Simple Low Dust Skirting Board Profiles

Bullnose
Bullnose skirting boards are very simple and essentially have a simple rounding at the top of the board. This minimises a dust collecting flat area and makings wiping clean quick and simple.

Ovolo
Ovolo skirting is essentially a rounded board with two small ledges. These ledges don't collect much dust, and the rounded portion of the board is easily cleaned.

Chamfered Round
Our top pick for a low dust collectiong skirting board profile, the chamfered round skirting profile features a large chamfered, the top of which is rounded. This reduces the dust collecting edge at the top of the board substantially compared to the bullnose profile, and is very very easy to wipe clean.

Ornate Low Dust Skirting Board Profiles

Ornate skirting boards are all well an good unless you're the one having to do the dusting. The practically minded skirting board buying will have cleanliness at the front of thier minds and may feel restricted to a very limited list of skirting board profiles. Here are five profiles which don't capture dust but still give a reasonably ornate skirting profile.

Antique
Antique skirting board have a deceptive profile which might look like a dust collector on first inspection, but in practice this board collects no more dust than a bullnose skirting board. The truck here is that there is essentially only one radius depth which can collect dust, and the groove below the profile is generally shielded by the radius above.


Buckingham
The Buckingham skirting board profile has a relatively shallow profile section which limits dust collection. The main are where this skirting board will collect dust is along the top flat portion of the board.


Castle
The castle skirting board profile is very much like a chamfered board, just with a few more details. There are no large ledges where dust can accumulate and the board is relatively simple to wipe down.



Lambs Tongue 2
The Lambs Tongue 2 skirting board profile is like a chamfered profile with a wavey element to it. We've found this profile doesn't catch much dust and is easy to wipe off.



Large Ogee
Unlike the small and regular ogee profiles, the large ogee skirting board profile doesn't have particularly deep areas or ledges where dust will collect. And dust that does collect is easily wiped away with a damp cloth.

Regional Skirting Board Profiles

Some skirting board profiles were historically used more predominantly in certain parts of England and many still looks to replace existing boards in either a historical or new-build property, with a profile more traditionally seen in their area.

Here are some examples of regional skirting board profiles.

Essex
The Essex Skirting Board Profile looks like an Ovolo profile with a Torus profile mounted on top. If you plan to have matching skirting boards and architraves it's worth knowing that the essex profile is rather substantial and therefore you will need 90mm architraves rather than the standard 65mm.


Norfolk
The norfolk skirting board profile is characterised by the two tear drop cross sections. The norfolk profile is known as a bit of a dust collector however it will look beautiful if regularly dusted. Unlike the essex profile, the norfork profile will work on a 65mm architrave.


London
The London skirting board profile is very tall, at around 100mm in height. It was historically made up of three mouldings consisting of an Ovolo moulding at the bottom, a reasonably simple moulding near the top of the board, and a third moulding to created a beading at the top of the board. A matching architrave will need to be in around 110mm height, which is a substantial architrave.


Kensington
The kensington skirting board profile is tall at 65mm for the profile section, this means you will need a minimum 90mm architrave to match. Although tall, the profile section itself is not particularly deep which results in a slightly more under-stated profile that similarly tall profiles.


Devon
The Devon skirting board profiles is very blocky with one large, and one smaller rounded section. In modern times the Devon profile is considered more "Retro" and less "Traditional". With a 60mm profile height, the Devon profile should fit well on a 75mm architrave.


Chelsea
The chelsea skirting board profile is a nice elegant understated shape with a 54mm profile section. A matching chelsea architrave will look good on a 65mm board.


Ultimately the truth of the matter is that over time profiles have changed, and what may now be "London" profile may have no significance or relevance to the area in London or the year in which your property was built. For authenticity you should match your existing profile, and for a more traditional look you'll be best simply selecting the skirting board profile which suits the traditional look you are aiming for.