Author: Skirting Online

Bedroom Office: Style Guide

Looking for bedroom office ideas? Want to make the most of space and combine a sleeping space with a work space, all into one? Then here’s our very first Style Guide for how to create a Bedroom Office – including, what you need from us!

This style guide features a fun, contemporary Bedroom Office!

It’s compact, space efficient and pretty quirky. So how do you re-create a Bedroom Office like this one?

Well, first up, we’ll run through our matching products – to ensure you’re getting the look you want when it comes to your skirting and architrave. This is the base of the room remember – the blank canvas you’re building on, so it’s pretty important!

After that, we’ll look at some of the design features that make this office bedroom so cool.

Sounds good? Alright then. Let’s jump straight in! From us, you’d need:

1) Mini Bullnose Skirting

When it comes to setting the scene, we see no greater skirting fit than the Mini Bullnose. It comes from its “Father” – the Standard Bullnose Skirting. (Another popular choice.)

Bullnose has a simple design with just a small radius as the feature. We reduce this further with Mini Bullnose to create a tighter curve, that works perfectly with the blocky, modern style of this room!

It’s also space efficient and fits the proportions of a smaller bedroom office.

Click here to shop, or here to grab a free sample to see for yourself at home!

2) Mini Bullnose Architrave

You then match this with the Mini Bullnose Architrave. This goes around door frames. You may also have windows you need to feature, so this will do the job around that! Click here for full details on this one.

3) Bullnose Window Boards

Last but not least, we have the Bullnose Window Boards to complete the set… slick or what?! Click here to shop.

Fancy Something Simpler?

If you were looking for something slightly different we also have our Square Skirting and Square Architrave.

These are actually our cheapest profiles available, as they are simple, with no detail, but they’re perfect for a bedroom office like this!

Design Features of the Office Bedroom

So what other features do we have which make this bedroom office so great? Well, stating the obvious – the fact that it’s both somewhere you can work and sleep!

This Office Bedroom in particular makes full use of space, with clever storage units, under-bed draws, boxed wall cabinets, open shelving. Even the bed block is there to not only elevate the bed, but also become part of the table leg. It’s clever little elements like this that add real character.

Now, you probably wouldn’t have this as your main bedroom (although it would work great for inner-city locations where space is short.) However, it is the perfect way to add an extra bedroom in for guests… whilst still ensuring that the room that won’t get wasted 90% of the time when there’s no-one over to stay! It’s multi-purpose, but due to the design – it works!

We especially love the stylish chair and painted feature walls. If you wanted to paint the skirting to blend in with these walls for a seamless design, click here for this quick guide. It guides you through the best paints to use, and the fastest, most effective process!

What’s your favourite feature of this bedroom office? And what will you take away to incorporate in yours? We’d love to hear! Share this on socials and let us know!

What are Plinth Blocks? Why might you use them?

What are plinth blocks, what are the benefits of plinth blocks, how do you install them and what size should you choose? If you’ve got any of these burning questions, then you’ve come to the right place, as in this post – we’re going to run through all of that and more. So, you ready? Alright then, let’s start from the top…

What Are Plinth Blocks?

Plinth blocks (also commonly referred to as skirting blocks) sit at the bottom of the architrave and to the side of the skirting board, positioned around a door frame. They are generally used with tall skirting boards, complemented with Rosettes – which are are used with wide architraves at the top of the door frame. They work great in traditional homes.

The Benefits of Plinth Blocks:

1) So first off, plinth blocks look great. They’re a design feature, a decorative touch that make your skirting boards and architrave really stand out. We have a nice selection, from edge to square to chamfer. You can therefore use them to complement your skirting and architrave design choices and tie it altogether.

2) Plinth blocks are also great for practical purposes. They smooth the transition between the skirting and architrave and enable the two to sit more flush. This is especially necessary in older homes, where the walls are often a little uneven. This can cause alignment issues which the plinth blocks then fix.

3) Similarly, plinth blocks are particularly useful when working with more complex profile designs. They help to eliminate the need to make difficult cuts, making the join smoother and more elegant.

The Handyman’s Daughter demonstrated that perfectly (before and after photos below)- see the joining issue and how easily it was then fixed?

4) They therefore save you a lot of time and stress, plus make your skirting and architrave easier to fit – reducing your need for external help (perfect for home renovators or hands-on property developers!)

5) Last but not least, plinth blocks FIX any problems you may be having! If you’re worried about profile dimensions, plinth blocks create consistency. By selecting them slightly larger – it doesn’t actually matter what skirting and architrave dimensions you work with. The plinth block will cover up any misalignments. Crafty huh?

What Size Plinth Block Do You Need?

When ordering your plinth blocks, you need to consider whether you want them the same size as your skirting and architrave or bigger. Plinth blocks are never smaller (of course) so this narrows down the options there.

