How to Choose the Right Skirting Boards - Intrim

With so many choices and profiles, the decision on which skirting boards and architraves to choose can be daunting. Intrim have put together some things to consider when making your decision so you can be confident you are creating a beautiful interior!

INTERIOR STYLE

First, you have to decide what your interior style is, or what style you are looking to create. This will determine the profiles of the board you choose.

HAMPTONS ~ BIGGER IS BETTER 

Traditional Hamptons style uses high, thick skirting boards with big rounded profile features. This not only creates a standout look but helps the skirting hold its own again elaborate wall wainscoting. A more coastal or modern take on Hamptons skirting is to still have a tall skirting with a more simple design.

FRENCH ~ MORE IS MORE 

The French Provincial style is admired for its symmetrical design, classic proportions, and decorative elements. Skirting boards are a key feature in French style homes and are ornate and decoratively detailed. Mouldings are used throughout these homes as wall panelling, fireplace features, and big cornices.

VICTORIAN ~ MORE OF EVERYTHING

The mantra for Victorian interiors is 'more of everything'. Having highly detailed dado rail, wall panelling, and highly decorated skirting board profiles which are balanced and elegant will help you achieve this beautiful look. 

COLONIAL ~ COUNTRY CURVES

Colonial styling is similar to Victorian however, it is a little more relaxed, giving off more of a 'country vibe'. Basic Colonial skirting boards start with what is known as 'Lambs Tongue' or 'NSW Colonial' and feature an ogee (S Bend) curve from the top portion of the skirting, flowing into a V joint. 

As time progressed, Colonial style skirting boards became more decorative, and began to feature squared timber skirting blocks. The lambs tongue design became more ornate with more curves that flowed into a V joint. 

EDWARDIAN ~ SIMPLE WITH A TOUCH OF CURVES

After a while, timber mouldings became sleeker and started to move away from the heavily decorated Victorian style. Flatter areas on the profiles and a reduction of large curves were seen during this era, with an increase in the popularity of lambs tongue type design.

GEORGIAN ~ KEEP IT BALANCED 

Georgian style homes are formal and showcase fine details and straight lines. Symmetry and simplicity in skirting board design results in an elegant and 'light touch' design. Neoclassical (Roman and Greek) and Rococo (French curve and cockleshell style) architecture inspired many interiors which included columns, marble, stonework, as well as classical figures. 

FIND SOME INSPIRATION

If you are still unsure what interior style you are looking to achieve or your style is a fusion of a few different types, finding an interior or images of skirting boards that would be ideal in your home is a good place to start. 

The team at Intrim love to help create beautiful interiors and can recommend profiles from similar ranges, or provide a similar look as your inspiration images. 

HEIGHT

There are some basic rules when choosing your boards, although they are not hard and fast, they give you a good guide on what works best. Choosing a skirting board based on your ceiling height is a good place to start. 

Think about what you are looking to achieve. Do you want drama, a cosy space, or to open up the space. How prominent do you want your skirting and will you have them as a standout piece of architectural art, or do you want them to just enhance the look of the room?

ARCHITRAVES

Once you have chosen your skirting boards, you have the decision to make for your architraves. Most people choose the same profile, in a smaller height, but this doesn't have to be the case all the time. You can mix and match profiles for a beautiful, interesting final look. 

There is a two-pronged approach for choosing your architrave size, and these are by the height of your doors and the height of the skirting boards. 

SKIRTING AND ARCHITRACVE RECOMMENDED COMBINATIONS

When considering what works well with your skirting board size Intrim recommend: 

90-135mm skirting with 65-90mm architrave

115-185mm skirting with 90-135mm architrave 

Information sourced from Intrim