23rd July 2026
Painting your skirting boards is a great way to refresh your space. You may be surprised that a simple lick of paint can completely transform a room, making it look tidier, more polished, and elevated. This guide carefully explains exactly how to paint your skirting boards, covering everything from preparation right through to which kind of paint you should choose. Of course, if you’re looking to buy new skirting boards, be sure to check out our range, and opt for unfinished skirting if you wish to paint it a colour of your choosing. Read on to explore our easy step-by-step guide.
Table of contents
- What paint to use on skirting boards
- How to prepare skirting boards for painting
- How to paint skirting boards
- How to paint skirting boards with carpet
- How to gloss skirting boards
- FAQs
- Final thoughts
What paint to use on skirting boards
Skirting boards are considered ‘high traffic areas’, meaning they are more prone to wear and tear than other areas of your home, particularly if they are downstairs, or in communal rooms. Because they run around the edge of the room, they are more likely to be scuffed or worn by hoovering, children or pets playing, and doors swinging into them.
For this reason, we don’t recommend using standard, emulsion paint, but instead choosing from satinwood, eggshell, or gloss. Check out the table below to see which paint type is best suited to your needs.
| Satinwood | Eggshell | Gloss | |
| Sheen | Medium, around 40% | Lowest sheen, around 15% | High shine |
| Durability | Hard-wearing | Hard-wearing | Extremely hard-wearing |
| Washable? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Undercoat required? | Yes for bare wood, no for pre-painted skirting | Yes for bare wood, no for pre-painted skirting | Yes for both bare wood and pre-painted skirting |
| Extra benefits | Least likely to yellow; modern look; works well in high-traffic households | Best at hiding imperfections in wood; very smooth and even application | Most durable and best for areas prone to wear and tear; easiest to wipe down |
Oil-based vs water-based paint: which should you use on skirting boards
Water-based paint is now the modern, more favourable of the two. This is because although oil-based paint is extremely tough, it tends to yellow very quickly, and you’ll end up having to repaint your skirting boards every few months.
How to paint skirting boards with carpet
Before moving on to the preparation step below, you will need to take extra care if you have carpets that are already laid. This is important as the carpet is so close to the area you will be painting, and removing paint from carpets is much more difficult than bare flooring, tiles, or laminate. Ensure you have the following to be as precautious as possible:
- No residue carpet tape
- Large waterproof floor covering
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
For carpets, you want to be much more precise when it comes to sticking down your floor covering. You may want to measure and cut it so that it will neatly fit in each area you are working on.
TIP: Don’t just roughly or loosely fold the floor covering and tape it. Even with several layers of tape, the covering can bunch up in one area and pull away from another, loosening the tape and exposing the carpet underneath.
Take the time to measure, cut, and neatly stick down your floor protector right up to where the carpet meets the skirting. Secure it with no-residue carpet tape to reduce the risk of adhesive stains.
How to prepare skirting boards for painting
Although it may seem like a small step, preparing your skirting for painting is essential. This is because it removes dirt, grime, and dust, meaning you can apply the paint evenly. It will also ensure that once the paint is dry, it is less likely to peel or crack.
You will need:
- Dust sheet
- Frog tape or masking tape
- Damp microfibre cloth
- Sand paper
- Vacuum cleaner
Method:
- Start by using a floor protector such as a dust sheet and secure it to the edge of your flooring, where it meets the skirting boards. Use either masking or frog tape to do this. Make sure you are as neat as possible and that the entire floor is covered – painting a small area can be messier than expected! Use several layers of tape if necessary to make sure it is secure.
- Using a damp cloth, wipe the skirting, making sure you remove any dirt or grime. Don’t worry about harsh stains, you can sort that out later on.
- Make sure your skirting boards are fully dry before moving on to the next steps.
- Using your sandpaper, lightly sand the skirting boards. Take this opportunity to sand down any lumps and bumps.
- Vacuum away any excess dust and debris.
How to paint skirting boards
Now you’ve prepared your surface, it’s time to move on to the main event. If you’re painting over pre-painted skirting boards, the undercoat step is optional but will give you that brand-new, even, polished finish. Follow steps 1 and 2 closely if you’re wondering how to repaint skirting boards.
