Skirting the Truth: 9 Eye-Catching Skirting Board Designs
Skirting boards can be modern and minimal or high and dramatic. Here's how to find one that suits your home's style
tidgboutique
30 July 2018
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design concierge boutique-style firm crafting timeless interiors.
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How often have you considered skirting board design? Chances are not that often. But if you’re renovating your home, small details like skirting boards and other trim are what form a cohesive, thoughtful design that will make you happy you invested in the project to begin with.
Here are nine skirting board design ideas to consider, no matter what your style.
Here are nine skirting board design ideas to consider, no matter what your style.
1. Modern and minimal flat skirting boards
First, let’s start with a skirting board style that’s elegant partially because it’s so simple.
Flat skirting boards play against traditional expectations of a curving, rounded skirting and instead feature a completely flat surface.
First, let’s start with a skirting board style that’s elegant partially because it’s so simple.
Flat skirting boards play against traditional expectations of a curving, rounded skirting and instead feature a completely flat surface.
This style works well in homes that lean toward modern but without going 100 per cent minimalist. Flat skirting boards add a sense of maturity and richness to the walls without being fussy. This look works especially well with skirting boards that are a bit tall – at least 15 centimetres or even much higher – to give a sense of weight despite being so slim.
Flat skirting boards aren’t only for airy all-white spaces either. The style makes a perfect counterpoint to a richly patterned wallpaper.
The walls shown here are a little busy, so keeping other details very simple helps the space feel tidy and crisp. The deep white skirting provides a bit of a visual break, rather than fighting for attention.
The walls shown here are a little busy, so keeping other details very simple helps the space feel tidy and crisp. The deep white skirting provides a bit of a visual break, rather than fighting for attention.
2. Tastefully tailored rectangular skirting boards
Similar to the previous idea, rectangular skirting boards use clean-lined silhouettes without any rounded edges, but with a little more complexity than the completely flat style.
Period Features to Love Forever: Interior Trims and Mouldings
Similar to the previous idea, rectangular skirting boards use clean-lined silhouettes without any rounded edges, but with a little more complexity than the completely flat style.
Period Features to Love Forever: Interior Trims and Mouldings
Rectangular skirting with thin groove details, or simple stepped skirting boards like this example (with one or more changes in depth as it rises up the wall), are less austere than completely flat skirting boards, but still carry a very modern sensibility that works well in contemporary and transitional spaces.
In both of these examples, the rectangular skirting boards are paired with a textural wall treatment and some classic finishes (parquet floors, antiqued mirror) that balance modern and traditional elements seamlessly.
In both of these examples, the rectangular skirting boards are paired with a textural wall treatment and some classic finishes (parquet floors, antiqued mirror) that balance modern and traditional elements seamlessly.
3. Eye-catching built-up skirting boards
While it’s possible to find very deep skirting boards (30 centimetres and higher), it’s also quite possible to create a similar effect by creatively combining thinner strips.
While it’s possible to find very deep skirting boards (30 centimetres and higher), it’s also quite possible to create a similar effect by creatively combining thinner strips.
The trick is to use a base strip and a top strip but leave an uncovered stretch of wall in between that will appear to be part of the skirting when the area is painted out.
The effect works best when the ‘skirting’ is finished differently from the rest of the wall, either because the two areas are painted a different colour or the wall uses a wallpaper above the skirting board line.
The difference can be subtle, and the eye will still see the entire area from the lower skirting strip to the upper strip as one piece. Only on very close inspection could anyone tell whether the middle section of the skirting is real or not.
The difference can be subtle, and the eye will still see the entire area from the lower skirting strip to the upper strip as one piece. Only on very close inspection could anyone tell whether the middle section of the skirting is real or not.
4. Gleaming glam metal skirting boards
Here’s an uncommon but really cool concept. Stainless steel and other metal sheeting can make a functional skirting while adding a bit of shine to your home. The metal skirting shown here coordinates well with the concrete floor, picking up on the grey tones and industrial, architectural flair and echoing the other subtle metallic accents in the room for a sense of rhythm and continuity.
Browse period-style homes with decorative moulding
Here’s an uncommon but really cool concept. Stainless steel and other metal sheeting can make a functional skirting while adding a bit of shine to your home. The metal skirting shown here coordinates well with the concrete floor, picking up on the grey tones and industrial, architectural flair and echoing the other subtle metallic accents in the room for a sense of rhythm and continuity.
Browse period-style homes with decorative moulding
5. Architectural yet inviting taupe and grey skirting boards
Sometimes architectural details like door profiles and window trim are key features that make a room feel rich and welcoming. Painting your skirting boards and other trim a subdued neutral shade calls attention to these details without overwhelming them, so what you notice is the interesting shapes and silhouettes.
