Skirting boards can seem like a rather minor feature of home decor, but they actually are a fundamental element of the cohesiveness in a room. They hide the gap between the wall and the floor, giving your space a clean finish. This area is often left ignored by many house owners, only to end up making a variety of mistakes that kill the entire look of the house.
In this article, we will explore some common mistakes related to skirting, and how you can avoid them to make sure your house is the best version of itself.
Common Skirting Mistakes
- Choosing the Wrong Skirt Material
What type of material for the skirting you choose is more important than most would think. It is easy to fall for how a material looks like, but you do not know how long it will last or especially how it will perform in the environment you want to put it in. For instance, MDF skirting mouldings offer a great upfront price and are easy to paint but are not suitable to perform all that well in a damp area, such as a bathroom or a basement. They are best placed in dry areas of the house, such as a hallway or lounge.
Always consider where the skirting has to go and what it’s going to have to put up with. If it’s in a heavy-traffic area, durability should be at the forefront. If it’s an area that’s wet, the kitchen or bathroom, what you want is something that won’t warp or swell. Think about your readiness to often clean, repaint, or touch up the skirting, which may be an extra expense in maintenance.
Getting the Measurements Wrong
Accurate measurements are everything when it comes to skirting. It’s one of those tasks where “close enough” just won’t cut it. Too short, and you end up having gaps that look awful which lets in dust and pests. Too long, and you’ve got awkward overhangs or the hassle of trimming down each piece.
- Ignoring the Overall Home Design
Skirting boards should complement the rest of your home, not clash with it. Something that many people do wrong is that they choose skirting that looks great in isolation, but doesn’t work with the rest of the décor. For example, large, ornate skirting might look really good in a period property, but completely out of place in a modern minimalist home.
- Maintenance and Durability
Accidents happen and a skirting board can take a lot of wear and tear, especially in busy households. They are in the direct line of fire from vacuum cleaners, foot traffic, and even the occasional pet or toddler misadventure. Yet, many people don’t consider how their chosen skirting will hold up over time.
- Misaligning Skirting with Floor Planks
This might count as a petty matter, but for the impeccable finish you’re going for with your skirting, it should align with flooring planks. Should your skirting not be aligning properly to the floor planks, you can easily create an awkward gap. This not only is visually unappealing but also provides a perfect trap for dust and dirt.
Once again, if you aren’t too sure about getting this right, maybe it’s worth calling in a professional. What that means is that spending a little here in proper installation is going to save you a ton of grief and extra cleaning in the future.
Final Thoughts
There are probably not the first considerations that come to thought when one decorates a house, but skirting boards really can either make a good impression or leave a space looking disjointed. The devil is in the details, and the skirting material, good measurements, and bearing in mind how your skirting will fit into the rest of the design of your home will all help in achieving that perfect skirting.
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