Different uses for skirting boards and why mouldings are essential: Leave a comment

Used for both functional and decorative purposes, skirting boards have been an essential part of interior design for centuries.

Functionality:

Skirting serves as protection for the bottom of plaster boards, preventing scratches, dents or cracks. These can come from a build up of knocks in high traffic areas or hoovers for example. Additionally, rebated skirting can be used to cover pipes and wires, helping to keep living spaces tidy and hazard free. Using skirting boards adds a solid layer of protection for whatever is behind it, while also  acting as a finishing touch to the interior design of a room.

The original use for skirting boards was to cover gaps in between the floor boards and walls. walls tended to have messier finishes due to the lack of technology in earlier years of construction. These gaps often let in drafts or allowed space for rodents to creep in, so skirting boards were a way of sealing off the walls, giving them a better finish. As time has gone on and construction methods have improved, they now serve more of an aesthetic purpose. But as previously mentioned, their functionality still remains crucial in modern homes and rooms.

Aesthetic purposes:

For the interior design of rooms, skirting boards along with other mouldings such as dado rails and architrave are a fantastic way of adding character. Mouldings come in different styles and finishes, helping to bring to life the idea of the designer and those living, working or visiting the room. The designs of mouldings are called profiles and there are lots of them out there. Divided into modern, period and traditional, each profile helps to bring a different aesthetic to a room. Skirting boards combined with matching dado rails, architrave and/or panelling can really set the foundations to the style of a room before any furniture, artwork or accessories are brought in.

Other mouldings and their functions:

• Panelling – decorative, picture frames
• Dado rail – decorative, prevent damage from doors and chairs
• Architrave – decorative, prevent damage from doors and high traffic, conceal door frame
• Window boards – aka a window sill, gives a finished look to windows and offers structura support, moisture management and a place to display items like plans or pictures
• Rosette blocks – decorative, smoother transition between mitres on architrave
• Plinth blocks – decorative, smoother transition between skirting and architrave
• Railing – decorative, can be used to make thinner dado rails that compliments a room with a lower ceiling or panelled walls.

The type of finish used on skirting boards along with the other mouldings also serves a variety of purposes.

Skirting UK finishes explained:

• Unprimed – usually requested by builders or joiners who want to rub and paint the product themselves. Maybe uncertain on the colours they want, the specific lengths required or just prefer to do it themselves.
• Primed – a step up from unprimed, these have been rubbed and covered with one coat of paint by us. We also call this ready to paint. The person ordering may want to paint the moulding in their chosen colour rather than getting them finished in white.
• Gloss – a high sheen finish, this finish is excellent for brightening up a room as the light reflects off it nicely. Additionally, due to its reflective property, it is good at hiding blemishes or marks on the skirting or mouldings that may occur in high traffic areas.
• Satin – similar to gloss, this finish is also great for brightening up rooms. It has a slightly lower sheen but is still effective. It’s also easy to clean so can be useful in areas that collect a lot of dust.
• Egg shell – arguably the most popular finish, egg shell provides a matte finish that creates a beautiful, smooth look. Great for a clean finish on flat surfaces and one to use if you have a variety of mouldings in a room eg skirting, dado rail and panelling sets on each wall.

To get an idea on how these mouldings might look in your home, visit our tiktok and Instagram. Don’t forget to tag us in your home transformations! @skirtinguk #skirtinguk