Sometimes architectural details like door profiles and window trim are key features that make a room feel rich and welcoming. Painting your skirting boards and other trim a subdued neutral shade calls attention to these details without overwhelming them, so what you notice is the interesting shapes and silhouettes.
This room feels thoughtful, tranquil and inviting, thanks in part to the warmth of the grey-beige colour, and also to the sense of consistency given by the trim all being one consistent, subtle shade.
6. Smart and sleek flush skirting boards
This is a special type of installation that typically has to be planned before or during construction and installed by a professional. But the result comes off luxurious and sophisticated while staying understated.
Essentially, flush skirting boards are not installed as a layer on top of the plasterboard as with typical skirting boards. These are installed separately below the plaster so the two sit flush with each other, with a small ‘reveal’ gap between them.
This is a special type of installation that typically has to be planned before or during construction and installed by a professional. But the result comes off luxurious and sophisticated while staying understated.
Essentially, flush skirting boards are not installed as a layer on top of the plasterboard as with typical skirting boards. These are installed separately below the plaster so the two sit flush with each other, with a small ‘reveal’ gap between them.
This creates a modern effect similar to flat skirting boards but even more sleek. It’s a very subtle detail that many would never notice, but it reflects a level of craftsmanship that some design fans will really appreciate.
7. Bold and artistic painted-out skirting boards
This sort of look is certainly not for those who are averse to rich colour. But if you do love a bold hue for your walls, take the colour all the way down to the floor rather than break it up with a white or neutral skirting. This creates an artistic effect that refuses to be tamed.
This sort of look is certainly not for those who are averse to rich colour. But if you do love a bold hue for your walls, take the colour all the way down to the floor rather than break it up with a white or neutral skirting. This creates an artistic effect that refuses to be tamed.
You can see in this example that the same pearlescent pink shade runs all the way from the skirting up to the cornice moulding and onto the ceiling.
This singular colour statement actually helps the pink colour fade into the background a little bit, so the even-more-colourful art and furnishings can steal some attention.
This singular colour statement actually helps the pink colour fade into the background a little bit, so the even-more-colourful art and furnishings can steal some attention.
8. Solid as a rock stone and tile
In many homes in hotter climates, stone and tile skirting boards have been common for centuries. The look is most commonly seen in kitchens and bathrooms, but it is functional and stylish enough to make sense in many other rooms.
In many homes in hotter climates, stone and tile skirting boards have been common for centuries. The look is most commonly seen in kitchens and bathrooms, but it is functional and stylish enough to make sense in many other rooms.
Anywhere you might expect the occasional spilled liquid or muddy boot to hit the wall, tile skirting can provide a higher level of protection than wood and wood products to save your wall from mould and water damage.
Plus, the material is less likely to get dinged and scuffed, so it can look great for years without need for replacement or repainting.
Plus, the material is less likely to get dinged and scuffed, so it can look great for years without need for replacement or repainting.
9. Slim and serene short skirting boards
Finally, this last idea is almost not there at all: short skirting boards so slim they nearly appear to be vanishing.
Best of the Week: Formal and Fabulous Interiors
Finally, this last idea is almost not there at all: short skirting boards so slim they nearly appear to be vanishing.
Best of the Week: Formal and Fabulous Interiors
When you first look at this room you could easily not notice the skirting boards at all. And that’s sort of the point.
The ultra-slim skirting in this contemporary Japanese home is just a few centimetres tall (perhaps even less than five centimetres), just enough to cap the perimeter of the floor while leaving the wall feeling intentionally under dressed for a Zen-like atmosphere.
The ultra-slim skirting in this contemporary Japanese home is just a few centimetres tall (perhaps even less than five centimetres), just enough to cap the perimeter of the floor while leaving the wall feeling intentionally under dressed for a Zen-like atmosphere.
The skirting boards in this bathroom might be even slimmer than the previous room, rising just enough to ward off any pooling water, but otherwise leaving the walls uncovered. The humbleness of these skirting boards brings a unique kind of beauty, especially when mixed with such simple materials and muted colours. It’s a spa-like atmosphere that delivers an instant feeling of calm and serenity.
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Tell us
What’s your favourite skirting board style? Tell us in the Comments. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like, share or save this story. Join the conversation.
More
Find a renovation specialist to help with your home redesign
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Sorry Yanic Simard, I fogot to thank you for a great article with more options than I knew of. Skirtings certainly finish off a room and if too mean, look awkward and cheap. Love the idea of contrasting colour to match coloured woodwork - so flipping the traditional idea of all white woodword against a coloured wall.
I have done painted skirting in my little place also. I should probably do the cornices and doors too!
We bought our (hopefully) final home in 2018, a 1950’s rancher. We love the baseboards. Some are beat up but we like the character and they look so much better with a fresh coat of gloss white paint. The living room has 45 degree outside corners that I recreated in the remodeled master suite.