There’s a baseboard style for every taste, but the top trend right now is for high ones that draw the eye around the room without stealing the spotlight. Want to learn more? We’ve got some tips to help you add this crucial finishing detail to your own home!
Baseboards create a smooth transition between the floor and the walls. They also serve several other purposes. Not only do they conceal joints, they also protect your walls from dirt, moisture and scuffs (from furniture, vacuum cleaners, brooms, etc.). They also hide sloppy paint edges, prevent carpets and linoleum from curling along the base of the wall, hide electrical wiring and help make a house more energyefficient by blocking potential drafts (especially for outsidefacing walls). But baseboards aren’t just about functional practicality. They can also really tie a room together—especially when you dare to go for XXL!
(Image credit: Lotta Agaton)
Working high baseboards into your design scheme
Don’t choose your baseboards without considering the height of the room, because the size of the baseboards will affect how big the space feels. Higher baseboards make a wall seem slightly shorter, but wider, than it actually is. That means that if your ceiling is very low, it’s better to go for narrower, more subtle baseboards, which will make your walls look longer. Also, remember that baseboards draw the eye toward the floor, so make sure to pick a model that works well with your flooring.
(Image credit: Mies PR)
Check out our wide selection here, and find baseboards and other moulding that suit your style, your space and your taste.
Play with style to create different effects
High baseboards on their own have strong visual impact, but you can also change the effect by playing with thickness, shape and relief. For years, it was common to see baseboards with a rounded decorative element. These days, people use all kinds of baseboards (wide or narrow, rounded or flat, smooth or ornamented) to set off different styles. Make sure your choice nicely compliments your home’s decor. For example, simple, clean, straight baseboards pair well with minimalist styles. In a more Victorianstyle home, though, wide baseboards with more ornamentation will be a better match for their surroundings.
(Image credit: Ashe_leandro)
Remember: To look right, frames should be as thick as or thicker than baseboards.
Have fun with colour
Why not go for something colourful? You can paint your baseboards in a darker shade than the walls for a fun contrast, go for a daring colour to add depth to your decor (green, dark blue or black, for example), or even go for twotone baseboards—and more! Darker colours help bring out the details of the moulding and give a beautifully modern touch to a room.
Pale shades, on the other hand, create a delicate contrast and a wonderfully soft effect that works very well in rooms you like to relax in. Moulding can also be painted the same colour as the walls, creating a toneontone effect that makes the walls look taller. If you want the colour on your walls to be the star of the show, try painting your baseboards in a pale neutral shade. Wooden baseboards with a natural finish (in, say, pine or yellow birch) are another great way to make a room look warm and cozy.
(Image credit: Alexandre white)
Found some baseboards you love? Next step: watch our video on putting up moulding and you can install them like a pro!