Skirting boards are a quintessential part of homes in Britain, yet they’re often scuffed by the hoover, left to yellow, and become the dusty and dirty element of a home that can be forgotten about all together.
If you can’t recall the last time you painted your skirting boards, it’s definitely time to give them the TLC they deserve - but there are several things you must do before you can begin painting them.
Whilst skirting boards are traditionally white gloss or varnished wood, interior design has moved on, encouraging homeowners and decorators alike to pick a colour that represents them and their home.
With lighter colours being a household favourite and easy option, such as Dulux’s Quick Drying Pure Brilliant White Satinwood, you can make any space feel more modern by bringing some colour into the room lower down.
Here you’ll find five Farrow and Ball paints that would look great on skirting boards in any room! Farrow and Ball provide their sustainable, water based paints in a soft and beautiful modern eggshell finish, or a hard wearing gloss - which is fitting for an area that is prone to accidental scuffing such as a skirting board.
We’ve already mentioned that skirting boards end up being dusty and forgotten - begin the process by giving them an earnest wipe with Barrettine’s easy to prepare sugar soap.
Top tip: Avoid run lines by wiping from the bottom upwards. Don’t forget to use fresh, clean water for rinsing.
Once your skirting boards are dry, it’s time to sand them down. Sanding your skirting boards creates a better surface for paint to stick to, and it also allows for fewer coats.
You should use 120 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the surface, wipe down the dust and then vacuum the dust away so that it is not present when you’re applying the next coat.
It’s always best to tape off the wall above, and tape a dust sheet down as close to the skirting board as possible. Failing that, pushing a piece of cardboard between the floor and skirting board would also provide a sufficient barrier to protect the surface below.
Protecting your floor saves a lot of effort trying to clean paint off of carpets and wooden flooring, which can be tricky if the paint isn’t water based.
Some paints don’t require primer, yet for the best results, a primer is recommended. Farrow and Ball have an interior wood primer that’s available in four shades to suit your painting needs.
If this is your first time priming your skirting boards, you’re in safe hands, as below we’ll detail the processes.
Once you’ve carefully followed the steps above, it’s now time to dive in!
Like you applied the primer, apply the paint the exact same way. Again, referring to the tin, you may need two coats, unless it’s Dulux’s Once Satin Wood.
Once you’re certain you’ve finished painting, remove the tape above the skirting board whilst the paint is still wet, but be sure to leave the sheet covering the floor below until the paint is completely dry to avoid any smudging.
For more advice on colours, hit this link!
