According to a real estate professional survey by Metrie, 97% of respondents indicate that moldings and trim increase house value. Furthermore, 62% of respondents consider trimming the most crucial factor in a home's aesthetic appeal.
If your current trim and/or baseboards are poorly installed or damaged, it creates the appearance of the “old and cheap” look. Clean, sleek trim could improve your home's value and by upgrading it will help you sell your home faster and possibly, for more money.
For homeowners that are looking for ways to increase the value of their homes, trim is an often-overlooked detail that can make your home's value soar. But, how do you know when it's time to replace your trim? You will definitely want to plan to replace moldings that have been damaged over the years.
Though they may seem like a minor design element, baseboards are an important feature that deserve your attention. Not only do they add visual depth to rooms and help anchor walls, but baseboards can also protect fragile finishes, like wallpaper, from damage when moving furniture or cleaning floors.
If you're looking for the exact height to go with, you can use the 7% rule – choose a height closest to 7% of the overall height of your room. So, for a room that is 9ft in ceiling height (108 inches) you would use a baseboard height of roughly 7.56 inches or taller.
MYTH: Everything should match
Painting all window and door trim, crown molding and baseboards the same colour provides consistency, but is not a rule. For example, only black baseboards will anchor a room while having only black crown moulding will frame the ceiling and draw your eye up.
Rounded or Stepped Baseboard
This is the most popular baseboard profile used in homes. The top of the trim has a rounded shape that tapers into the wall. The trim of these types of baseboards looks best in modern homes because of its relatively short profile and simple design.
You can do anything you want, but your floorguy is right in that baseboards are the standard way of creating a tight fitting joint between wall and floor. Once the floor is down, you will definitely want something to cover the ends of the boards where they meet the wall and it is very hard to make it a perfect fit.
If your baseboards show regular wear and tear, painting can help brighten them. Though the painting shouldn't take time, the prep work is intensive and time-consuming. Replacing the baseboards, on the other hand, can be expensive.
Painting baseboards and trim instead of replacing them is a great way to save a little extra cash and make what you have work for you. You never realize just how much these areas need to be cleaned or retouched until you begin to notice the glaring imperfections.
If adding value to your home is the goal, the kitchen is likely the place to start. Conventional wisdom says kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. How much will a new kitchen increase the value of your home? According to Zillow, kitchen renovations provide up to 80% return on investment.
One of the best ways to add value to house? Improve the existing layout — before you consider extending. Maximum value will be added by improving the main living spaces, such as the kitchen, dining and living area and the way in which they work together.
It's only used at the top of a room, thus the term “crown” is used to describe the embellishment of a space. Is crown molding outdated 2021? Most people don't feel crown molding is outdated. Crown molding will never go out of style.
Baseboards are typically installed prior to the flooring. For instance, baseboards should be installed first before laying carpeting. It allows for the edges to be tucked under and out of view. However, it's much easier and convenient for hardwood and laminate flooring to be laid first before installing the trim.
Generally, the installation of carpet or baseboard is easier for whoever installs first. Some professionals may have a strong preference, but ultimately baseboards can be installed before or after carpet. Ask your carpet installer their preference to begin the discussion.
The labor cost to install baseboards is around $5 to $7.75 per linear foot. This will take up a vast majority of your overall project cost.
Trim color choice is totally up to you. White trim and molding have not always been the standard choice. Trim color goes with the trends just like wall and decor. White trim and molding looks crisp and complements most wall paint colors and works in every decorating style.
Opting to not have any baseboards will keep your design simple and modern. The only downside is a loss of protection for your walls from brooms and vacuums. That said if you don't expect too much horseplay around your house, being able to have a bookshelf flush against your wall is a real upside.
Simple and flat, modern baseboards create a consistent, sleek look throughout your home. While more traditional styles opt for rounded edges or detailed designs, modern baseboards offer a flat surface that helps to elongate walls, making a home appear larger.
Baseboards not only add to the aesthetic appeal of interior decor but are also effective in protecting the wall from damage. While you won't have to worry about water damage if you have carpets, you'll still need baseboards to protect the wall when vacuuming.
The Eased One Edge baseboard has been a go to for a modern look. There are basically no grooves or designs on this style besides the mandatory top and bottom of the baseboard. This baseboard style is very modern and simple, a style you can't go wrong with.
Common Heights Sold by Retailers: Retailers sell all sorts of shapes and sizes, but the most common include 3 ¼ inches and 5 ¼ inches. Typically, they are 5/8 inches thick and come in 16-foot strips.
Generally, the medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is the most popular baseboard because it's econimical and offers distinct characteristics.