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Interior Design vocabulary · Materials & Finishes

Skirting board

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˈskɜːtɪŋ bɔːd/nounCommon term

In interior design, skirting board means: A narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall where it meets the floor, protecting the wall and hiding the joint.

In Turkish: süpürgelik

How it is used

British English says skirting board or just skirting; American English says baseboard. Designers choose its height, profile and finish; in minimalist interiors it may be recessed with a shadow gap or replaced by a flush detail.

Example sentences

  1. Paint the skirting boards the same colour as the walls to make the room feel taller.

  2. In the old house we're matching the new skirting board to the original Victorian profile.

Common collocations

  • painted skirting board
  • skirting board height
  • recessed skirting
  • MDF skirting
  • sheenHow much light a painted or finished surface reflects, from flat or matt with almost no shine, through eggshell and satin, up to gloss.
  • finishThe final surface of a material, or the material used on a visible surface, such as paint, tiles, wood stain or polished stone; also how that surface looks, for example matt or glossy.
  • MDFShort for medium-density fibreboard: a smooth, stable board made from wood fibres and resin, used for cabinets, shelves, panelling and painted furniture.
  • joineryFitted woodwork made for a specific space, such as built-in wardrobes, shelving, kitchen units, panelling and doors, and the craft of making it.

More terms: Materials & Finishes

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