Skirting board mouldings - how to choose the colour?

Choosing colours for an interior is a task full of challenges that calls for a good eye and a solid grasp of how colours and their shades work together. Every decorative element of the interior decoration, from the furniture to the accessories, plays a key part in creating the atmosphere and character of a space. Skirting boards are a perfect example. Although they are often underrated, they have a real influence on how a room is finished off. Choosing the right colour of skirting is therefore not only a practical matter, but also part of designing an interior consciously. "Skirting board mouldings - how to choose the colour?" is a question many of us ask ourselves when we want an interior that feels coherent and considered.

Today we are diving into the secrets of colour theory and the effect it has on the look of an interior. We will answer the question of how to choose and combine colours to achieve a genuinely designer result that will win everyone over. We will focus on colour harmony, showing different ways of pairing shades and tones to create a composition that is coherent and easy on the eye.

When should you choose white skirting boards?

Although it is often overlooked, white is a colour too - and what is more, an extremely important element in interior design, as Anna Pietraszek-Sawicka reminds us in her book "Mieszkaj i żyj kolorowo" (Live and Live in Colour).

White skirting boards are a universal choice that works beautifully in any scheme - from relaxed boho, through classic interiors, to contemporary projects. Opting for white skirting means choosing a design approach that creates a neutral base for the room. It is the simplest method of all, because it lets you change the look of a space easily by swapping decorative items such as cushion covers, throws or picture frames.

A white skirting board combined with pale walls becomes the ideal backdrop for experimenting with colour and pattern, but also with different styles. It really is very simple - by keeping a minimalist base, you can turn the space into a loft in a matter of moments by adding accessories such as throws, heavy curtains, cushion covers in shades of grey and wooden pieces, and then switch it to a crystal chandelier, a plush rug and sheer curtains in a glamour style.

To keep everything coherent and harmonious, however, it is important to keep the walls and floors in neutral colours. Whites, beiges and light greys are the ones to go for, along with furniture and floors finished in a light wood tone - beige or white. Strong wall or floor colours in intense oak shades are best avoided. Thanks to their simplicity and elegance, white skirting boards paired with a wall in the same colour open the door to unlimited design possibilities.

It is also worth mentioning the practical side of fitting mouldings. White skirting boards are perfect for small, low rooms - a white skirting combined with ceiling mouldings and a wall in the same colour will visually stretch the room, adding a few centimetres.

If you are going for white skirting boards, it is worth looking at the Premium collection from Mardom Decor. It is a complete solution, ready to be fitted straight onto the wall (no painting needed). Premium skirting boards are covered with an exclusive SupremeSatin® coating that guarantees a flawless finish, a smooth surface and a deep, snow-white colour. This effect is achieved by spraying in a special paint booth, which makes the surface of the skirting exceptionally resistant to mechanical damage, flexible and resistant to moisture and dirt.

Skirting board colour - how to choose

By choosing a specific colour of skirting, you are taking the "I know what I want" approach to decorating. Your interior scheme then has to be thought through and refined down to the last detail. With this option you can safely experiment with strong colours, textures and less obvious finishes. It is a more demanding approach to interior design, because it calls for a broader view of the room and the ability to picture every element - skirting boards included - as part of a larger composition rather than as individual components.

But how do you add colour to an interior so that the scheme is coherent and striking rather than garish and kitsch? The 60/30/10 rule can help here. In this approach, 60% is the dominant colour in the scheme. Skirting boards can play an important part in that dominant share of the palette - matched to the shade of the walls, for instance, they will visually stretch the room and become the foundation for everything that follows. The next 30% is the secondary colours, such as the furniture and the key elements of the room. Black skirting boards are a perfect example of this - fitted on their own, as a contrasting element in the room, they can look odd and "heavy". Combined with black furniture and accessories, however, such as lampshades or furniture legs, black skirting becomes a coherent part of the room.

