Choosing the right skirting boards can feel like a small decision in a large renovation project, but it is one that has a huge impact on the final look and feel of a room. The right boards can transform a space, making it feel complete, polished, and professionally designed. The wrong ones, however, can make a beautiful renovation look unfinished. For homeowners in the UK who want to make a confident choice, this guide breaks down the process, step by step. With a vast range of high-quality products, MDF Skirting World is the perfect partner to help you achieve that flawless finish.
Step 1: Assess Your Home’s Style
The first and most important step is to consider the overall aesthetic of your home. Are you renovating a period property with traditional features, or are you creating a modern, minimalist space? The style of your skirting boards should complement your home’s character.
- Traditional Elegance: For homes with a classic feel, look for profiles with soft curves and intricate details, such as the Victorian or Ogee. These styles add a sense of history and sophistication that is perfect for older properties.
- Modern Minimalism: If you prefer clean lines and an uncluttered look, a simple profile like the square edge or pencil round is the best choice. These boards provide a crisp, defined line that enhances a contemporary aesthetic.
- Transitional Versatility: For a home that blends both classic and modern elements, a profile like the chamfered or a single grooved board offers a versatile solution. It has a clean look but with enough detail to add character.
A quick browse through the extensive selection at MDF Skirting World will show you just how many options are available, ensuring you can find the perfect style to match your home.
Step 2: Consider the Room’s Proportions
The height and thickness of your skirting boards can change the perceived size of a room. This is a design trick that can make a space feel more balanced.
- For High Ceilings: In rooms with high ceilings, a taller skirting board (150mm or more) looks proportional and grand. It grounds the space and prevents the walls from feeling too expansive.
- For Low Ceilings: For rooms with lower ceilings, a shorter skirting board (under 100mm) is a better choice. It creates a subtle visual line that allows the eye to travel upwards, making the room feel more open.
- Getting the Right Fit: Standard sizes are often available, but for a truly flawless finish, a made-to-order service is a huge benefit. MDF Skirting World provides skirting for sale in a variety of heights and thicknesses, all cut to your exact specifications, giving you complete control over your room’s proportions.
Step 3: Choose the Right Material
The material you choose will affect both the final look and the long-term durability of your skirting boards. While solid wood is a traditional choice, high-quality MDF has become the superior option for painted finishes.
- Smooth and Stable: Unlike wood, MDF is perfectly smooth and has no knots, which means you will never have to worry about knot bleed showing through your paint. It also offers excellent dimensional stability, resisting warping and cracking.
- Moisture-Resistant Durability: For high-traffic areas or rooms with humidity (like kitchens and bathrooms), moisture-resistant MDF is a must. The MDF skirting boards from MDF Skirting World are made from this high-quality material, ensuring they are built to last.
- Ready to Paint: A quality MDF board provides the perfect canvas for paint, and many boards from MDF Skirting World come pre-primed, saving you valuable time and effort in the preparation stage.
Step 4: Don’t Forget the Details (Architraves and Installation)
For a truly cohesive and professional look, your skirting boards should be matched with your door architraves. A consistent profile throughout the room ties the space together and creates a sense of intentional design. MDF Skirting World offers a wide selection of matching skirting and architrave sets, making this easy to achieve.
A flawless finish also depends on a precise installation. The precision cutting from MDF Skirting World is crucial for this. It ensures that every mitered corner will fit together perfectly, without any unsightly gaps. This attention to detail is what separates a good renovation from a great one.
Step 5: The Final Touch
Once your skirting boards are installed and a flexible filler has been used to seal any gaps (a small, but important step), the final coat of paint brings everything to life. A crisp, white satin or semi-gloss finish is a popular choice for a clean look, while a darker color can be used to make a bold statement. The high-quality surface of your MDF skirting boards will ensure your paint job looks flawless.
By following these steps, you can confidently choose the right skirting boards for your home, knowing that every decision contributes to a beautiful and lasting finish. Your project is an investment in your home’s quality, and with the right products from MDF Skirting World, you’re guaranteed to love the result.