How to choose the color of the baseboard for the floor and install it correctly

Floor and ceiling cornices in the interior of a living room are designed to visually separate spatial zones and give the room a finished look. At the same time, it is important to know how to choose a plinth based on color, size and pattern - for each room the baguettes can be completely different, as they must correspond to the local design.

An auxiliary function of skirting boards on the floor or under the ceiling is to mask electrical wiring and connections between walls and the ceiling or floor covering. Let's look at and show you how to choose a floor plinth based on color, geometry and pattern.

General recommendations

How to choose the color of the baseboard? This question is faced by many people who have started repairs with their own hands. If you choose this element of the interior incorrectly, it will not fit into the overall picture and will spoil the overall impression of the appearance of the room. Therefore, this issue must be approached responsibly. You will need to use your sense of taste. It's also worth considering expert recommendations.

It is worth saying that there is no single rule for choosing the color of an interior element such as a baseboard. Therefore, the choice is made in accordance with the features of the existing design. You can match the baseboard to the color of the floor or doors or, conversely, make it contrasting. Sometimes this interior element is combined with the color of walls, window frames, ceiling beams, etc. There are many options.

To avoid mistakes, you should choose a plinth after completing all construction work. In this case, it will be known exactly what shades are inherent in the floor, walls, doors, etc. The baseboard will complete the overall image. It will bring a complete look to the interior.

When studying recommendations on how to choose the color of a floor plinth, it is worth saying that there are a huge number of different variations on sale.

It is important to select not only the shade, but also its texture. So, for a wooden floor it is also worth purchasing a wooden plinth

You can also purchase other varieties. However, they should at least imitate natural wood.

During the renovation, other materials (tiles, linoleum, self-leveling polymer, etc.) can be selected for finishing the floor. In this case, the shade is selected by trial and error. When purchasing skirting boards in a store, do not throw away your receipt. You may need to change the baseboard several times before finding the right shade.

Texture and material

Floor plinths can be made from different materials. Not only its shade, but also its texture depends on this. This is an important factor that is taken into account when choosing a plinth. It is logical that for flooring made of natural wood, a plinth made of the same material is suitable. This is a classic. Therefore, you should not use other options in this case.

For laminate flooring of any quality, edging made from MDF is suitable. A veneered plinth would also be appropriate here. The color of the laminate and baseboard should match perfectly. A slight difference in shade of one or two tones is allowed.

If the floor is covered with linoleum, jute, or carpet, planks made of PVC or MDF are quite suitable. Plastic skirting boards are relatively inexpensive. In this case, you can choose almost any shade and texture, as well as the type of construction. There are PVC edgings, inside of which there are channels for wires. In some cases, products are purchased with a removable transparent top panel. A strip of carpet or linoleum is inserted into it. In this case, the floor and baseboard will match perfectly.

For tiles, a plastic or ceramic baseboard is suitable. The tone is also selected in accordance with the color of the tile.

The door and baseboard are light, the floor is dark

The light color of the floors, baseboards and doors requires constant care and maintenance of cleanliness. Therefore, the floor is often made dark, but doors and baseboards can be light. This option looks very solemn and is suitable for different interior design styles.

But there is one nuance here: both the doors and the baseboards will have to be washed quite often so that they do not lose their attractiveness. White color is especially impractical in this regard, therefore, when thinking about the color combination of the baseboard, floor and doors, it is hardly worth including white there. It is better to choose light, but less easily soiled tones: beige, cream, ivory, light wood.

  • A very good option is to combine a dark floor with light baseboards in large rooms that are not crowded with furniture. A small room, “stuffed” with various things, is not suitable for such a design.
  • Another option for combining floors and doors according to the dark-light principle involves painting the walls in light colors. This looks especially good if the room is not too high. This color combination will visually “raise” the ceiling a little.

Width

In order for the frame to look truly beautiful and harmonious, it is important not only to choose its color, but also its size. Therefore, finally, let’s look at how to choose the width of the baseboard for the floor

The rules for choosing the width are quite simple - the height of the ceilings is taken into account. Below is a table of the dependence of fillet width on ceiling height:

WidthRoom height
Up to 45 mmNo more than 2.5m
45-80 mm2.5-3m
From 80 mmAbove 3m

Of course, these figures are conditional, i.e. It is not necessary to observe them with millimeter accuracy. However, it is still advisable to adhere to the fact that the fillets look “in their place.” This is especially true for rooms with low ceilings, where wide slats look completely out of place.

Here, in fact, are all the nuances of choosing floor skirting boards

Otherwise, you need to pay attention to the design, which should be combined with the style of the interior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp8hRxrZLWg

General information

Not so long ago, people in our country did not particularly think about how to choose a baseboard color. Most often it was simply painted to match the color of the floor.

Nowadays, a rich selection of building materials has appeared, which allows designers to embody any ideas. At the same time, fillets play an important role in shaping the interior. Moreover, they are selected not only by color, but also by the type of floor covering, as well as by width.

Therefore, below I will tell you which skirting boards are combined with which floor coverings, and then we will familiarize ourselves with the rules for choosing the color scheme and width of the planks.


Galleys with wooden floors

Light linoleum dark baseboard. How to choose a baseboard for linoleum and other floor coverings?

So, linoleum has been chosen. You have already imagined how great it will look in combination with your walls and furniture, and relatives and friends who come to visit will admire such beauty. But we forgot one important detail - you need to choose a baseboard for linoleum.

First, we calculate how many skirting boards and fittings are needed based on the floor plan. We calculate the perimeter of the room, subtract the distances that will not be covered by the baseboard, for example, doorways. The length of the plinth is 2.5 m; by this value we divide the footage that needs to be covered.

Sample calculation. The length of the room is 6 m, the width is 3 m, the perimeter will be (6 + 3) x 2 = 18 m, subtract the length of the door 0.9 m, the molding is 17.1 m. Divide this value by 2.5 m, we get 6.84 pieces and round up to the larger side for reserve. Thus, we got 7 pieces of skirting board. Next, we calculate how many internal and external corners, connectors and plugs are needed (left and right). Just in case, it is better to take the plinth and fittings with a small reserve in case of breakage or incorrect calculation.

Skirting boards are most often made of wood and PVC. PVC skirting boards with a cable duct are considered the most convenient - they allow you to accommodate wires, which adds aesthetics to the room and protects the wires.

Height of the plinth. Most often, skirting boards with a height of 47, 58 and 86 mm are available for sale. The first option is the lowest and cheapest, the second is standard, the third is more expensive. A skirting board with a height of 86 mm is suitable if you need to cover a distance greater than the standard one, for example, if the previously pasted wallpaper does not reach the floor. In addition, a high plinth in the interior looks attractive.

Construction type. The most common designs of skirting boards:

Once you have decided on the quantity, you can start choosing the color. Most often, the color of the baseboard is matched to the color of the coating: either the same color or a little darker. If the color of the coating is a cold tone, then the baseboard should also be a cold tone, respectively, a warm tone to match the warm one. You can also match the color of the doors in the room, this is also a good combination.

Modern manufacturers of profiles and skirting boards have provided the market with a wide variety of designs, colors and textures. However, we must remember that it is not always possible to choose the exact color of the plinth, and then the most suitable option is taken.

You can choose a plinth for any covering if you follow all the above rules.

The easiest way is to match the baseboard to the wood-colored covering. There are most of these models. In these two examples, the baseboard is chosen a tone darker than the linoleum.

If the color is abstract, or as it is also called, crumb, then such a plinth can also be found.

If the color of the coating matches the tile, then the baseboard is chosen in calm tones to match the main color.

And finally, the most difficult situation is when the coating is multi-colored. You need to select according to the color that is present most of all. If there is no such plinth, then match it to the second color, of which there are also many.

Dark linoleum with contrasts.

Another option is to select the baseboard to match the color of the interior doors. When selecting, you need to have a piece or sample of the same color as the doors.

Having bought a PVC skirting board, you need to remember that it is flexible and its edges bend, so you need to transport it carefully. The same applies to fittings

Now all that remains is to install the baseboard around the perimeter of the room, arrange the furniture and enjoy the comfort of the updated room.

We will tell you how to install the plinth correctly in another article.

Selection of skirting boards according to basic characteristics

Floor moldings are thin strips prepared for painting or painted in the colors of popular finishing materials. There is no doubt about their functionality. The main purpose is mechanical, dirt and water protection of the joints between the floor covering and the vertical enclosing structure: columns, walls, etc.

The range of products is extensive, so the store’s consultants recommend choosing a baseboard for the floor by color from existing collections or brands. This statement has the right to life, but it is much more logical to start the choice with other parameters that can be called basic. Including:

  • the material from which the moldings are made,
  • profile format and height;
  • fixation method.

And only after determining the main indicators can you start coloring.

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the raw materials that were used in production. The most common, practical, easy to install and operate, waterproof products for private houses, apartments, and offices are made from PVC. They go well with all types of flooring: laminate, linoleum, parquet, engineered and parquet boards, carpet, even porcelain and ceramic tiles.

Types of plastic skirting boards:

  • solid colored;
  • pigmented soft (flexible profiles);
  • finely porous white for subsequent painting in the required shade.

Table 1 . Advantages and disadvantages of plastic skirting boards

prosMinuses
Good wear and water resistance.Strong impacts may cause chips, scratches and dents that can be repaired.
There are two main types to choose from: solid and with cable channel.At first, baseboards may emit an unpleasant chemical odor.
Easy to maintain and easy to install using original fasteners, self-tapping screws, dowel-nails and other types of hardware. Gluing to “liquid nails” or any mounting adhesive for plastic with a high initial adhesion force is allowed. Due to the fact that manufacturers periodically change collections and introduce new types of fastenings for fittings, it is very difficult for buyers to choose replacement connecting elements or profiles.
Wide range of colors - from 12 to 54 shades of one series, including textured and smooth products imitation wood, stone, marble chips.
Wide range of sizes:
  • Height – from 36 to 96 m;
  • Profile depth – up to 28 mm;
  • The length is usually standard - 2.5 m.
The kit includes a whole set of matching accessories: end caps, corners, connectors, various mounting adapters (socket boxes, antenna modules, etc.).
Durability. The minimum service life is 10 years or more.
Reasonable prices - from 50 rubles/piece.

Note that the shape of the molding can be different; it is chosen based on your own preferences.

The lower the ceiling, the lower the height of the moldings should be. High plinths (from 70 mm or more) are recommended to be installed in rooms where the distance from floor to ceiling exceeds 3 m. Otherwise, they will look too “heavy”.

Special mention should be made of PVC products for painting, which can be tinted with water- or oil-based enamels in any color suitable for your interior. This type of profile is universal, made of foam plastic, has a fine-porous structure, so the paint easily “applies” to them both before and after installation.

No less reliable, but more resistant to all types of damage, wear and water, are metal skirting boards made of aluminum with anodizing or painting, less often - brass. However, they are produced in fairly limited quantities and are not often found in stores. They are used in public, industrial and commercial buildings, very rarely - for designer renovations in the hi-tech style, minimalism in offices, residential premises, baths, toilets. Therefore, we will not pay attention to them, but will move on to the next fairly common type of molded products - MDF skirting boards.

These profiles are recommended by manufacturers of wood flooring, as they have the same coefficient of thermal expansion as solid wood, parquet boards, laminate and other similar finishing materials. Skirting boards are produced in the following assortment:

  • With a clean surface for further DIY decoration. You can simply paint them, or process them using any known wood finishing techniques, including decoupage and pyrography;
  • Primed for subsequent painting with tinting varnishes and enamels (acrylic, polyurethane, oil);

Covered with a finishing film with a smooth or textured surface using embossing. This type of skirting boards comes in white, colored and even metallized.

MDF skirting boards usually have a milled (shaped) surface, less often a smooth straight or spherical surface. Each manufacturer selects the dimensions themselves, so the dimensions can vary greatly:

  • Length – from 1 to 3 m;
  • Height – from 40 to 150 mm;
  • The depth of the profile is from 10 to 20 mm.

Table 2 . Pros and cons of MDF skirting boards

prosMinuses
Good wear resistance and strength.It swells upon contact with water, so it is better to clean it using the dry method.
Installation using different methods: using “liquid nails” glue, mounting strips, original clips, self-tapping screws, head nails or with subsequent installation of decorative plugs.Since the material has little resistance to surface damage, numerous scratches, chips, and dents may appear during operation.
Available in two types - monolithic and with cable channel.Due to the shallow depth of the profile, it may not be suitable for flooring materials installed with a large gap from the walls.
Rich palette - up to 40 shades of wood, stone, concrete, cork, marble chips, etc.High cost - from 100 rubles/linear. m.
The kit includes matching connecting elements.
Long service life - 10 years.

And finally, the last, but nevertheless the most luxurious type of profiles - made from solid pine, beech, oak, larch and other valuable species. The wood can be clean (varnished or tinted), coated with protective and decorative compounds, or veneered. The strips are usually solid, but some manufacturers create a small beveled cut on the underside at the bottom for routing cables.

Wooden plinth is perhaps the most beautiful and durable (with proper processing) type of profiles. Thanks to the natural texture, each molding is unique and inimitable. Ideally combined with wood flooring, including multi-layer (parquet, engineered wood, panel parquet) and solid. At the same time, the surface darkens a little over time, acquiring a beautiful, noble shade.

Table 3 . Pros and cons of solid wood molded products

prosMinuses
High strength and wear resistance.Not resistant to water, woodworms, biodegradation.
Installation options: using wood glue or “liquid nails”, mounting strips, hardware.It is necessary to periodically restore the protective coating.
Wide color spectrum - from snow-white to deep black.Lack of a complete set of decorative connecting elements.
Maintainability.High cost - from 130 rubles/linear. m.
Long service life - 15 years or more.

Since there are no uniform standards for wooden skirting boards, the shape of the outer profile and dimensions vary widely. Therefore, this type of molded products can be selected to suit absolutely any interior, flooring, ceiling height, etc.

We have listed the most popular types. Of course, the range is not limited to this. Thus, experienced craftsmen often form a plinth for tiles from ceramic or porcelain stones - they simply cut narrow strips, which are fixed with tile adhesive. It turns out very neat and beautiful, especially in combination with suitable tiled corner layouts or narrow PVC borders for joints. And lovers of stucco and heavy, voluminous decor on walls and ceilings opt for polyurethane moldings with a carved surface.

Five rules for the bright side of white baseboards

When using a white baseboard, you should remember the following rules.

It should not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also practical.

Choose materials that are easy to clean and do not absorb dirt and dust. The color should be in harmony with other colors in the decoration or become a contrast; you should not choose a white baseboard if it does not match the color of the walls, floors and doors. Think about the functional features; if you need to hide wires from view, choose fillets with cable channels. Select the material from which the white plinth is made depending on the floor covering. A white baseboard should not reduce the space of the room; pay attention to its width and choose based on the height of the walls and area.

Choosing a frame for the floor

White floor plinth is a bold solution in the interior. White doors and baseboards visually refresh the room and give it lightness, especially in combination with a black floor. You need to think through the color, location and shape of the planks at the design stage, otherwise the details may turn out to be incompatible with each other

It is important that the color and texture of the plinth harmonizes well with:

  • furniture;
  • walls;
  • decor.

You can also use light planks to match the walls: beige, milky, and cream options look especially good. In general, fillets should not be too conspicuous - they should become a harmonious interior detail that corresponds to the overall concept. If you plan to pass wires through the baseboard, you need to choose products with a cable channel.

Plank to match the color of the flooring

This option for selecting fillets is a real classic. Wooden skirting boards began to be used precisely when wooden floors came into fashion.

In addition to aesthetics, using the same material for the floor and planks will provide another important advantage. The same expansion coefficient will not allow products to deform when compressed and stretched

This will reduce the likelihood of cracks or wood splitting.

Laminate or linoleum floors harmonize perfectly with plastic skirting boards of the corresponding colors. Dark flooring can be complemented with white strips for contrast, while installing doors of the same color or other trim elements. In any case, you need to purchase finishing for the floor and fillets at the same time, and you need to compare their tones only in natural light - artificial light distorts the shades.

We select the baseboard to match the color of the walls

Often the wall covering has a texture that is completely incompatible with the appearance of the fillets. It is easy to select planks for walls only if the wallpaper does not have a complex pattern or texture. A white plinth for completely white walls is only suitable if you do not plan to place a visual emphasis on it, when the product will play an exclusively practical function.

Planks to match the shade of doors and windows

To make the baseboard look like a continuation of the door jambs, you can choose it in accordance with the color of the doors. White doors and baseboards of the same color should also be combined in structure: the ideal option would be to use wood, veneer or MDF finishes. Of the light shades of natural wood, the following are used:

  • white acacia;
  • bleached oak;
  • balsa;
  • Linden;
  • birch;
  • hornbeam;
  • aspen.

Selection of baguettes to match the color of the walls

Classic option:

  1. In a room with low ceilings (less than 2.5 meters), the color of the baseboard, corresponding to the color range of the wall surface, will make the room visually higher;
  2. For small rooms, you can use a minimalist or modernist interior with baseboards that blend in color with the floor or ceiling - such “invisible” cornices will visually make the space monolithic and unified, without divisions into small zones;
  3. If the walls of the room are painted in different colors, then plain baseboards can be emphasized by “Color Block” - this is a small geometric insert of a contrasting color, splitting the color space into several visual blocks;
  4. The surface of the walls will be even more spectacular if the cornice on the floor is matched to the tone of any detail of the wallpaper pattern.

The platbands of the doorway and the baseboard under the ceiling can be mounted in white, or the already installed elements can be painted in the color of the walls. Another solution is to use any shade that is already in the room design.

An original solution, suitable for any interior, and even for classic and traditional solutions. A dark cornice sets off the color of the wall surface, visually raises the ceiling, makes the visual perception of the room easier, without loading the eyes with a variety of color options. This technique can be emphasized by painting the ceiling moldings in the same color as the floor fillets. If the window sashes are painted in a contrasting color relative to the overall interior of the room, then the dark color of the floor planks or the floor covering itself will harmoniously blend the windows into the design of the room.

Which skirting board is suitable for uneven walls?

You can easily install any skirting board on perfectly leveled walls and use any type of installation - screws, nails, glue, rails, clips. If you are going to glue the plinth onto uneven walls, you will have to temporarily secure it additionally with self-tapping screws in the depressions, and then seal the cracks with sealant or putty.

But on uneven, rounded walls and columns it is most convenient to use flexible skirting boards. Many rigid polyurethane and duropolymer models have flexible analogues with the addition of rubber. They are also called rubber skirting boards. Or there is a flexible PVC skirting board in a roll. But I won’t even write about this monster.

How to choose

Skirting boards cannot act as an independent interior detail. They are always chosen with an eye to some larger element that is located next door. For example, they focus on the color of the door, window, furniture, and floor shade. The material also matters. Wood is universal and can be combined with any walls and floors. Budget plastic is suitable for linoleum, laminate and carpet. Ceramic and stone skirting boards look organic only with marble, granite and tiles.

Match the color of the walls

A plinth matching the color of the walls allows you to erase or emphasize the boundary between them and the floor. In the first case, so that the surfaces do not merge completely, select a “belt” that is a shade lighter or darker. This technique is a favorite among designers, since the option of combining tones close in the spectrum is considered a win-win.

In rare cases, walls, door frames and baseboards are selected in the same color. The solution is very fresh and extravagant, therefore suitable for bold modern styles. To emphasize the boundary between the floor and the wall, choose either a neutral shade of the baseboard or a bright one. The latter is rare, since in the color scheme of the element they still give preference to nut, beige, chocolate and coffee with milk. It is not recommended to choose a baseboard that matches the color of a wall decorated with a covering with colorful patterns. The boundary between the floorboard and the floral wallpaper should be strict and neat.

Match the color of the floor

According to traditional canons, the plinth is selected to match the shade of the floor covering. Ideally, it should be a couple of shades lighter or darker, depending on the color transition to the wall. The combination of the same shade is considered a win-win

In this case, it is not so important whether the baseboard is combined with the tone of the wall covering or window and door openings. Everything above should be combined with the fillet, and a neat, plain bottom will remain aside

Match the color of doors and windows

Designers recommend choosing baseboards to match the color of door and window frames only if they are made of wood. This element will help to gently integrate into the interior openings of a different shade that look unbalanced in the overall palette of colors. For example, in a room with dark flooring and walls, white doors will find support in the form of a baseboard of the same color.

White edging in the interior

White plinth ennobles the interior, making it more refined and elegant. It is universal and organically fits into any stylistic solution. A neutral color allows you to harmoniously add white doors or windows to a dark environment. With such a plinth, any interior will look airy and light. White edging will highlight the high walls. The effect of this technique is doubled if the ceiling is decorated with the same fillet. Although the white baseboard is new, it seems like it was created for a classic style. The element will add a refined touch to the luxury of the interior. However, it is worth considering that light-colored edging will have to be washed systematically, since the surface is easily soiled, and the floor is not the cleanest place in the house.

Colored contrasting floor frames

Contrasting colors in baseboard panels are a bold innovation in recent years. They are ideal for extraordinary, creative interiors decorated in modern styles. Since the flooring is usually done in neutral colors (shades of brown, black, gray), skirting boards are selected to match the furniture and individual decorative details. In strict classics, such an option is difficult to imagine, but fusion, futurism, eclecticism, and ethnicity, which are flexible in relation to innovations, will calmly accept such a bright experiment. A living room in a mixed style with an orange-violet color scheme will be emphasized by a defiant lilac baseboard. A dark environment will be enlivened by a contrasting strip of red, yellow or green. Eye-catching black and blue panel curtains against the background of light walls and a neutral floor will find support in the blue baseboard.

Installation nuances

The main problem areas when installing skirting boards are the corners and joints along the length. Each room has four internal corners, the geometry of which often differs from 90°. In addition, heating registers are usually located in a niche under the window, and these are two more external and the same number of internal interfaces in which the decorative strip will have to be cut.

Manufacturers produce skirting boards with a maximum length of 2.5 m, since this size is the most convenient for transportation. Therefore, on at least two walls in the bedroom, hallway, and living room, it will have to be increased in length. The joint at an angle in width is considered the most inconspicuous.

Fillet joint lengthwise

Then you need to consider the way the fillet is fixed to the wall. Polymer materials, soft tape and tiles are most often glued to wall cladding. The wooden moldings are fastened with self-tapping screws, the heads of which are painted over. The MDF plank has a longitudinal inclined groove on the reverse side and fits onto fastenings screwed around the perimeter of the walls.

Cut the material with a miter saw.

It is most difficult to trim wood and MDF in corners, since chips and irregularities are difficult to putty on a curved surface with shaped milling. Polymers are cut with a knife, but in any case you will need at least a miter box to do the work yourself. Ideally, you should cut the baseboard with a miter saw.

Trimming the plank in a miter box.

Therefore, the installation of MDF skirting boards, which occupy the top line of the rating, is most often entrusted to professionals who initially have such equipment.

What is a floor plinth?

Floor plinth plays an important role in decorating a room

In the design of a room, the plinth is an indispensable element. Its main purpose is to close the joint between the floor and the wall. It provides reliable protection of the joint from the penetration of moisture and dirt, and also covers all imperfections. In addition, it also performs an important aesthetic function. It helps make the transition from one material and color to another smoother. With its help, you can give the interior solidity or lightness, add a little depth, or vice versa - create some intrigue in the design concept.

The main thing is to choose the right color for the baseboard for the floor or for the doors, so that all the details can be combined into a single expressive picture.

How to choose the color of the baseboard to match the laminate. How to choose the color of the baseboard for the laminate

The plinth plays not only a functional, but also an aesthetic role. With its help, the gap between the wall and the floor is closed, and the room itself takes on a finished look. If you choose the wrong plinth, then all impressions of the repair can be completely crossed out

To emphasize the merits of the room design, you should take the issue of choosing a plinth responsibly

Match the color of the laminate

If you are afraid of making a bad choice, then select the baseboard according to the color of the laminate. But to create a unique design, it is better to use tones that are slightly darker or lighter than the floor covering.

The baseboard, which matches the tone of the floor, blends in with it and does not visually attract attention. The color of the baseboard can be matched to the tone of the walls

If wooden doors are installed, then the baseboard can be matched to the trim. For such a solution to look harmonious, the trim and baseboard must be the same thickness and size.

To match with platbands

Recently, designers have begun to use white skirting boards. It can look beautiful if you consider many factors such as the color combination of the walls, floors and furniture. Perhaps, before choosing a plinth for laminate, it is better to sketch the interior in a special architectural program and experiment with colors. This is due to the fact that the contrast in the colors of the laminate and baseboard is a rather bold decision. How successful it will be depends on the thoughtfulness of all the details of the repair.

