Whether you choose glossy white or a modern matt to match your walls, repainting your skirting boards can be the perfect, cost-effective way to spruce up a room. But if you’re trying to cover up chipped paintwork or painting bare wood, how can you make sure of a perfect finish? We asked our expert decorators for a little step-by-step advice…
Step by step: how to paint skirting boards and trim
Woodwork: it’s the job that most DIY decorators dread. But with a few simple pointers from the pros – whether it’s which order to paint in, easy ways to prep or how to cut in – you can lick this tricky task into shape.
You'll need
- Dust sheets
- Masking tape
- Sugar soap and sponge or cloth
- Fine sandpaper
- Primer/undercoat/wood knotting solution (for bare wood)
- 2” paint brush
- 4” mini roller (optional)
- Paint
Step 1: Prepare the room
Move furniture into the middle of the room and cover with dust sheets so you have space to work. Run masking tape along the floor as close to the skirting board as possible to prevent splashes. Alternatively, tuck newspaper, cardboard or dust sheets under the skirting board if there’s enough of a gap.
Step 2: Prepare the skirting
Already painted or natural wood? Pre-painted boards will need less attention than bare wood but don’t be tempted to do nothing at all. It’s worth a bit of graft at the start to ensure a good finish later. Can you paint over gloss? Yes, if you prep the skirting carefully, but it’s best to avoid emulsion (see below).
Painted Boards
- Go over the skirting with fine sandpaper to help new paint go on properly, particularly if the existing paintwork is badly chipped or is gloss.
- (Even if your pre-painted skirting boards are in good condition, it’s still worth giving them a light sand, then priming for the best finish.)
- Vacuum and then wipe with a damp cloth to make sure you get rid of all the dust.
Top tip: While you can get away without an undercoat on pre-painted boards, it will give a much better finish, especially if you’re covering up a dark colour with a light one.
Bare wood boards
- Depending on the quality of the wood, some boards can benefit from a good sanding at the start to remove lumps and bumps. If there are dark spots or knots in the wood, apply a knotting solution to make sure they don’t show through.
- Apply primer and undercoat. You can speed up the process by using an all-in-one solution, such as our water-based quick drying primer and undercoat. Leave to dry.
- Sand, clean and dry the surface again to ensure a smooth finish.
Top tip: It’s also a good idea to sand primed MDF skirting boards to help with top-coat application.
Step 3: Paint
Choose your product
When buying paint, think about the look you want but also how long it will last. Skirtings are bound to get scuffed, so you need something durable and easy to clean. Most people go for gloss as it’s wipeable and hardwearing but if you’re after a more matt effect, choose a satin finish.
Can you use normal emulsion over gloss?
It’s best not to as it won’t take well, even after sanding. Emulsion is also not ideal on a surface that will mark easily, like a skirting board. Try an acrylic eggshell instead, for a stain-resistant, low-sheen finish, or a specially formulated emulsion paint that’s suitable for walls and wood, like the ELLE Decoration by Crown, easyclean®️ matt or CRAFTED™ by Crown. Take a look at our range of paints for woodwork.
For natural-look skirting boards, try a wood stain or varnish that will show off the wood and protect the surface.
Get painting!
- If you’re decorating a whole room, the rule of thumb is to paint top down, so leave the skirtings until last. If you’re hanging wallpaper, however, do the skirtings first.
- Want to know how to cut in? Simply apply paint first to the top of the skirting board where it meets the wall. Glide the brush on its edge at a 45-degree angle in long, smooth strokes, following the grain of the wood (read our How to cut in paint article for more info).
- Paint the rest of the skirting board with a brush or small roller and, when you’ve finished a section, check the coverage. If there are drips, run your brush over them to create an even finish.
- Once the first coat is dry, lightly sand, remove dust and paint again. Two coats should do it.
- Remove the masking tape while the paint is still wet, pulling it off slowly at an angle.
Step 4: Finishing the job
- Clean your rollers and brushes thoroughly (find more cleaning tips in our dedicated advice article)
- Admire your gleaming new skirting!
