You probably haven’t given much thought to the baseboards that run throughout your home, but you should. The purpose of baseboards is to help keep your home in good condition while providing a finished look to your décor.

At Volterra Architectural Products, we are a leading manufacturer of faux wood beams and other high-quality polyurethane architectural details. We carry an extensive line of base moulding profiles that are perfect for any home. Here, we review the advantages of baseboard moulding and why it should be a key component in your home’s design.

Seals the Joint between Wall and Floor

The primary purpose of baseboards is to cover the joint between your walls and floor. This joint may be a bit unsightly on its own, but more importantly, the baseboards keep water from running under your drywall and flooring, causing mold. In addition, baseboards keep insects and other pests from finding easy entry in that space. With the baseboards in place, your room looks finished and pristine.

Leaves Room for Settling and Shifting

As your house ages, your floors and walls will eventually begin to settle. Likewise, during different seasons, moisture in the air may cause your floor boards and walls to expand or contract at different rates. During construction, your builder left a small gap between the floors and the walls to account for these changes. A baseboard is able to easily conceal that gap without getting in the way of the shifting pieces.

Protecting Your Paint

Finally, baseboard trim keeps your walls clean and scratch free by adding an extra hard layer of protection between the painted wall surface and your vacuum or broom. If you took the time to decorate your walls, you don’t want dark lines or deep scratches to ruin the look along the bottom edge.

Adds Visual Interest

While the other three benefits are based on the functionality of baseboards, this one is all about looks. Baseboards are available in a variety of styles, colors, and materials to perfectly match your room’s aesthetic. By adding or changing the trim in a room, you can easily update the entire look without having to do a complete makeover. When choosing baseboards for your space, consider the following:

• The Overall Aesthetic of Your Home – When you’re picking out baseboards, you want to ensure they fit in with the aesthetic of your home. For example, if you have a modern home, you might want to choose sleek, angular baseboards made of metal or glass. If your home has more traditional features, then you might want to choose wood baseboards that are more ornate.
• The Color of Your Walls and Flooring –  Another thing to consider is the color of your walls and flooring. If you have dark floors and light walls, you might want to choose baseboards that are darker than your floors but lighter than your walls. This will help create a sense of balance in the room.
• The Size of Your Rooms – The size of your rooms can also play a role in your baseboard selection. If you have large rooms, you might want to choose wider or taller baseboards to make a statement. Conversely, if you have smaller rooms, you might want to choose narrower or shorter baseboards so as not to overwhelm the space.

As you can see, there are many hidden benefits to having baseboard moulding in place throughout your home. While you may not think of these benefits on a day-to-day basis, you would surely notice them if your baseboards weren’t there to conceal the space beneath them. If you’re interested in some of the best baseboard moulding available on the market, check out our selection at Volterra Architectural Products.