Flooring installers sometimes remove baseboards, but it is not always required. Whether they do depends heavily on the type of flooring you are installing, the condition of your existing baseboards, and the specific agreement you make with your installation team.
Here's what usually happens: During flooring installation, baseboards sometimes need to be removed to ensure a seamless fit for your new floor. In other cases, installers can undercut (trim beneath) the baseboards, so they don't have to take them off fully.
No, you do not always have to remove baseboards. For carpet, baseboards usually stay in place. For hard surfaces (wood, vinyl, laminate), you can leave them on and cover the expansion gap with quarter-round molding. However, removing baseboards yields a cleaner, more professional look.
The 7% rule states that the height of your baseboards should be approximately 7% of the room's ceiling height. For example, if your ceiling height is 8 feet (96 inches), a baseboard height of approximately 6 to 7 inches will look harmonious.
You do not have to remove baseboards to install vinyl flooring, but it is highly recommended for a professional, finished look.
Minimalist and flat baseboards are currently the most popular. The contemporary design focus is on clean lines and subtle elegance rather than ornate millwork.
Vinyl Plank Installation Cost
Materials: $2-3 PER SQ. FT. Labor: $2-3 PER SQ. FT.
Crown molding is not out of style; in fact, it is making a strong comeback. Designers are embracing elaborate trim work and architectural details to add depth, character, and a bespoke, "lived-in" feel to homes.
Baseboard moulding is installed at the bottom of walls, where they meet the floor. While providing a finished look to a room, baseboard moulding can also be strategically used to visually enlarge the space. By opting for a taller baseboard moulding, you can give the impression of higher ceilings and more overall space.
We will walk you through some of the most common beginner mistakes when installing trim molding and how to avoid them so your next project goes smoothly.
In 2026, flooring trends revolve around warmth and natural textures, with cool, flat grays officially on their way out. The most popular colors include:
Refinishing hardwood floors is a process that can potentially damage your base trim if left on, but removing them may also cause damage. Our recommendation is to remove and replace shoe moldings but leave baseboards intact.
Houses generally sell better with hardwood floors. They offer a much stronger return on investment (often 70%–80%), can increase a home's overall value by 2% to 5%, and are actively filtered for by buyers.
Yes, it is highly recommended to remove baseboards when installing laminate flooring. This approach provides a cleaner, professional finish by concealing the necessary expansion gaps underneath the baseboard itself, eliminating the need to add extra, dated-looking trim like quarter-round.
Yes, absolutely! The carpet remains a favorite for bedrooms because it's soft, warm, and quiet. Plus, new technology makes modern carpets more durable and easier to maintain than ever.
Timeless wood colors are natural, organic hues that bridge the gap between warm and cool without relying on passing fads. The most classic choices are pale, natural wood and mid-tone browns. These choices highlight natural grain patterns and adapt easily to changing furniture and decor styles.
Baseboard installation costs $1,100 on average, but small projects go as low as $750, and complex projects go as high as $3,000. Prices range from $5.70 to $9 per linear foot for materials and labor, depending on the baseboard height and style.
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 here are some examples: For a room that is 7ft in ceiling height (84 inches), you would use a baseboard height of roughly 5.88 inches or taller.
The current trend for baseboards favors minimalist, clean, and seamless designs. The most popular styles are tall, flat-stock profiles with square or slightly eased edges, frequently painted the exact same color as the walls to elongate the room visually.
Yes, crown molding is still very much in style. Instead of a passing trend, it is widely considered a timeless architectural staple that finishes a room, adds value, and elevates the space.
Consider installing hardwood or luxury vinyl tiles in diagonal, herringbone, or chevron patterns to elongate a room visually. Diagonal lines draw the eye along the longest diagonal axis of the room, creating a sense of depth and grandeur.
In luxury real estate, a ceiling height of 10 to 12 feet is the accepted baseline for main living areas. While standard homes feature 8- to 9-foot ceilings, luxury properties utilize 10 feet+ and dramatic volumes reaching 12 to 14+ feet to deliver a highly sought-after sense of airiness, grandeur, and architectural sophistication.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
When Shouldn't You Use Crown Molding? Crown molding isn't advisable in any room with vaulted ceilings. Also called high ceilings, vaulted ceilings feature an arched design that creates more space above the room.
Kitchen designs in 2026 embrace warm minimalism, trading cold, all-white aesthetics for inviting, personality-driven spaces. The top trends this year focus on natural materials, seamless smart technology, and highly customized layouts.