What size skirting board should I choose?
Choosing the right skirting board size is very important! It changes how your whole room looks! You want your home to look perfect! Don’t worry! We are here to help you pick the best height for your project!
Many people feel confused by all the options. You might see heights from 70mm all the way up to 250mm! That is a big range! Most homes in the UK need something right in the middle. We will explain exactly how to choose!
Start with the standard 140mm height!
If you are not sure what to pick, look at 140mm! This is the standard height for most modern UK homes! It looks great in almost any room! Most new houses have ceilings that are about 2.4 meters high. 140mm skirting boards fit these rooms perfectly!
Choosing 140mm is a safe bet! It is not too tall and not too short! It covers the gap between your floor and wall easily! It also leaves plenty of room for your wall to show! Go to National Skirting to see our 140mm options!
Look at your ceiling height!
Your ceiling height is the best guide for your skirting! You want everything to look in proportion! Follow the 1/10th rule! This is a very simple way to decide! Take your ceiling height and divide it by ten!
If your ceiling is 2.4 meters high, aim for 240mm of total trim! But remember, this includes your skirting and maybe some gap! Usually, a 120mm to 150mm board is perfect for a 2.4-meter ceiling!
Low ceilings
Do you have low ceilings? Maybe you live in a cottage or a flat! Don’t use tall skirting boards! Tall boards will make your room feel small! They “eat” your wall space! Pick a height between 70mm and 100mm! This keeps the room feeling open and tall!
High ceilings
Do you live in an old Victorian house? You might have very high ceilings! High ceilings need tall skirting boards! Short boards will look lost on a huge wall! Choose something between 170mm and 250mm! This adds a touch of class to your home! It fills the space perfectly!
Think about the room size!
The size of the floor matters too! A tiny bathroom should not have massive skirting boards! It will feel crowded! Use a shorter board like 95mm in small rooms! It looks neat and tidy!
In a large open-plan living room, you can go bigger! A 170mm board looks fantastic in a big space! It makes a statement! It shows off the design of the wood! Always match the board to the scale of the room!
The Installer’s Secret!
We have a special tip for you! This is the ‘Installer’s Secret’! Professionals use this to get the best finish! Before you paint your skirting boards, you must sand them!
Use 180-grit sandpaper! This is the perfect grit for a smooth finish! Lightly sand the surface of your primed or natural boards! This helps the paint stick better! It also removes any tiny bumps! You will get a professional look every time!
Do not skip this step! It only takes a few minutes! Use 180-grit paper on all your edges too! Your paint will look much smoother! Check out our materials at National Skirting!
Check your electrical sockets!
This is a very practical step! Look at your walls! Where are your plug sockets? You do not want your skirting board to hit your sockets! This creates a big mess!
Measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of your sockets! Make sure your skirting board is shorter than this distance! Usually, you want a gap of at least 20mm between the top of the skirting and the socket! This makes painting easier too!
If your sockets are very low, you must pick a short skirting board! Or, you will have to move your sockets! Moving sockets is expensive! Picking the right height is much cheaper!
Watch out for radiators!
Check your radiators too! Radiator pipes often come out of the wall near the floor! Measure how high these pipes are! Your skirting board needs to fit under or around them!
Standard heights like 140mm usually fit under most radiators! But always check! Take your measuring tape to every room! Every room might be different! Be careful and measure twice!
Matching your architraves!
Your skirting boards and door frames (architraves) should work together! They are a team! Usually, the skirting board should be taller than the architrave is wide!
If your door frame trim is 70mm wide, a 140mm skirting board looks great! This creates a nice balance! If you use a very thin architrave, don’t use a massive skirting board! It will look top-heavy! Keep them in the same style! Visit National Skirting to find matching sets!
Choosing your profile!
The “profile” is the shape of the top of the board! This affects the size you choose! Some designs have a lot of detail! If you pick a very short board, you might lose the detail!
For example, an Ogee profile needs enough height to show the curves! If you go too short, it just looks like a plain board! For detailed profiles, try to stay at 120mm or higher!
If you want a modern look, pick a simple profile! A “Chamfered” or “Square” edge looks great at any height! These look very clean in modern homes!
Summary of sizes!
Here is a quick list to help you choose! Use this as your guide!
- 70mm to 95mm: Best for small rooms or very modern, minimal styles!
- 120mm to 145mm: The most popular range! Perfect for standard UK homes!
- 170mm to 200mm: Great for large rooms and standard ceilings!
- 220mm and up: Perfect for period properties and very high ceilings!
Remember the 140mm rule! It is the most common choice for a reason! It just works!
Order your samples!
Are you still unsure? Don’t guess! Get a sample! We offer free profile samples at National Skirting! We deliver them right through your letterbox!
Hold the sample against your wall! See how it looks next to your floor! Check it against your furniture! This is the best way to be 100% sure!
Final Checklist!
Before you buy, go through this list!
- Measure your ceiling height!
- Check the 1/10th rule!
- Measure the height of your plug sockets!
- Check for radiator pipe interference!
- Think about the style of your home!
- Get some 180-grit sandpaper for the ‘Installer’s Secret’!
- Order your boards from National Skirting!
Getting the size right makes your home look amazing! It is the finishing touch that everyone notices! Take your time and choose wisely!
Go to our website now! We have over 100 different profiles! We manufacture everything in the UK! We offer fast 2-3 day delivery! Upgrade your home today! Visit www.nationalskirting.co.uk and start shopping!