Skirting board profiles
By Tom Drake | 30th May 2024 | 6 min read
Skirting boards are one of the crucial final pieces that will complete the look of any room. In this guide, we take you through all the different skirting board profiles to help you find the right one for your home.
Bullnose
Bullnose skirting boards are an excellent choice if you want to achieve a modern, minimalist look in your home. With a straight edge and a curve towards the wall at the very top, they create a seamless transition between the wall and floor.
Bullnose skirting boards don't feature any crevices to trap dust, so they’re also easy to keep clean.
Chamfered
Chamfered skirting boards feature a flat surface with a bevelled edge at the top. Depending on the skirting board you choose, this edge may start high up or further down the board.
This is another modern skirting board style that is perfect for contemporary, minimalist spaces. The straight lines of Chamfered skirting boards help them blend beautifully into the wall and make cleaning easier.
Ogee
Ogee skirting boards feature a distinctive S-shaped profile along the top of the board. This style is perfect for anyone looking to add a more traditional, ornate finishing touch to any room.
Ovolo
Ovolo skirting boards are a great option for anyone looking for a board with more details than a Bullnose or Chamfered board, but not quite as ornate as an Ogee board. They feature a curved detail at the top, which resembles a quarter circle being cut out of a square.
The Ovolo skirting board is a versatile style that will look great in both modern and traditional spaces.
Lambs tongue
The Lambs tongue skirting board features straight, curved and angled edges in one design. This skirting board starts with a straight section into a bevelled edge. It then features another straight section, before a small curve and another straight edge at the top. These elements come together to create a skirting board that will look right at home in a wide range of traditional and modern spaces.
Square
The square skirting board is probably the most minimalist of all skirting board profiles. Featuring a straight front edge and square top, this style is perfect for anyone looking for a simple, clean skirting board for a modern home.
The flat, simple shape of square skirting boards also makes them easy to clean and paint.
Torus
Torus skirting boards feature a semi-circle shape at the top of the board. This is another skirting board style that is a perfect compromise between modern simplicity and traditional ornate design. This makes the Torus a hugely adaptable skirting board that you can install throughout your home to complement modern and traditional spaces.
Rounded
A popular style in modern homes, the rounded skirting board features a straight front edge with a rounded section at the top. These are an ideal choice for anyone who wants a sleek, minimalist style, but doesn't like the straight edge of a square skirting board.
Skirting board considerations
Skirting boards can affect the look and feel of your entire home, so it's important to get them right. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your skirting boards.
Room style
The style of a room is hugely important when choosing which skirting boards to install. If you live in a modern home, go for a contemporary, minimalist style. If you live in a traditionally styled home, choose a skirting board with more ornate, classic styling.
Will you change the style of the room?
If you’re going to redecorate in the future, or you want to create a neutral space, choose a skirting board style that strikes a balance between modern and traditional design.
Do you want to keep the same style throughout your home?
Consider whether you want to install different styles throughout your home or keep everything uniform. If you want to keep all your skirting boards the same, choose a board that will complement the style of every room in your home.
Will the skirting boards match the architrave?
It’s common to choose a skirting board that matches the architrave around your doors. If you’re not planning on replacing the architrave, consider whether you want your skirting boards to be of a similar style and how the two will look together.
What colour do you want your skirting boards?
When choosing the style of your skirting boards, you should also consider what colour you want to paint them. White is the traditional skirting board colour, and it complements nearly all styles.
If you want to paint your skirting boards dark grey, you’ll probably want to choose a more modern, minimalist style. Similarly, painting traditional, ornate skirting boards a bright colour might create a look that’s too busy and overwhelming.
Skirting board height
If you live in an older home with high ceilings, a taller skirting board will look more in proportion with the wall than a smaller one. Similarly, tall skirting boards will shorten the wall of a room with a low ceiling, making it feel more cramped.
Skirting boards have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of a room, so spend some time finding the right style for your home. If you want to fit your own skirting boards, take a look at our guide.
