How to paint skirting boards
Before you begin
What colour should I paint my skirting boards?
The first decision you will need to make is the which colour to paint your skirting boards.
Darker skirting boards tend to look more modern and contemporary and dark colours easily hide any marks and dust and lighter skirting boards will make the room feel bigger. Whereas lighter colours can provide colour and brighten a natural dark room whilst providing a crisp and airy effect effect
Gloss finishes are harder wearing than other finishes, so are well suited to skirting boards. If you don’t want the full gloss effect, satin finishes are subtler but can still cope with knocks and scratches.
Tip
You should paint your walls first and your skirting boards last. By painting a wall beforehand, you’ll avoid any drip marks ruining your newly painted skirting boards.
Preparing your skirting boards
- If you’re painting skirting boards and you have carpet, tape down a dust sheet as close to the skirting board as possible.
- Use a sugar soap solution and a sponge to wipe down and clean your skirting boards. You need to remove all dirt, dust and grease as you don’t want this mixing into paint.
- We don’t recommend painting your skirting boards without sanding them first. Sanding gives the paint a better surface to stick to and means applying fewer coats. Lightly sand the surface of the skirting board and wipe down the dust. Leave to dry.
How to paint skirting boards
- Once your skirting boards are dry, you need to prime the surface for a professional finish. Dip a 2” brush into the primer covering half of the bristles and wipe away any excess on the rim of the paint tub. An overloaded brush will increase the chances of drips and streaks so make sure it’s not too heavy with primer.
- Start at the top of your skirting board. Position the brush at a 45 degree angle and paint from right to left starting in one corner of the room and working your way to the other.
- Repeat the process on the bottom section of the skirting board, being careful not to drip any on the floor.
- Fill in the middle.
- Leave the primer to dry – ours takes between two and four hours to completely dry.
- As soon as the primer is dry, apply the first coat of paint. Apply it in exactly the same way as the primer. For the best results, you’ll likely need two coats but always check what it says on the tin.
- When you’ve finished painting, remove the decorator’s tape while the paint is still wet but leave your dust sheet in place until the paint is completely dry.
For painting your skirtings we recommend a quality wood paint such as:
