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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

baseboard height

3 years ago

I've been online and have seen several different suggestion for the sizing of baseboards compared to the height of the walls, however my situation is that not all my rooms are of the same height. I just finished a new second story addition which includes 2 bathrooms, a family room, and 3 bedrooms. the bathrooms, hall and 2 interior bedrooms all have ceiling heights that are 8ft. tall. However the Master bedroom and family room (both 16 x 22 ft) both have barn style ceilings that are 12ft. high. I purchase a 71/4 inch baseboard sample and while it looks great in the master and family room, I'm not sure it's the right size for the rest of the upstairs. So my questions are: Can I use the larger baseboard for the hall and smaller rooms (not the bathrooms) or can I use a 5.5 inch baeboard and stay with the 71/4 in the two larger rooms. Is there a rule of thumb that you should stick with the same size of baseboard throughout?

Featured Answer

cawaps

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I'm interested to hear what the pros think, but my feeling is one baseboard height throughout. And I tend to think the size of the baseboard should be driven at least in part by the vintage of the house--older houses like my 1910 Edwardian had 9-inch baseboards, while mid-century houses often had quite minimal one (the 1960 house I grew up in had maybe 3 or 4 inch baseboards.

Edited to clarify: Older homes typically had taller baseboards, my Edwardian specifically has 9-inch baseboards. I got distracted mid-sentence and didn't write what I intended to when I finally got back to it.

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Comments (6)

carolborg
Original Author
3 years ago
My house was built in the 1920's. The main floor has beautiful light gumwood trim with the original baseboards. They were originally 8 inches high but we've had to raise the floor so that it's somewhat level to the new kitchen floor and now the baseboards are 7 inches tall on the main floor. We have 8.5 inch high ceilings on the main floor.
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Mary Elizabeth
3 years ago
There are "rules" for the right size of mouldings. And, yes, larger, "more important" rooms can have larger mouldings than smaller, less important rooms.

As long as it is all the same style, it will look fine. The larger baseboard in the rooms with higher ceilings, and the same baseboard, but say a 5 1/2" in the rooms with 8 foot ceilings, etc.

In the same way, if some of the doorways are taller, you can have a larger, more elaborate casing than you have on the 80" doors that are normally in rooms with 8' ceilings.

Here's a good article:

https://laurelberninteriors.com/2019/08/04/best-proportions-for-interior-trim-why-youre-confused/?utm_source=Laurel-Home+Blog&utm_campaign=df4da8d604-free_offer_for_existing_subscribers5_20_2014_COPY_&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1b3ab7a4f2-df4da8d604-80186901&mc_cid=df4da8d604&mc_eid=4a80de7d28
carolborg thanked Mary Elizabeth
carolborg
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Mary Elizabeth I did check out the article but didn't really see anything related to different sized baseboards in different sized rooms. That said, I do like the idea of a smaller baseboard in the hall and small rooms so I'm going to buy a sample and have a look (though I will likely go that route) 5.5 definitely won't work in the larger rooms, so mixing it up it is.
Mary Elizabeth
3 years ago
@carolborg, opps, sorry. I know I have read the "rules" regarding this somewhere.

I did a quick search. This one is very detailed, but lots of good information. Not sure how much you want to study this.

https://wilsonkelseydesign.com/blog/how-to-select-the-right-interior-trim-proportions-for-your-home/
carolborg
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Mary Elizabeth. I read the whole thing. I’ll definitely be putting the higher boards in the two end rooms and the shorter in the rest. Thanks again for taking the time. I really appreciate it!

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