You will need:
- Paint stripper
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Shaving hook
- Paint scraper
- Damp microfibre cloth
- Sandpaper
- Small, angled synthetic paintbrush x4
- Stain block primer
- Undercoat of your choice
- Satinwood, eggshell, or gloss paint
Method:
- If you’re working on pre-painted skirting boards, start by removing the existing paint. This step is only necessary if there are significant layers of paint already on your skirting. Put on your gloves and face mask, and apply one layer of paint stripper using one of your paintbrushes. Use the manufacturer’s guidelines on how long to wait before scraping.
- Use your shaving hook to scrape off the paint at any curved edges or crevices, and the paint scraper for the flat edge of the skirting. You only need to remove one layer of paint.
- Use your sandpaper to gently smooth, then wipe away the debris and clean the skirting using your cloth.
- If your skirting has any stains or wood knots that you’d like to even out, use a brush to apply stain block primer to these areas and wait for it to dry.
- Once the stain block primer is dry, it’s time to go on with your undercoat. Apply a single layer using one of the paintbrushes.
- Once your undercoat is dry, apply 1-2 coats of a paint of your choice. The angled paintbrush will help with cutting in, giving you an even, precise finish.
How to gloss skirting boards
You can repaint your skirting boards entirely using a paint with a gloss finish, but did you know you can give them a simple re-vamp with a gloss top coat?
If your current skirting boards don’t need to be completely repainted, we suggest using a clear wood varnish on bare wood or water-based clear acrylic lacquer for pre-painted skirting boards. These coatings will protect your skirting from additional wear and tear while making them look neat and finished. If you’re glossing over existing gloss or bare wood, just make sure you sand the skirting boards first, and wipe away the debris.
FAQs
Should you paint skirting boards before walls?
You should paint your skirting boards after you paint your walls, as the last step. This is so that you don’t risk any wet paint from the walls dripping onto your freshly applied skirting paint. Just make sure that your wall paint is fully dry before painting your skirting boards, and use frog tape along the edge of where the wall meets the skirting to create a barrier, especially if you are painting your skirting boards a different colour to your walls.
Can you paint skirting boards with emulsion?
No, we do not recommend painting skirting boards with emulsion paint. This is because emulsion isn’t as durable as satinwood, eggshell, or gloss paint, so it is more likely to chip and crack from general wear and tear. Because your skirting boards are close to the floor, they are more susceptible to damage so require the proper paint to help maintain them. Check out our guide on how to maintain, clean, and fix skirting boards here.
What is the best paint finish for skirting boards?
Either satinwood, eggshell, or gloss paint is best for skirting boards. This is because they are much more durable than emulsion paint, and you can choose how shiny you’d like your skirting to be. Eggshell has the lowest sheen with a more modern finish; satinwood has a medium sheen, and gloss is very shiny and provides more of a traditional finish.
Can you paint skirting boards without sanding?
You should always sand your skirting boards before painting them. It gets rid of any uneven patches or oil marks on the surface, and provides a smooth, uniform finish. It is a key step in making your painted skirting boards have a professionally finished look. Even if your skirting boards are made from unfinished wood, you should still lightly sand them, as imperfections are still possible from the manufacturing process. Sometimes invisible stains such as oil marks will show up once the paint goes on, so it is always best practice to sand your skirting boards first.
How do you stop paint getting on carpet?
Using a waterproof dustsheet or floor protector is best. Secure it to the carpet using a non-residue tape, and cut the floor protector to fit the shape of your room if you can, to prevent bunching and tension which can cause the tape to lift at certain points. Take time to lay your dustsheet properly.
Final thoughts
The key takeaway of this guide is that when it comes to painting your skirting boards, the importance is in the preparation. Going on directly with paint will cause the finish to be uneven, so it’s less about the painting technique and more about the steps that come before. Make sure you consider:
- Whether you need to remove existing paint
- If your skirting boards are bare wood
- Always sand and clean before coating
- Whether you need an undercoat or stain block primer
- What type of paint you will use for your desired finish
When you take these things into account, you’ll be able to confidently paint your skirting boards to a level that a professional would be proud of.
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