Should You Have White Skirting Boards?

Skirting boards. They’re in pretty much every home but often go unnoticed.

Is it because they’re white and almost blend in with the walls? Or are they just plain and boring so offer no visual appeal?

Either way, they’ll be there and you’ll want to make the most of them to improve your interior.

Why White?

More often than not, you’ll see white skirting boards in a normal household. It’s the main colour people choose to paint them.

This might be because they were already white when they moved in (as most will be). Or it might be because white is a neutral colour and works with almost any colour scheme you choose when decorating.

If you’re going for a light and airy interior, white is a good choice. It also helps if you’re not looking to draw attention to the skirtings.

What About Other Colours?

To be honest, you can paint the skirting boards any colour you wish – it really does come down to personal preference!

However, if you’ve got darker coloured walls and you want to break them up, ligher skirting will help. Alternatively, if you’ve got lighter walls, a darker colour for the skirting would break it up.

I’ve Chosen White. Now Should It Be Gloss?

Again, skirting boards that you see painted white are normally finished with a gloss paint. This is because gloss is hardwearing and easy to keep clean.

However, white gloss does tend to get a yellowish colour after a while so you’ll definitely need to paint them again if you want them looking super white!

But you don’t have to choose gloss just because it’s the norm. Quite often, people are choosing to use eggshell on their skirting boards.

Eggshell gives a less shiny finish (more matte) so is more in keeping with today’s modern interiors.

But it’s not as hardwearing as gloss and shows up dirt and marks much more easily so bare this in mind!