Should You Paint Walls or Skirting Boards First?
The best practice is:
1. Paint the Walls First
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Start with the walls because they cover the largest area.
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It’s much easier to cut-in neatly along the top of the skirting boards later, rather than trying to protect freshly painted skirting while doing the walls.
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If paint drips onto the skirting, it can be sanded lightly and covered later when painting the trim.
2. Paint the Skirting Boards After
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Once the wall paint has dried, tape the bottom edge of the wall with painter’s tape.
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Then paint the skirting boards carefully.
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This gives a sharp, clean line between the wall and trim.
🎨 Professional Painting Sequence
When painting a full room (walls, ceilings, trim), professionals usually follow this order:
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Ceiling (if needed)
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Walls
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Skirting boards / trim / doors / frames
This way, any drips from ceiling or wall paint can be cleaned up and covered when finishing the trim.
🛠️ Pro Tips for Neat Results
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Always use painter’s tape on edges for crisp lines.
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For skirting, use a small angled brush to get precise edges.
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Apply at least two coats of paint for both walls and skirting.
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Let each coat dry fully before moving on.