I need help choosing size of baseboard and type of paint

12 years ago

I am soon to have my living room painted and all of the baseboards will be replaced. They are currently approx. 3 1/2 inches high, builder grade I am sure. I am thinking of increasing the size by one inch. My house is nothing fancy. We have standard 7ft ceilings.

Do you all think that is the right size to go with? Would you go up to the 5 1/2"? That seems a bit much to me, but is "the bigger the better" true in this case?

Also, I usually use semi gloss paint on trim, but was thinking the high gloss looked good in the store today. What is your preference?

Thanks for your input. :)

Featured Answer

lisa_mocha

12 years ago

I love high baseboards also...

Our ceiling are just 8ft and although I was concerned, we went with 7 1/2'' baseboards and I'm happy with them.

7''

We just finished our basement with ceilings between 7.5-8' and we went with 5'' and happy with those too.

I think you'd be fine with 5''...

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Comments (10)

nostalgicfarm
12 years ago
My baseboards are stained, not painted, but they are a 1*4 with 1/2 inch quarter round at the floor. It is a very pleasant look. Maybe adding something like quarter round would give you a fancier look than just a 1*4. Ours are original to the house, so they are also a nicer wood than builder grade. Even if I were painting, I would try to get higher quality wood, but I may just be getting snobbish. Do you have crown molding? That would be a great way to add some value to the room. Good Luck on your living room!
Just noticed...I personally wouldn't use high gloss. I use satin(for trim and paint), and prefer that.
susanlynn2012
12 years ago
My baseboards are 5" and they are an upgrade from the 3.5 builder grade. I also have quarter round due to the wood floors I replaced the carpets with. I really love them but at first I was reluctant to go so big but they are perfect for my space and really adds to the updated look. I had the painted convince me to paint them in semi-gloss but I would have preferred high gloss.
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nini804
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I love big baseboards (ours are 8" plus an almost 2" cap!) We have 10' ceilings, though, so it looks proportional. Can you get a sample from the builder of the different sizes and profiles to look at against the wall? We used oil based sem-gloss....I know a lot of people don't like oil based, but it wears like iron and looks so nice.
marrilyn
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the input so far.
Wow, lisa_mocha, those are some gorgeous baseboards! Thanks for posting. I love that cap on the top.

I will have carpeting, not hardwoods in this room. So I wouldn't use quarter round would I?
lisa_mocha
12 years ago
Hi Marilyn..Forgot to mention that we used semi-gloss paint. The cap on top is part of the baseboard profile and the shoe-mould was added because of the hardwood. With carpet, I don't think you need an extra shoe-mould or quarter-round.(What is out of proportion is the trim around the doors...we should've changed, but didn't...maybe down the road we will)

I've heard another trick is to have painted baseboard (ie. standard builder-grade, then paint (same colour as board) a little above (ie.1-2'') and then add another cap/moulding above. It will give the illusion of taller baseboard without spending the same $$. (Have not seen this done so not sure how it looks)
Laurie
12 years ago
We have 8' ceilings and used 6-1/2" baseboards. It was pre-primed MDF and we painted using semi-gloss.

Laurie
marrilyn
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh wow, laurie, those are really nice baseboards also. I would have thought those would be too big without really high ceilings, but they look great! Thanks for posting.
Michael
12 years ago
Carpeting will hide about 1/2" to 1" of baseboard giving you 4 to 4 1/2" of view when finished (if using 5"). It's not necessary to use shoe mold with carpet. If you add shoe mold on top of carpet you will reduce the view of the baseboard by 3/4", leaving only 3 3/4" of visible baseboard. Choose the height and shoe mold based on your desired finished appearance.

Make sense?
tuesday_2008
12 years ago
Go at least the 5 1/2 and don't be afraid to try 6 1/2 or 7.

I also replaced the short ranch style builder's grade a few years ago. I worried for quite a while that the 5 1/2 would be too much for my modest ranch with 8' ceilings. So glad that I went that route! I had to use shoe mold because of cracks that were showing at the end of my floors next to the wall, but I would not use it with carpet.

Brushworks pointed out that the carpet is going to reduce the view of some of your baseboard - you might want to go at least 6-1/2.

One recommendation I will make to others who might be considering shoe mold - don't do it unless you need to cover up cracks. While it does add another dimension to the trim, it also adds a very difficult piece that has to be caulked, makes painting more difficult, and is the perfect "ledge" to collect dust and lint. It also gets a lot of beating and banging from the sweeper and mops. Just my 2 cents.

Tuesday