There is nothing that evokes elegance and sophistication like a beautifully proportioned architectural column. While many people use them to add style to the outside of their homes, interior columns are often neglected as a way to beautify the inside of the home. In fact, interior columns are incredibly versatile and can be used in almost any room to add detail and elegance to an otherwise plain room.

Fiberglass columns are the easiest and most affordable way to add columns to your home's interior. They are lightweight, versatile and easy to install. Fiberglass columns can be painted in an endless array of colors and will last for years with no repair or upkeep needed. They don't warp or rot like wood might.

Ways to Add Drama with Interior Columns

You can use interior columns in just about any room in your house. Installing fiberglass columns on either side of an entryway turns an ordinary doorway into a grand entrance that emphasizes the importance of the room.

Interior columns can be purely decorative or they can provide specific functions. One popular way to use fiberglass columns is to add definition to a space without giving up the open floor plan. By placing a few pillars in row in a room, you break up the space visually, perhaps to define a family sitting area and separating it from the dining area. This also works well in large bedrooms or master suites, where interior columns can frame the bed and enclose it, separating it from a seating area or lounging space.

You'll often find beautifully detailed columns supporting the mantel of a fireplace in older homes. Today you can easily achieve this effect yourself by installing fiberglass columns on either side of your fireplace and adding an imposing mantel to complete the look.

Built-in book cases or other storage areas will also benefit from the addition of interior columns. Try using half-round fiberglass columns or pilasters at each end of a plain book case and you'll instantly have a shelf of books that would look at home in the finest of vintage libraries.

While many people don't think about interior columns in the kitchen, they are actually idea for a variety of designer kitchen elements. Shorter interior columns can be used to support one end of a breakfast bar, or install a lovely granite kitchen island that is supported by two sturdy by elegant fiberglass columns. This gives you a more spacious feel and will allow you to pull up a stool beneath the island if you want to sit while preparing a salad or rolling out some cookie dough.

Fiberglass interior columns give you a great deal of versatility. You can order them in stain grade or paint grade. Stain grade columns can be stained to give the appearance of hand-carved and finished wood columns, while paint grade can be painted any color imaginable in order to match the room's decor. For added refinement, a touch of gold or silver gilt on your interior columns will look stunning.