If you want to go for the same size, you simply match it to your skirting and architrave dimensions. Most people tend to go for bigger, so to make things nice and simple – we recommend choosing the height and width option that is the next one up from your skirting and architrave.

We can actually do any size you require, so if you’re unsure or can’t see what you need – please don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email. We’re more than happy to help.

So that’s the height and width out the way, but what about the thickness? Well, you’ll have four different options for this: 15mm, 18mm, 25mm or 30mm. Again, our recommendation is to go for the next one up from your skirting. 

So for example – if you order 18mm thick skirting boards and architraves, we would recommend using the 25mm thick Plinth Blocks. This will prevent the skirting boards and architraves from protruding over the design of the Plinth Block. The larger sizes are therefore the most popular. Remember, just like rosettes, plinth blocks are a statement piece.

Quick tip: when making your order, always go for the primed finish. This will save you time as you won’t need to prime them yourself. It also looks far better and lasts longer. (Win, win!)

How To Fit Plinth Blocks:

When it comes to how to fit them, we highly recommend you have a quick read of our guides on how to fit skirting and how to fit architrave first – as these will all be done at the same time, tied in together. Just like the architrave, you want to position plinth blocks approximately 5mm from the doorway to better protect it. The plinth block is then generally placed flush with the door frame so that the architrave runs into the plinth centrally.

To secure it against the wall then, it’s actually very simple. Just use an adhesive on the back of the plinth block, hold firmly in position at the base of the door frame and use a nail gun to place 2 pins through the face of the plinth block to properly secure it in position. After that, you’re all set and can continue the process, fitting your skirting and architrave into place from there!

So There We Have It! That should cover pretty much everything you need to know about our trusty plinth blocks at this stage. If you have any additional questions, be sure to give us a shout. If not, you can start browsing our profiles and add them to you order here.

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Sufficiently convinced?

If you have any additional questions or would like help with your order, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout on 0121 824 3981

What Is Dado Rail? & Why Is It Back In Fashion?

Welcome to the world of dado rails! In this post, we’d like to answer not only, “what is dado rail?” but also why dado rail is back in fashion and how you can incorporate it into your home. See, we have a real soft spot for dado rail. It’s a clever design element that can add real depth and detail. So let’s jump straight in…

What Is Dado Rail?

A dado rail is a type of moulding fixed horizontally to the wall around the perimeter of a room. It sits lower down than picture rail – usually at around 36 inches or 900 mm. See the purpose of the dado today is mainly aesthetic – it looks good essentially, and can be used as a clever interior design feature.

It did used to serve a more practical purpose – and still has the capacity for that today. See, traditionally, dado rail was used to protect walls from furniture. They were otherwise known as chair rails, as they were installed on the wall at the height of the top of a chair, so that the furniture wouldn’t damage the plaster, paintwork or wallpaper.

You’ll therefore often see them in environments where the wall are subject to a lot of wear and tear – like in doctors or hospitals for example. In such cases the height of the rail is often 1200 mm or even 1500 mm from the floor. So it’s flexible depending on why you are buying dado rail.
In most cases however, dado rails have become more of a design feature than a functional moulding. But – it’s always good to know it’s multi-purpose!

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Sufficiently convinced?

If you have any additional questions or would like help with your order, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout on 0121 824 3981

What is | Skirting & Architrave

It’s time to go back to basics! If you’re wondering, “what is skirting and architrave?” then you’ve come to the right place. See, we’re your skirting board SPECIALISTS. So let’s clear up what exactly they are, where they go, the key differences and how you pick the designs that are right for you. Sounds good? Then let’s jump straight in…

So what exactly is Skirting and Architrave?

So first off, we have our trusty skirting! Skirting fits around the perimeter of a room, fixed to the bottom of the wall, in line with the floor. It’s the junction between the plastered wall and the floor. It acts as protection for the wall and covers the weaker plaster at the base of it, strengthening the overall structure.

Forget any scuffs, dents, abrasion or knocks! The skirting takes the hit with far less (if any) visible damage. Practically, it is therefore a godsend, but visually it also makes a room look far better too.See, skirting hides unsightly wall or floor edges. It can also cover up wires and cables when you utilise a clever little rebate! And today – particularly with all the different design options – skirting is becoming pretty stylish.

So What’s the Difference Between Skirting and Architrave?

Well, the two certainly have similarities, but – where skirting goes on the floor – architrave is fitted around the edges of structures, like doors or windows. It covers up the plaster and seal whilst also making the features stand out a little more.

You will often have skirting and architrave meeting, however they’re not the same thing. The architrave is usually thinner than the skirting, although it’s common to match the design.

Do They Both Have To Match?

Well, this ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference. Most people like to match their skirting and architrave exactly. Otherwise it’s like putting cream shorts with a white shirt, right? They wouldn’t typically go together.

