How to Paint Skirting Boards

Refreshing woodwork is a simple and effective way of updating an existing scheme. Often, skirting boards are painted in a neutral or white shade out of habit. However, their small proportion means skirting boards provide the perfect opportunity to add a little colour, without overwhelming a space.

Choose your skirting board colour | Best skirting board paint finishes | How to paint skirting boards

Step one: Choose your skirting board colour

Skirting boards provide a variety of options to elevate an interior scheme, depending on the colour you choose. Explore three simple ways you can select colours for your skirting boards: colour drenching, contrasting colours or white/neutral.

For more skirting board paint colour ideas, explore our inspiring colour combinations.

Colour drenching

One of the simplest ways to decorate your skirting boards is with colour drenching. Painting your walls, woodwork, skirting boards, doors and more in the same colour will create a beautiful, all-over backdrop.

Contrasting colour

Introducing a contrasting shade on your skirting boards is a great way to accentuate this part of your space and create a fun design detail. On our individual colour pages, you can explore bold, coordinating shades to pair with your chosen wall colour.

White or neutral

For a more classic look, you can certainly paint your skirting boards in an elegant neutral or off-white. We recommend selecting a complementary white or neutral to create a softer finish than with brilliant white.

Step two: Choose a paint finish for skirting boards

Selecting the best paint for skirting boards is crucial for ensuring a beautiful result. We recommend the following finishes for skirting boards.

Intelligent Satin

Intelligent Satin is a durable, water based paint that’s ideal for interior woodwork. Our satin sheen finish is specially formulated to withstand the many knocks delivered to wooden furniture and high-traffic surfaces in the home.

Thanks to Intelligent Grip™ technology, you can now paint directly onto bare and unpainted, wooden skirting boards with no need for a separate primer. Intelligent Satin offers the durability of a traditional paint, but with a sophisticated low sheen level of 30-35%.

Discover our full palette of colours in Intelligent Satin

Intelligent Eggshell

Formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear, Intelligent Eggshell is ideal for kickboards around the home. Our self-priming Intelligent Eggshell paint provides a tough, fully-washable finish, with no primer required.

Choose Intelligent Eggshell if you’d prefer a lower sheen in your chosen colour. With a 10-15% gloss level, Intelligent Eggshell provides a very subtle contrast to accompany matt walls.

Explore our range of colours available in Intelligent Eggshell

Intelligent Gloss

For sophisticated gloss skirting boards that are tough, washable and distinctive, choose our Intelligent Gloss finish. Choose Intelligent Gloss for skirting boards in rooms that need regular cleaning. This finish is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms in particular.

For more information, explore our Intelligent Gloss page

Traditional Oil Gloss

For a traditional look, choose an oil-based gloss paint finish. Extremely hard-wearing and high-sheen, Traditional Oil Gloss reflects a lot of light. This finish is ideal for skirting boards that make a bold statement.

Discover the full benefits of our Traditional Oil Gloss finish

Step three: Begin painting - How to paint skirting boards

We would recommend following the below steps when painting your skirting boards to ensure the best results. The same instructions also apply for painting architraves, interior doors, panelling and architectural features such as dado rails and picture rails.

How to prepare skirting boards for painting

Ensure you clean the skirting boards before painting because woodwork tends to attract more dirt than walls. Use a small amount of detergent and wet ‘n’ dry abrasive paper to clean and sand the surface at the same time.
Protect the floor with newspaper or cardboard, using masking tape to secure it at the edges. Whether you’re painting skirting boards with carpet or hard floors, a secure protective layer is vital.
Remove any old flaking paint. Fill any surface abrasions and sand them to a smooth finish. The paint will provide a beautiful finish, but it isn’t capable of concealing cracks and holes.
Sand any previously painted woodwork that’s still in good condition to allow the new paint to adhere properly. Sanding is particularly important for glossy finishes. If the surface is consistent, no other undercoats should be required. Otherwise apply one coat of Little Greene Intelligent ASP (All Surface Primer).

How to apply paint to skirting boards

Use a small brush to apply paint at the extremities of the surface and into any intricate mouldings. Take care not to let the paint pool in crevices where it will slowly sag or drip while it dries.
Cover larger areas efficiently with a small foam roller or a bigger brush, depending on scale. An effective way of painting woodwork is to use a roller to apply the paint, then go over it with a brush while the paint is still wet. This smooths out any texture left by the roller and achieves a professional appearance.

Essentials for painting skirting boards

Painting your skirting boards comes in three stages: choosing a colour, choosing a paint finish, and finally, painting.

Explore our inspiring wall and skirting colour combinations to find ideas for your project. Carefully considering your colour choices will help you design a sophisticated scheme, whether you select a classic neutral or a bold colour contrast.

Our hard-wearing, self-priming Intelligent Paints are perfect for painting woodwork and skirting boards. They bring beautiful, durable colour to wooden skirting boards, with no need to prime beforehand. Choose from Intelligent Eggshell, Satin or Gloss, depending on your preferred sheen level.

When it comes to painting, it’s important to prepare the surface properly to achieve a smooth finish. Ensure the surface is in good condition before applying your paint.

Explore our wood paint finishes in more detail before choosing the best skirting board paint for your project.

Browse our image gallery for more room and colour inspiration.