Colonial Skirting Boards & Interior Styling

“Colonial” interior design and styling is such a broad term and style, but mainly encompasses the traditional elements from the region in which it began such as American Colonial, Georgian Colonial, British Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Victorian Colonial and even now an Australian styled Colonial. Whatever style of Colonial styling you choose, the look will certainly have a rustic, hand-built and timber heavy country type feel. The Colonial style has evolved over the last 300 years from basic, hand made furniture of carpenters to extremely lavish and ornate.

Colours

Natural timber, raw fibres and muted, sombre shades feature. Think whites, browns, yellow, reds and greys. Detail was found in the geometry of the home, in timber mouldings and feature pieces of floor rugs and wall paper.

Windows

Colonial windows and doorways featured glass panels divided by timber. Colonial architraves are usually the same profile design as the skirting boards, and timber sill nosing features to complete the look.

Timber Mouldings and Skirting Boards

Timber mouldings are particularly popular in Colonial styling, with different mouldings featuring during different periods. Beautiful skirting boards frame traditional timber floors and decorative mouldings are used to create character.

Your basic Colonial Skirting board starts with which is also know as ‘Lambs Tongue’ or ‘NSW Colonial’ which feature an ogee (S bend) curve from the top portion of the skirting, flowing into a V joint as shown below.

Typical Lambs Tongue styled mouldings are Intrim SK74 and Intrim SK96.

But don’t feel restricted to design when deciding! As time time progressed, styles changed and wealth increased, Colonial style skirting boards became more decorative. They also started to feature squared timber skirting blocks. The features that remain in this style are curved bends as well as V join details, similar to the Lambs Tongue baseboard, but becoming more detailed and ornate. Flat sections began to appear on skirting detailing, throwing to the Edwardian style.

 

If you’re creating a traditional feel mouldings should be painted a white shade or left as natural timber and lacqured or stained.

Panelling, picture rails and dado rails are also popular in the more sophisticated colonial look, especially those that incorporated wall paper.

The interior below combines some modern monochrome colours with traditional colonial elements and wainscoting wall panelling to create a striking look.

Curve Your Thinking

Elaborate curved trim around windows and arched doorways gives your interior some colonial charm and are common for the era.

Archways can be heavily decorated, and have been over time paying tribute to the Greek influence during the mid century ero.

Our full range of Colonial style skirting boards and timber mouldings can be viewed HERE.

Colonial styling caters for a vast range of tastes from simple timber designs to lavish decor and antiques. No matter how you decide to apply Colonial styling, you most certainly will be creating a traditional and timeless interior that will wow your guests and survive through new fads and trends. You can find more Colonial design inspiration on our Colonial Interior Style page.