Merchandised shitajiki are very common, featuring images of everything from tourist attractions and celebrities to anime and manga characters. Most shitajiki designs only go through one print run, making them highly collectible and often difficult to acquire. Collecting shitajiki is a hobby for many anime and manga enthusiasts. As collectibles, shitajiki are also often used for decoration or other ornamental purposes. These days, skirting boards are still are essential at forming the junctions between construction materials – potentially covering untidy or uneven joins – and providea barrier that protects the wall from scuffs and dents caused by people and pets moving through and vacuuming.

It's worth noting that boards painted the same colour as the wall will disappear into the wall. If a varnished timber board is used the skirting becomes more prominent. Some professionals consider scribing skirting as the proper way to fit internal skirting joints whatever type of skirting board you are using. Scribing is commonly used on walls that are out of square, typically found in older homes. Skirting, door architraves and cornices were all devised when walls were wet plastered and not as smooth as today. The plaster finish was rough and needed a junction (stop edge) at the floor and ceilings. The skirting function was therefore intended to hide the junction at the bottom of the plastered wall. The skirting also hid the damp in houses before damp proof courses became the norm.This engineered product offers and robust and affordable solution which is resistant to warping and swelling. MDF is widely available at DIY stores either pre-primed or pre-finished. However, a painted finish using the best skirting board paint is the only option, so if you're keen to see a natural grain, soft or hardwood skirting might be a better fit. On the other hand, if yours is an older home, you may be better opting for a more ornate profile. "Decorative profiles including traditional ogee, ovolo, lambs tongue and torus designs work well in period settings," says Rebecca. Choosing the right skirting board for your home is an often overlooked design consideration. "While unlikely to be the key focal point in any room, skirting is a small yet important detail that has the potential to make or break your home's decor," begins Rebecca Foster. The first skirting board only needs a flat cut into the corner. The scribed skirting will fit neatly into the first skirting boards profile. (Image credit: Getty Images) When Should I Scribe Skirting Board?

Modern boards tend to be slimmer and less detailed than their traditional cousins for a streamlines, unfussy look. Simple square routed shapes are common in modern homes," adds Rebecca. "Follow the theme through in the architraves to the doors. Home journalist Rebecca Foster advises: "Your budget will determine the type of skirting you opt for, both in terms of materials and style. Intricate profiles cost more than basic boards." An Art Deco style skirting board was chosen for this traditional-style self build. The soft off-white delicately contrasts with the pale walls. (Image credit: Fiona Murray) Why Use Skirting Board? There's a little more work involved when it comes to more intricate designs such as ogee and torus, but it's still only one cut. Should Skirting Boards Touch The Floor?When renovating their dated Victorian terrace, the homeowners chose to install torus-style skirting. (Image credit: David Barbour) What Can I Use Instead of Skirting Board? The easy answer is no. But it's not quite as straightforward as the answer suggests. It can depend on what type of flooring you are laying. For example, if putting down laminate flooring or tiles you want to leave a 2mm or 3mm expansion gap in case of any movement. Ideally you will lay the flooring first then install the skirting board.