It is time to remodel your home – what type of upgrades will you make? Decorating your home can be fun for some and a chore for others. It is all about how much detail you decide to put into your renovation.

One area of your home you can upgrade is the skirting boards. These run all throughout most properties and can be easily upgraded and painted.

You can do this for your kitchen, bedrooms, living areas and anywhere else you have walls. It’s the perfect way to spruce up your home decor without going overboard with the spending.

Home design is all about the detail and craftsmanship. So it’s key to find a manufacturer that supplies high-quality skirting boards.

In the following guide, we’ll cover some tips and ideas for your skirting board updates. Let’s dive in.

Updating Your Home with Skirting Boards

You’ll find a lot of homes with kitchens, bedrooms and living areas that have skirting boards. Now, whether they’re classy or bland is another story. If you are looking to switch out the boards in your house, however with style and functionality, then you’ll have to answer the following.

Who Lives in Your Home?

In other words, do you have children who may scuff up your skirting boards with their crayons and toys? Or do you live alone (or with a significant other) and have a kitchen that’s more of a showroom than a snack room?

Now, it’s common for homeowners to desire all of the aesthetically-appealing improvements that can transform their kitchen into a culinary abode. However it’s important to be realistic – otherwise, you’ll end up miserably disappointed.

Why go all out to purchase a top-of-the-line skirting board in a home where your child or puppy will ruin it within a few months? It’s not logical, economically or functionally.

Instead, you should opt for something simpler, so you won’t mind replacing them within a year. You can still switch up the look to give your home a refreshing design.

What Look Are You Going for?

Next, it’s time to step back and look at the overall design of your home. Are you going for something simple, elegant or eccentric? This will help you determine the type of skirting board to purchase and the colours to paint it.

Some homeowners are only looking to update what they already have, while others want a design overhaul. If you’re in the latter group, then you’ll have to consider a couple of things.

The Style You Want

If you want the very same style you already have, you can save the board you removed and use that to match it with the new one.

However, if you’re doing a design redo, then you’ll need to follow style guidelines. For example, if you live in a period-style home, then it’s better to go with skirting styles like ogee, ovolo, and torus.

And if you’re in a modern home, then sleek interior designs are prominent. This makes the square-edged, bullnose, pencil round and chamfered options better choices.

The Height of the Skirting

It’s important to get this right so you don’t end up with over-sized or undersized skirting boards. And the look you want will also play a role in the height you select.

Are you using your skirting as kicking barriers for a high-traffic home? If so, then you’ll need skirting that’s taller to protect your paint or wallpaper.

It’s also recommended that you use high skirting in older homes – the older, the higher. On average, skirting board heights in Georgian and Victorian homes are around 225mm. This comes off as more lavish and extravagant.

However, if the style you’re applying your boards to is modern, then sleek is key. Opt for skirting that’s around 125mm.

Will You Paint – Or Not?

The final finish of your skirting boards will play a key part in your home’s decor. You’ll have to decide whether you want to paint them or not. If your home requires white boards, then you may not have to paint them.

Unless, of course, the white is a little bit different than the rest of the room they’re in.

However, if you decide to paint your boards, then you’ll need to do so carefully. If you’re not experienced in painting, then it may be best to hire painting services that specialise in skirting boards.

Either way, you’ll have to decide whether you want neutral colours or something more vibrant. A nice contrast can also set apart your decor. For example, you can opt for bright walls with dark skirting or vice versa.

It’s common for homeowners to use lighter colours on larger room elements. This gives the area a more spacious feel. For instance, this vibes well in kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms.

Types of Skirting to Consider

The great news is there are many options to choose from for your skirting boards. Let’s review some of them:

• MDF Skirting: This is pre-primed or pre-finished and resistant to warping and swelling.
• Softwood Skirting: Can be stained, varnished, sanded and refinished for a natural look.
• Hardwood Skirting: Elegant appeal suitable for historic homes with oak decor.

Then for the edge profiles, you can opt for: antique, bevelled, bullnose, classic, domed, Georgian, elegance, Elizabethan, castle, Buckingham, Delmoral, Colonial and a variety of others.

You can visit local showrooms to see the various styles and profiles in person. Some dealers will even create 3D models, so you can see how the skirting board will look in your home.

Get Quality Installation and Painting Services

You’ve finally found and purchased the skirting board you want in your home. Now, it’s time to install them. But unless you’re a DIY pro, you’ll need the quality craftsmanship of an experienced installer.

At Octopus Skirting Boards, we offer professional installations. Moreover if you would like to have the skirting painted, we can do this for you as well.

Every homeowner wants an end result that’s professional and high-quality. You can get that with your skirting board makeover. Contact us today to get a free quote!