The remaining 10% is the accessories - the colour in a scheme that we repeat in decorative details or, as Anna aptly puts it, that we "anchor" in different places around the room. For example, we paint the skirting boards in dusty pink, which works beautifully with the prints on the wall or the cushions on the sofa. If you go for this solution, though, it is worth remembering that changing the accessories later on may be harder, since skirting boards are more difficult to replace.

Another way of adding colour is to follow the principle of the "golden triad" of colours. These can be three main colours repeated throughout the room. It makes a scheme coherent and balanced rather than "loud", even when strong shades are used. Concentrating on a few chosen colours and "anchoring" them in the scheme is what creates a harmonious interior.

Choosing strong colours for skirting boards can make it harder to change the accessories in a room - but what if you go for mouldings you can paint? Mardom Decor skirting boards come factory-primed with a high-quality paint that smooths and protects the surface, but which also provides an excellent base for painting. Being able to change the shade of the skirting to any colour allows you to experiment freely with your interior design and guarantees that the skirting will always sit perfectly with the current decor, whether you go for subtle or bold shades. That makes Mardom Decor skirting boards not only a practical solution but an economical one too, letting you adapt their appearance quickly and easily to changing trends and personal taste.

How do you choose skirting boards for light floors?

When choosing skirting boards for light-toned floorboards, it is crucial to take account of the style the room is decorated in. Light floors are often used in the Scandinavian, wabi-sabi and japandi styles, which value minimalism and natural materials.

In a Scandinavian scheme, white or light wood skirting boards will be perfect, matching the simplicity and brightness of the space while emphasising its clarity and freshness. The wabi-sabi style, which celebrates imperfection and naturalness, is beautifully reflected in skirting with a raw look. As for japandi, a blend of Japanese aesthetics and Scandinavian practicality, we recommend minimalist skirting boards with simple profiles that combine elegance with simplicity. In these styles the skirting must sit perfectly with the light floor, creating a coherent, balanced composition. It is also important to match it to the other elements of the room, following the colour principles set out above.

Dark floors - choosing the skirting boards

In Italian-inspired schemes, with all their richness and elegance, skirting boards in deep, intense colours will fit in perfectly. Black skirting will be an ideal choice, bringing a touch of luxury and refinement to the room while sitting beautifully alongside dark floorboards.

In a classic interior, where symmetry and harmony matter, it is worth considering skirting boards that continue the colour of the floor. Dark wood skirting can create a visual unity with the floor, underlining the elegance and timelessness of the scheme. As for the loft style, which takes its inspiration from the rawness of industrial spaces, it is worth going for contrast. Black skirting boards paired with dark floors make a strong decorative statement. Not only will they emphasise the industrial character of the room, they will also act as a striking backdrop for light-coloured furniture and accessories.

In each of these styles, the choice of skirting matters not only for aesthetic reasons but for practical ones too. Well-chosen skirting boards not only conceal the expansion gaps, they also create a composition that is visually and functionally coherent with the whole room, underlining its individual character.

In short, the choice of skirting boards for your interior is of crucial importance in creating a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. Whether you go for white skirting as a neutral, versatile base, contrasting colours to add character, or skirting matched to the floor for a subtle transition, the essential thing is to take account of the style and the overall look of your space.

In this search for the perfect skirting board, the Premium collections from Mardom Decor offer a complete solution. Their Premium skirting boards come factory-primed with an exclusive SupremeSatin® finish, guaranteeing a flawless result, ideal smoothness and a pure, snow-white colour. Thanks to their innovative technology, these skirting boards are not only resistant to mechanical damage, flexible and resistant to moisture and dirt, they can also be painted in any colour you like, making it quick and easy to personalise them in line with changing trends and individual taste.

Whether you want to create a neutral base with white skirting, add character with contrasting skirting or subtly integrate skirting matched to the floor, the options are endless with Mardom Decor skirting boards. With their wide range of styles and finishes, you can find the perfect skirting to complete your interior and create exactly the mood you are after.

To sum up, skirting boards play an essential part in the finish and the overall look of your interior. With the right skirting you can turn your space into a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing place that reflects your personal style and meets your practical needs. Explore the options from Mardom Decor and let yourself be inspired to create an interior that is truly your own.