, work, or fancy tools; you can install it with construction adhesive (though you might want to use screws, too, if it’s especially big). After that, you’ll just need to fill in any gaps with caulk and follow with paint.

If you like the idea of a pediment but not this particular look, then great news: There are lots of pediment variations to choose from. A triangular shape or a simple sunburst could be a better fit if your style is on the simpler side.

Some DIY upgrades look a little out of place if you don’t do them in more than one room, but the beauty of a door pediment is that it can stand totally alone. Use it to frame your front door, or to highlight a door to a specific room that gets lots of traffic (here, it’s the bathroom). Wherever you place it, it adds instant vintage luxury. 

BUY: Architectural Depot Scroll Urn Pediment, $132