Skirting boards may not be the most glamorous part of your home, but they can significantly impact its overall aesthetic.
Choosing the right paint for your skirting boards is crucial to ensure they complement the rest of your interior design.
Whether you're looking for a traditional gloss finish or a modern satin or eggshell look, this insight will help you navigate the wide range of options on the market.
Skirting boards act as a protective barrier for your walls, especially in high-foot-traffic areas. With the potential for bumps, scuffs, and scratches, the paint you choose needs to be durable and easy to clean.
The colour and finish of your paint can also affect a room's overall look. Reflective gloss paint can help brighten a room, while a satin or eggshell finish offers a more modern, understated look.
It's also easy to maintain, clean, and moisture-resistant, making it an excellent choice for modern interiors. However, the final decision will ultimately depend on your personal preference and the specific needs of your space.
Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood paint is the epitome of excellence when it comes to satinwood paints. It is a premium option that offers superior quality and a long-lasting non-yellowing finish. This fast-drying paint is touch dry in just one hour, allowing you to complete your project efficiently.
The self-undercoating formulation of Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood paint makes it easy to apply with minimal effort. It has a low odour output, ensuring a pleasant painting experience. With 16 m2 coverage per litre, this paint provides excellent coverage and is suitable for both wood and metal surfaces.
For those on a budget, Johnstone's Interior Wood & Metal satinwood paint is the best option. This affordable water-based paint offers great value for money without compromising on quality. It is available in a range of ten attractive colours, allowing you to find the perfect shade for your project.
With 12 m2 coverage per litre, Johnstone's satinwood paint provides excellent coverage and is suitable for most interior wood or metal surfaces. It is touch dry within 1 to 2 hours, making it a convenient choice for those with time constraints. The low odour output ensures a more enjoyable painting experience.
If you're looking for a satinwood paint that requires only one coat, Dulux Once White Satinwood paint is the perfect choice. This paint offers the convenience of a single brush application, saving you time and effort. It eliminates the need for an undercoat, making the painting process more efficient.
With 12 m2 coverage per litre, Dulux Once White Satinwood paint delivers excellent coverage. It provides a non-yellowing and long-lasting finish that will keep your surfaces looking fresh for years to come. Although it requires 16 hours to fully dry, the results are worth the wait
Dulux Once Gloss Paint offers a high-quality single-coat application for interior wood and metal surfaces. Its high gloss finish gives a smooth and polished appearance, making it perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your home.
There are three main types of paint finishes typically used for skirting boards: gloss, satin, and eggshell. Each has its unique properties, benefits, and drawbacks.
A traditional choice, gloss paint offers a high sheen, reflective finish. It's incredibly durable, resistant to wear and tear, and easy to clean, making it an excellent choice for homes with young children or pets.
However, gloss paint is less forgiving of imperfections, so any surface you paint will need to be well-prepared and free of blemishes. Gloss paint often contains oil, which can lead to a strong smell during application and requires a solvent for brush cleaning.
Satin paint, also known as satinwood, offers a semi-gloss finish. It's less reflective than gloss but not as matte as eggshell. This modern, versatile finish is easier to maintain and clean than gloss and tends to keep its colour longer.
Satin paint is more forgiving of imperfections, making it a good choice for older skirting boards that may have dents or scuffs. However, it might reveal paintbrush strokes on the surface, and touch-ups can be noticeable.
Eggshell paint provides a matte finish with little to no sheen. This finish is becoming increasingly popular for its ability to hide imperfections due to its lower sheen. However, eggshell paint is less durable than gloss and satin, making it less suited for high-traffic areas. It also tends to attract dust and dirt and can be difficult to clean without damaging the finish.
Oil-based paint is known for its durability and smooth, shiny finish. It's suitable for high-traffic areas and provides good resistance to moisture.
However, oil-based paint can be challenging to clean and has high levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. It’s also prone to discolouration and yellowing over time, and it takes longer to dry than water-based paint.
Water-based paint, also known as latex or acrylic paint, is a popular choice for skirting boards. It's environmentally friendly, emits lower levels of VOCs, and dries quickly, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchens. However, it may not be as durable as oil-based paint, and it can sometimes result in a rough or imperfect finish.
Choosing the right colour for your skirting boards can significantly influence how light is distributed around the room and the overall aesthetic. While white remains a popular choice, homeowners are increasingly experimenting with a wider range of colour schemes, such as black and grey.
Consider the overall design and colour scheme of the room and how the skirting board colour will either blend or contrast. Also, take into account the lighting in the space and how it will affect the appearance of the chosen colour.
Painting skirting boards can be done effectively by following these steps:
No, there isn't a specific skirting board paint. However, some paints are designed to resist knocks and scuffs, making them ideal for skirting boards in high-traffic areas.
Yes, the information in this guide can be applied to other interior woodwork in your home, including door frames, architrave, and window boards.
The type of paint best suited for your skirting boards depends on the material. If the skirting boards are made from MDF, standard wood paint would be suitable. However, if you're using a wood stain finish, pine skirting would be a better option.
The type of brush or applicator you should use for skirting boards depends on the shape of your skirting boards. A 2-inch brush would be suitable for cutting in along the top edge and covering detailed and flat areas. A 1-inch brush would help create clean lines in the corners. A mini-roller can provide a consistent, spray-like finish on flat sections.
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Stuart is an expert in Property, Money, Banking & Finance, having worked in retail and investment banking for 10+ years before founding Sunny Avenue. Stuart has spent his career studying finance. He holds qualifications in financial studies, mortgage advice & practice, banking operations, dealing & financial markets, derivatives, securities & investments.
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