To size

Dimensions of plastic floor skirting boards

In order for the renovation in the room to look harmonious, you should decide on the size of the baseboard. It depends on the color of the floor, walls and ceiling height. In large and high rooms it is unacceptable to use small-sized plinths. This will visually change the space not for the better. In this case, it is more appropriate to install a wide plinth of a contrasting color, which is attached to the wall.

In order to visually increase or at least not reduce the height of low walls, you should choose a thin plinth, preferably matching the tone of the walls.

Room with high floor plinth

If you have a standard room, then you can use skirting boards that have a standard height, ranging from 4.5 to 7 cm.

By material

Depending on the quality of the floor covering, you should choose the material for the plinth. If you have expensive laminate flooring in your room, you can combine it with a wooden baseboard. If the flooring is of average quality or even below average, then there is no point in laying a wooden plinth; in this case, it is quite possible to get by with its analogue made of MDF, veneered wood or PVC (plastic).

The times when baseboards were of one shape, color and size are a thing of the past. A wide range of skirting boards are available on the modern market from different materials, differing in shape, color and texture.

Wooden floor plinth

The most environmentally friendly material is wood. Skirting boards made from this material have a presentable appearance, are easy to install, and do not require special care. The material is sensitive to changes in moisture, so it cannot be installed in rooms with high humidity. The most cost-effective plinth is made from pine. Oak and linden are more expensive, but they also look more noble. Wooden skirting boards are sold without a varnished coating, which makes it quite difficult to determine the final color. To get an approximate idea of ​​the color of the varnished plinth, run a wet sponge over the wood. This shade will look like a varnished baseboard.

Solid oak plinth

The basis of the veneered plinth is spruce or pine. Veneer or a thin plate of noble wood is glued to the finished form under the influence of temperature. It can be acacia, oak, walnut, pear, bamboo, etc. Such products are produced with a cable channel, which allows you to hide the wires under them.

Veneered

If the walls in your house are finished with MDF panels and the floor is covered with laminate, then it is best to choose MDF baseboards. They are made from compressed wood fibers and binders. Such products are not afraid of dirt and moisture, they do not fade in the sun.

MDF plinth

The most budget option is PVC. The range of plastic skirting boards is very wide. Thanks to this, everyone can choose the appropriate option in shape and color. Among the advantages, it is worth noting resistance to moisture, corrosion and rotting, however, the strength of the material leaves much to be desired.

PVC

Today they also produce polyurethane skirting boards, which are particularly flexible.

Skirting boards made of non-ferrous metals and stainless steel

Floor skirting boards made of metal or alloys are an ideal solution for a modern apartment interior. The most popular products are made of anodized aluminum or stainless steel.

Advantages Negative sides
Duration of operation reaches 50 years or more The highest cost in the range of floor and ceiling cornices
Immunity to moisture, possibility of installation in rooms with high humidity It is recommended to mount only on flat surfaces
High impact resistance Small range of design solutions
Modern look Over time, the surface becomes dull due to small scratches from dust.
Availability of cable channel Overhead external and internal corners spoil the appearance and make caring for the product a difficult undertaking, especially under the ceiling

Combination of doors, floor and walls

Walls also cannot be thrown out of the equation; they occupy most of the visible space and set the tone for the interior. Here you can go in two ways: contrasting or “invisible”. Let's see how it works.

For example: dark floor + bright walls + white doors. Or: dark doors against a background of light walls and a light floor. Or: bright doors against a background of light or dark trim. In the latter case, the presence of a bright shade in the space should be supported by furniture or accessories.

The second way to combine floors, walls and doors is to make sure that all the attention goes to the floor. At the same time, the doors “dissolve” in the walls, merging with them in color and texture, and contrasting with the floor covering

Choose size and color


Choosing a plinth for linoleum and joining rooms
After you and I have determined which plinths are best for linoleum, let's select the required color and size. It is customary to measure the plinth in centimeters in height. For example, if the room where the plinth is installed has high ceilings and a decent square footage, the plinth should be more massive and clearly separate the edge of the wall and the floor. Otherwise, if the room area is small and the ceilings are not high, it is best to choose the narrowest plank. Due to this move, the height of the wall will seem to increase. The most important thing is not to get hung up on this, because 1-2 cm doesn’t really matter if the product you choose is of good quality and fits the interior.