But it’s not just about colours. You might have different designs, different profiles, and the great thing about that, is you can mix and match.

See you can very easily have different profile styles that work well together, and features that complement each other, even if they aren’t exactly the same design.

With Skirting Online, we encourage your creativity. You can order free samples, see the skirting and architrave in your own home, and ensure you’re definitely getting the best fit.

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Sufficiently convinced?

If you have any additional questions or would like help with your order, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout on 0121 824 3981

The Benefits | MDF Skirting Boards

When deciding which type of skirting board to order, you may be wondering about the benefits of MDF skirting boards over wood.

Why is MDF such a popular choice? Well, let’s take a look…

Here we’re going to break down our top 10 benefits of MDF skirting boards. 

1) They Look Like Wood

So first off, MDF skirting LOOKS like wood, because it is actually an engineered wood-based sheet material. It’s made out of recycled wooden fibres (amongst other things) – so it’s actually very similar anyway. Most people tend to vouch for the crisp, clean, white skirting. However, both paint and stain can be finished with a gloss coat to make the MDF look like high-end wood, if preferred, so you really don’t ever have to compromise.

2) They’re Made of Strong Stuff

MDF skirting boards also last longer than wooden ones. “WHY?” You might ask? Because of how they’re produced. See, MDF is formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into fine particles, combining it with wax and a resin binder and applying high temperature and pressure. This modern engineering method makes them denser, stronger and more durable.

3) They Don’t Crack Or Expand

One of the problems with wooden skirting is, it can often expand, crack and warp. This means it’s not as sturdy or long-lasting. You don’t get this so much with MDF however – not only because of the the material is naturally made, but the coating we put on our skirting tends to help too! This means you get better-than-wood-quality skirting, that looks just like the real deal too!

4) They’re More Dent-Proof

Another great thing about MDF skirting boards are they’re more difficult to dent! See, with hardwood, even a bounced baseball knocking the sides, or (more commonly) a hoover hitting continuously, can cause a fair bit of damage. You don’t want to have to worry about that, but with MDF… you don’t have to! It’s hoover proof, kid proof and all-round life proof (PHEW!)

5) They’re Versatile

With MDF skirting boards, you also have more flexibility with what you do design wise. The consistency and smoothness of MDF allow for easy cutting of detailed designs (such as scrolled or scalloped designs) using a scroll saw, band saw or jigsaw. 

And sure, there’s heaps heaps of profile styles when it comes to wooden skirting too, but with MDF skirting – you can see the intricate details in the profile far easier. It therefore becomes more more of a design feature within your room. (Here, click on through to our style guides for inspiration!)

6) They’re Easier To Paint

Half way there and the benefits of MDF skirting boards keep on coming! What’s next? Well, the ease of which you can PAINT! That’s right, if you want freshen up your room or completely change the style with a new colour scheme (blending the skirting into that too) then MDF is by far your best bet!

See the absence of natural imperfections (like little knots and splinters) make MDF a much easier material to paint. MDF skirting boards also look cleaner and crisper once painted. Click here for our guide on how to paint MDF skirting.

7) They’re Water Resistant 

So here’s one you may not have known about! See, with modern technology, MDF skirting boards are now water and moist resistant. This means you can even use them in bathrooms and they’ll be A-Okay. (That’s right, there’s no need to stress about steamy showers!)

Here at Skirting Online, we use the very best MDF we can source, plus our undercoating / priming adds even more protection. This makes your job far easier, and means you can kit out your entire home with skirting – all in one go. Yup, we’ve got you covered!

8) You Can Get Them In Any Size You Need

MDF skirting boards come in large sheets, with a variety of different sizes. You have two different options for length and depth, then a whole range of height options for how far you want it up the wall. We can even do bespoke if you need… Talking of which, there’s then matching Dado Rails, if you want them within the wall too. Handy huh?!

When it comes to then fitting your skirting boards in your home, you can quickly achieve tight seams between cuts with MDF – which makes it the perfect material when creating interior or exterior corner joins.

9) You Can Also Get Them As Fast As You Need

MDF skirting is not only easier to work with, but faster to get too. With us, we offer super express delivery – which means you can order and get your skirting boards as soon as the next day (no matter how much you need!) 

10) They’re Cheap 

Last but not least then, there’s the price. What if we told you, you could get all of these benefits, and for LESS of a cost?! Well, my friends, it’s true! MDF skirting boards are far cheaper than wooden skirting boards – both solid wood and plywood. And like we said, they really do look great too. That’s why MDF skirting boards are such a popular option nation-wide.

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Sufficiently convinced?

Alright then! Click here to have a mooch through our skirting, architrave, dado, blocks and rosettes. Happy Browsing!

If you have any additional questions or would like help with your order, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout on 0121 824 3981 You can also grab a FREE sample and see the quality of our MDF skirting boards with your own eyes – so plenty of options, huh?