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Skirting & Architrave Buying Guide

As both of these boards are crucial for new doorways and floors, this skirting board and architrave buying guide explores the different types available, helping homeowners pick the right designs and sizes. Maintaining a consistent look from floor to ceiling is key in any home, and this guide covers the popular styles and colour options available to achieve a flawless finish. It also runs through key considerations to keep in mind when planning new features, and how to make the space ready for a trade professional to start fitting skirting boards and architrave.

Skirting Boards

Skirting boards span the perimeter of a room, covering uneven edges or gaps. Create a cohesive look with boards that match the doorway styles.

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Architrave

Architraves conceal the frame edge for a tidy appearance. Various styles can be matched with skirting for a uniform appearance.

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What Colours Are Available?

Oak

Use oak tones to add warmth to a modern space, or continue a heritage scheme by matching an oak doorway to skirting and architraves.

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White

Opt for white boards, which are primed and ready to be finished. This versatile scheme offers homeowners the freedom to paint a custom look.

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Choose From Different Styles

Planning Considerations

Skirting Height

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Skirting height

Tall skirting boards offer greater protection from wear and tear, and reduce the risk of damage to decor. On their own, they add an eye-catching feature to a room, or fitted in a period property to balance high ceilings and other architectural features. In a pared-back scheme, opt for a more discreet size to maintain the space's clean lines.
Floor Material

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Floor material

Select your flooring before installing skirting boards to ensure a smooth process. Some materials like wood and laminate can expand with temperature change, so leave space for an expansion gap around the edge of a room. This gap is then covered by baseboards for a professional finish. We recommend checking the installation guides of specific products for the recommended space to leave.

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Door Designs

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Door designs

Different boards can be chosen to complement the aesthetic of a specific door. For example, decorative Ogee or Torus options will enhance the traditional stylings of a six-panelled design, while Burford elevates a modern aesthetic of linear doorways. This attention to detail will ensure a living area has a polished and cohesive look.

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Style Up Frames

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Style up frames

Matching products can create a carefully curated, boutique-inspired interior with a more premium appearance. This gives the overall space an uninterrupted, harmonious design, whether simple and slab or detailed and decorative. In turn, this ensures that the entrance to a room is always impressive when welcoming guests.

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Craft Custom Colours

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Craft a custom colour

Opting for a primed board allows for painting a palette that runs across the room, helping to tie together a carefully curated decor. Whether matching with doorway designs, blending in with wall colours, or coordinating with cabinetry, these boards can be painted and finished to suit personal tastes and align with a custom aesthetic.

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Essential Equipment

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Essential equipment

A spirit level and angle measure are essential to ensure accurate fitting. If the wall is flat, adhesive may be enough to secure the trim in place. If any small holes are present, these can be filled with decorator’s caulk before installation. Uneven walls may require additional fixing with pins, which can be covered with wood filler before finishing with paint.

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