What can I use instead of quarter round trim?

Author: Jaycee Waelchi  |  Last update: Friday, March 21, 2025

Shoe moulding is similar to quarter round with the same 90-degree angle on the back. Instead of being a perfect quarter radius, it has a squatter profile. The main use of shoe moulding is to run along the intersection of the baseboard and floor.

What is the alternative to quarter round molding?

Shoe moulding is a preferable choice for moulding as it provides a sleek and narrow look. This moulding is suitable for spaces where the walls and floors are not level or straight.

What can I replace quarter round with?

Try Shoe rail - it's a bit lower profile. It's what's supposed to be used in situations like that, quarter round is not but often is.

Can you do baseboards without a quarter round?

Upgrade Your Trim with Five Stop Trim Instead of Quarter Round. Upgrade your baseboards with five stop trim for a sleek and modern look. Learn how to install it easily and efficiently.

Is quarter round molding necessary?

Whether you need quarter round moulding is ultimately up to you. However, it serves an aesthetic and functional purpose, so most people and designers agree that quarter round moulding is a must-have feature.

How to Install Quarter Round (with a finished end cap) for Beginners!

What looks better, quarter round or shoe molding?

Consider the Look: Shoe molding offers a more subtle transition, blending seamlessly with the baseboard. Quarter round stands out a bit more, offering a distinct curve that can accentuate the transition between floor and wall.

What type of baseboards are in style?

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.

What can I use instead of baseboards?

Many great alternatives to baseboards may be more affordable, versatile, and easier to install and maintain.
  • Rubber Base Molding. When it comes to baseboard alternatives, rubber base molding has a lot to offer. ...
  • Reglet Trim. ...
  • Vinyl Wall Base. ...
  • Porcelain Tile. ...
  • Wood Quarter Round.

Should quarter round match the floor or baseboard?

Remember, floor installers stick to flooring! Quarter round trim is part of the baseboard, not an extension of the floor. If you have white or off-white molding, the quarter round or shoe molding should be white, too. The floor installer will use the same color as the floor color to save both time and money.

Can you have no baseboards?

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.

Is it better to remove baseboards when installing laminate flooring?

Most flooring applications do not require you to remove existing baseboards. However, you may choose to remove the baseboards and replace them at the same time as flooring installation if you want to switch to a different baseboard height or change the style to match the overall look of your remodel.

What is crown molding?

Crown molding refers to a decorative trim that is installed where the walls and ceiling meet. It adds a finishing touch and enhances the aesthetic appeal of a room.

What is the cheapest trim option?

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a popular trim option because it's typically the cheapest. However, it does have its own set of issues. MDF won't perform as well in wet, humid areas. MDF is inexpensive and a great material for painted trim, but only if you're installing it in a permanently dry place.

How thick should baseboards be?

How thick is a typical exposed baseboard? Most traditional and readily available wood and MDF baseboard trims in America are 9/16" (14.3 mm) and ⅝" (15.9 mm) thick, less common are ½" (12.7 mm) or 7/16" (11.1 mm) thick baseboards.

Can you use cove molding on the floor?

A cove base creates a transition between the floor and wall and hides unsightly seams. A traditional cove base is a piece of trim installed once the flooring is in place. The integral cove base creates a seamless, sleek, and watertight transition from floor to wall.

What can you use for baseboard trim?

When buying baseboards in the past, you only had just one choice: natural wood, usually pine or hemlock. Now, the choice of materials for baseboards and trim has expanded to include MDF and plastic.

What can I use in place of trim?

Wood Trim Alternatives
  • Vinyl Trim. Vinyl trim was first created in the 1950s along with vinyl siding. ...
  • Aluminum Trim. Aluminum siding was one of the first wood alternatives, and aluminum trim followed shortly after. ...
  • Steel Trim. Steel is another metal trim that usually performs better than aluminum. ...
  • Fiber Cement Trim.

What is the best baseboard to replace?

While wood is still typically the preferred choice if you have room in your budget for the highest-quality material, MDF is more affordable, and PVC has its advantages, but it's more fragile than the other two options.

What is the trend in baseboards in 2024?

Straight and unadorned baseboards

Minimalistic baseboards with straight, simple lines will be a hallmark of modern interiors this year.

What is the most popular trim style?

Baseboards are the most common type of trim in homes, decorating a room and serving as a defining line at the base of a wall. They also hide the gap between the bottom of the wall and the floor. Typically used where the floor meets the wall, this look is both beautiful and practical.

What is the point of quarter round trim?

Quarter round is another moulding style typically paired with baseboards to cover up gaps and imperfections between the base and the floor. As such, it essentially has the same purpose as shoe moulding. However, this style of moulding is always shaped like a quarter of a circle, hence the name.

What trim to use with vinyl plank flooring?

InstaTrim comes in 6 different colors, to match or contrast with almost any vinyl flooring options you choose. This self-adhesive PVC strip is a perfect replacement for quarter-round, creating a barrier to keep dust and debris from settling in the cracks and gaps.

Can you lay LVP directly on subfloor?

Can you put vinyl plank floors directly on subfloor? You can install vinyl plank flooring directly on a subfloor if it's smooth and level.

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