If you are planning on painting old skirting boards with gloss paint, you'll want to make sure that they're in good condition beforehand as gloss may highlight any imperfections underneath the paint. What finish paint to choose it totally up to you. A gloss paint is the most durable, but can look dated in some spaces (or fantastic in others!). White is still the most popular choice for skirting boards, and crisp white woodwork can frame a room beautifully,' says James.

PaintWell increased its Industrial Paints offering with the acquisition of Promain UK Limited, the preferred UK distributor for many of the world’s leading paint and surface coatings manufacturers. But don't overlook the importance of your skirting boards when decorating with grey. These architectural elements can make or break the cohesiveness of your interior scheme.An idea would be to paint the walls a lighter shade of grey. This would help the colours flow into each other with a softer edge. I think the interior above does this very well. The white skirting in stark contrast against the blue wall colour, lifts what would other-wise be a dull scheme, but also gains continuity with the white pictures, light shades, throw and ceiling. This provides a dual-coloured foundation on which to introduce further feature colours, in this case being the leather furniture which particularly draws the eye. The result is a powerful, but well balanced, contrasting interior.

Grey walls allow the skirting boards to blend in seamlessly rather than jump out. Matching greys creates one continuous flow. Essentially, you can paint them any colour you like, and consider flipping the traditional look too – if you love red and white for example, have white walls and red skirtings. The beauty of this look is that you really can choose whatever you like. 'Conventionally, white is a popular choice when it comes to painting skirting boards,' says Punam Chada, carpet buyer at Carpetright. Proper preparation is crucial for achieving a professional finish on your skirting boards. Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Pallet agreements which are about to expire

In the past, people would think that grey skirting boards were grim, a bit sad and well...grey! However, people keen to bring elegance, a high-end look or even a zen vibe into their interiors are going all-in with this trend. If this seems a bit out there for you, think that there are many shades of grey to choose from, plus the dirt and dust on your boards would go easily unnoticed! Some homemakers have turned to a more subtle, non-shiny look, which has coincided with increased availability of satin-finish paints. A satin finish is in between gloss and matte; sometimes it’s called semi-gloss or satinwood. As the name suggests, you get a nice sheen when it dries but it’s not as reflective as gloss paint. It’s more durable than eggshell and keeps its colour well. It comes in both oil-based or water-based formulas and is the best-of-both-worlds choice. Grey skirting boards offer a practical and low-maintenance option for defining room boundaries and creating a visually cohesive space. Their neutral colour and subtle texture complements most modern décor styles, making them a popular choice among homeowners and interior designers alike. Should You Paint Woodwork or Walls First? As mentioned earlier, it's best to paint the walls first and then proceed to the woodwork, including skirting boards, for a cleaner finish.

This trend can work equally well in contemporary or more traditional properties, although naturally, this will depend on the chosen colour. You probably wouldn’t opt for a bold turquoise or striking orange in a classically styled Victorian townhouse, for instance. The key is to decorate/furnish the wall; bringing feature elements with art, pictures, mirrors, or positioning furniture in front of it. The floor colour also helps to bring contrast in all of these examples.

A paint brush is often preferred as it can paint to full skirting board up to the edge. Paint brushes come in two main forms; natural bristle and synthetic. As the name would suggest, natural bristle paint brushes are made from natural sources such as animal hair. They are designed for use with oil-based paints and due to their split ends that can achieve a non-streak finish. They cannot be used with water-based paints as they will absorb the water. A synthetic bristle paint brush is made of nylon, polyester or a mix of both and is perfect for use with water-based paints. For decades the classic colour for internal mouldings has been white, however, recently painting skirting boards a different colour has been on trend. In this article I will show you different ways to use colour on your skirting boards for different effects, and outline considerations for those who are pondering what colour to paint them.