Protect the floor with newspaper or cardboard, using masking tape to secure it at the edges. Whether you’re painting skirting boards with carpet or hard floors alongside, a secure protective layer is vital.

For your safety put on rubber gloves and a face mask," says Steve. "Use a stiff brush to remove as much of the paste as possible. If needed use a kitchen sponge/scourer to get rid of any residue. Wipe down the area with a damp cloth. To help make sure that all the mould spores have been killed off, finish by spraying the affected area with a fine mist of water and vinegar and leave to dry." Leaking pipes, inappropriate flooring materials and poor ventilation are all possible causes of mould on skirting boards and at the base of walls. (Image credit: Getty) How do I remove mould from skirting boards?

Material is another factor. If the board is going to be painted, you could use low-cost MDF rather than timber. While tiles laid on a floor in a hallway or bathroom can be used as a skirting to give the impression of greater width by using the same material as the floor. Painting your skirting boards is a great way to add a colour to the room without overwhelming it so it’s perfect for people who are a bit nervous about committing to colour on the walls but want to add a bit of personality to the space,' advises Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux.

The wall area shall then be pressure injected using a specially formulated solution of siliconate injection fluid, until the entire depth of the wall is fully impregnated. Sand any previously painted woodwork that’s still in good condition to provide a key. Sanding is particularly important for glossy finishes. If the surface is consistent, no other undercoats should be required. Otherwise apply one coat of Little Greene Intelligent ASP (All Surface Primer). Blue is a popular colour for living room ideas and we're seeing more blue sofas around too. Matching your paintwork and walls – be brave, it can look fabulous – to your existing sofas and chairs might sound radical but can be very successful as Patricia Gibbons, part of the design team at Sofa.com explains:If your skirting boards are deeper than average – more common in period properties – then make the most of them by choosing a more unusual colour if you want to create an impact. The world is your oyster in terms of colours to use, if you love a deep violet but don't want it on your walls for example, then choose that for your woodwork and team with a pale contrasting shade on your walls. Painting your skirting in asimilar colourpalette to the rest of the room looks really striking, adding depth andlayering to the space," comments Ann Marie Cousins.

That’s enough about the theory – now it’s time to consider what you actually want to achieve with your redecoration.Essentially, you can paint them any colour you like, and consider flipping the traditional look too – if you love red and white for example, have white walls and red skirtings. The beauty of this look is that you really can choose whatever you like. 'Conventionally, white is a popular choice when it comes to painting skirting boards,' says Punam Chada, carpet buyer at Carpetright. Moisture resistance is not the same as waterproof. Moisture resistant MDF is not a fully waterproof material- it cannot be submerged in water or used in areas where it would get very wet, like outside in the rain for example. If you plan to paint anything made from MDF, whether it is moisture resistant or not, it will need to be primed first. Dealing with mould issues caused by damp is a little more complicated because before you can select the correct remedy, you first need to find out where the damp is coming from.

Larger sheets of moisture resistant MDF (generally 14’ x 4’ and upwards) are brown in colour like a standard MDF and have no green dye added to them. Three variants of moisture resistant (MR) MDF: Left- MR MDF with no green dye added. Centre- MR MDF with green dye throughout. Right- MR MD with green dye running through the core of the material only. What is Moisture Resistant MDF? We’ve seen some fantastic examples of homes that have been given a contemporary twist by pairing lightly shaded walls with darker skirting boards. This helps to make the walls feel elongated and lighter in contrast, which has the added bonus of making the room appear brighter and airier. Do you have a Power of Attorney? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis explains how this crucial protection works, why it's more important than a will, and how to get one in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

Colour Block: Use Colour Blocking For A Focal Point

Skirting, door architraves and cornices were all devised when walls were wet plastered and not as smooth as today. The plaster finish was rough and needed a junction (stop edge) at the floor and ceilings. The skirting function was therefore intended to hide the junction at the bottom of the plastered wall. The skirting also hid the damp in houses before damp proof courses became the norm. Choosing the right skirting board for your home is an often overlooked design consideration. "While unlikely to be the key focal point in any room, skirting is a small yet important detail that has the potential to make or break your home's decor," begins Rebecca Foster. Although traditionally skirting boards have always been painted with white gloss paint, homeowners are becoming more adventurous and using high quality paints to colour their skirting board in any shade that suits their interior scheme. Again, some coloured skirting board trends are perfect at making a small room seem more spacious, while others work best in larger rooms. If you have a condensation problem then you are going to know about it.Droplets of water or little streams of water running down walls and windows are both sure signs.