It is best to take care of the selection of skirting boards when purchasing the linoleum itself. For a more harmonious interior, you should choose a edging that is a tone or two lighter; this will emphasize the transition of the wall to the floor. If you choose a baseboard for linoleum that has already been laid out, then you won’t be able to make a mistake in this situation. Just take some scrap and bring it to the store.


Plinth turning into door casing

The most beautiful solution is a plinth that goes into the door casing. This method will enliven the interior and give a modern design to your room. The only point here is that the width of the trim and the baseboard should be the same.

If very bright colors are chosen for the interior, then the baseboard can be painted in some contrasting color, thereby emphasizing the boundary between the floor and the walls. The most important thing here is that the color of the baseboards does not match either the wall, the floor, or the door. Either a sofa, a chandelier or a wardrobe will suit this role.

When using this solution, your interior can easily be called designer, since you yourself have thought through everything to the smallest detail. You don’t have to limit yourself by color palette—experiments won’t lead to anything bad, but often in such cases they take a basic color palette.

Advantages and disadvantages

Using white plinth in the interior has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of its use when performing interior finishing work:

  • versatility of color, which will allow it to fit into absolutely any color scheme and interior style;
  • white color visually accentuates the structure and shade of the flooring and visually expands the area of ​​the room;
  • a white border will never “overload” the interior, but will give it a feeling of lightness and weightlessness;
  • white fillet is always stylish simplicity, which is relevant at all times.

In addition, as practice and reviews show, such a plinth is very easy to install, allows cables to be laid unnoticed and has a relatively low cost

It also does not require additional processing of the external coating and can withstand all temperature changes, which is important in heated rooms depending on weather conditions

Disadvantages of using white skirting boards that must be considered before purchasing it:

  • white color, unfortunately, is impractical and very easily soiled, so if small children and pets live in the house, then it is worth considering other finishing options;
  • requires constant care;
  • To install it, only white fastenings and connections will be required.

Strengths of wide skirting boards

The following advantages are worth noting:



1.
Lots of free space inside.
It is possible to use products of increased height if the owners need to lay any communications along the floor. The high plinth cable channel accommodates even thick wires and cables. 2.
Maximum protection.
With a large width, the skirting boards also receive additional rigidity, perfectly protect the wires, and are durable and reliable. 3.
Ideal for spacious rooms.
There is a design rule: in large rooms it is better to use materials of a large format or with a large texture. And, if you install a narrow baseboard in a room with high ceilings, it will look inharmonious. But a wide baseboard is completely appropriate. 4
.
But even for miniature rooms, a high plinth is an excellent solution; visually it will not make the ceilings lower and will become a special harmonious touch. 5.
Additional camouflage. If finishing measures are not carried out perfectly, high edging will mask any flaws present in the lower part of the walls. It will also reliably hide wide gaps between the wall and the floor.

How to change the interior using wide baseboards

Wide paintable floor skirting boards (MDF, LDF, duropolymer, polyurethane) are painted to match the color of walls, floors, doors, or made in a contrasting shade that is present in the interior.

Another type is wood-look designs, with which MDF and plastic skirting boards are produced. They are usually matched identically to the flooring design.

A wide baseboard is an interesting and practical solution, so owners should think about choosing just such a product. If you use it correctly, the room will become more functional and at the same time as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

Skirting boards with a height of more than 6 cm will be appropriate in any interior. Today's assortment offers a variety of profile shapes: with ornaments, exquisite curved shapes - for classic interiors, straight shapes - for modern ones.

The author of the article is Evgeniy Viktorovich Bridsky, director of the “Floor in the House” company

Ask our expert about finishing materials. +7

Choosing the shape of the skirting boards

The shape of modern skirting boards, as well as their color, can be different, although triangular is considered classic. If there is a need to design a floor that is non-standard in terms of the floor covering used, for example, artistic mosaic, you can choose rather unusual carved skirting boards, but if we are talking about a classic, not too pretentious design of the floor structure, then it is better to give preference to triangular and or rectangular skirting boards. Moreover, the last of these options are much easier to install. If you are decorating the floor space in a room with a non-standard layout, with obstacles in the form of protruding pipes or corners, then it is better to turn to semicircular skirting boards, with the help of which it will be easier to bypass these obstacles.

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