If you want a uniform colour from ceiling to floor, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask “can you paint skirting boards with wall paint?”
After all, chances are, you’ll have some emulsion leftover and applying it to your skirting boards shouldn’t be a problem…right?
Well, that’s what we’re going to be answering in today’s article.
Can You Paint Skirting Boards With Wall Paint?
You can use leftover wall paint to paint skirting boards but it will leave your skirting boards prone to chips and scratches. For an attractive yet hardwearing finish, we would recommend using satinwood on your skirting boards instead.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Emulsion On Skirting Boards?
Emulsion is specifically formulated for use on walls and thus has a tough time keying to wooden surfaces like skirting boards without priming and lots of preparation. Furthermore, once the emulsion has cured (or solidified) it isn’t hardwearing and will be prone to chipping if knocked by vacuum cleaners for example.
You’ll also have to contend with the fact that it will take plenty of coats in order to get a satisfying and opaque finish, especially if your skirting boards are made out of MDF. The reason for this is that MDF is hygroscopic which essentially means it will absorb the moisture from the emulsion. Without extra coats, this will usually result in a patchy finish.
For more information on painting emulsion on MDF, you can click here.
Final Thoughts
If you want to go for a uniform colour from ceiling to floor, our advice would be to go with emulsion for your walls then a satinwood for your skirting boards. If you want both paints to be the exact same colour, you can visit most decorating centres in the UK who will be happy to colour match for you. This means you’ll get your uniform colour but provide your skirting boards with much needed protection.