If you don’t want baseboards for your home, what alternatives do you have?
Although baseboards are a great way to hide unsightly connections between walls and floors, they are not the only solution. Some alternatives include using tiles, quarter rounds, peel-and-stick decals, vinyl baseboards, reglet trim, flush base, shiplap, reclaimed wood, wallpaper, and carpets.
This article lists every alternative that you can use instead of baseboards to hide the spacing between walls and floors and make a house look stylish.
10 Alternatives to Baseboards
Although baseboards offer many advantages, some homeowners still prefer to use options that are either more cost-effective or visually attractive.
| Baseboard Alternatives | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles | Durable, easy to clean | Difficult to install |
| Quarter Rounds | Available in several sizes | Less formal and polished |
| Peel and Stick Decals | Countless style options, easy to maintain | Not compatible with all surface types |
| Vinyl Baseboards | Flexible | Attract mildew, contains PVC |
| Reglet Trim | Visually appealing | Not cost-effective |
| Flush Base | Can be painted in various colors | Installation requires more patience and expertise |
| Shiplap | Easy to install | Prone to warp and rot |
| Reclaimed Wood | Environment-friendly, unique appearance | Susceptible to pests |
| Wallpaper | Enhance aesthetics and can be easily replaced | Maintenance and removal difficulties |
| Carpets | Inexpensive, versatile | Prone to wear and tear and need periodic replacement |
Tiles
Tiles are the ideal choice to use for small rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
However, this design choice is purely based on the visual appeal of the tile finish.
Tiles offer certain advantages that make them a good choice for floor finishing.
They protect the floors from moisture damage as they are water-resistant.
This essential characteristic is required in bathrooms to protect them from extended moisture exposure.
Moreover, tiles are much easier to clean than wooden boards.
You just have to wipe them once or twice with a mop.
Tiles can also withstand a significant amount of wear and tear.
However, the cost of using tiles can exceed the cost of using baseboards in a big room.
Quarter Rounds
Quarter rounds are rounded wooden pieces that cover the gaps between the floor and the wall.
They are usually more flexible than baseboards and are more visually appealing at a lower cost.
Additionally, the quarter rounds are quite narrow and do not damage the walls.
They are made of various materials like wood, metal, or plastic and can be painted for better aesthetics.
Peel and Stick Decals
Peel and stick decals are another cost-effective alternative to baseboards.
They are a lot cheaper than wooden panels and also require less maintenance.
Additionally, they have versatile designs, allowing you to choose from several patterns and colors.
It is also easy to install them, making them popular in studios and photographic environments.
Furthermore, these decals are easily removable and replaceable.
However, they cannot properly seal the gaps between floors and walls that develop due to weather changes.
Vinyl Baseboards
You can use vinyl baseboards as an alternative to wooden baseboards to cover the gaps between the wall and the floor.
These boards shield walls from damage and are a common choice for high-traffic areas.
They can be fixed to the wall using strong adhesives and are available in different colors to match your house’s design.
Reglet Trim
Reglet trim is a more recent alternative used to baseboards and is usually made of vinyl or metal.
It is installed between the wall and the floor, making an L shape between them.
While not necessarily more cost-effective, it is clean and has a sleek look.
Paint is often not applied on reglet trims, and it is unnecessary to match the wall color with them.
In the USA, CWallA is a producer of Reglet Trim.
Flush Base
Flush bases are boards made from the same material as the floor or the wall, depending on whichever option you prefer.
This alternative is a mix between the reglet trim style boards and a regular baseboard.
They have a modern look and can be painted with various colors.
Shiplap
Shiplap walls have become popular and can be finished in various ways.
They do not require baseboards, as the wooden wall goes all the way to the floor.
However, shiplap walls are expensive and cannot be used in every room.
On average, only a single room has shiplap walls that are susceptible to high levels of damage.
These include living rooms, dining rooms, and entertainment rooms.
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood is eco-friendly because it is made from wood that has already been cut down.
It is also much cheaper than new wood panels or other materials such as plastic or metal.
Reclaimed wood can easily be painted over, making way for the creation of various patterns and color schemes.
Additionally, it can be easily painted and trimmed to create more designs.
Wallpaper
If you do not want to add any wooden structures to the wall, there is always the option of installing wallpapers.
A wallpaper can enhance the aesthetics of a room as well as hide imperfections on the walls.
Using wallpapers can be a very cost-effective option depending on the type and quality of your paper.
It can also be easily replaced whenever a homeowner needs to change his house’s design.
Furthermore, you do not need to hire a professional to install wallpapers.
Carpets
Another decorative way of hiding the gap between your floors and walls is to use carpets.
Carpets provide a more classic look to a room and hide dirt and debris efficiently.
They can also be cleaned easily using a broom or a vacuum.
Carpet big enough to cover a room does not cost a lot, and the variety of patterns and colors they offer will surely attract homeowners.
However, carpets are usually not raised to the height of baseboards and thus do not protect the walls from receiving any accidental damage.
Conclusion
There are numerous options available in the market as an alternative to baseboards.
However, most of the available options are selected only for their visual appeal and not for their functionality.
The joints between walls and floors can be easily hidden with skirting boards, and they can be protected from unwanted damage.
Even with these benefits, some homeowners are not too keen on using baseboards due to their high cost.
In such scenarios, they look towards other options like using reclaimed wood, tiles, and flushed bases, instead of baseboards.
As opposed to baseboards, wallpapers, decals, and carpets only add beauty to your rooms.
Ultimately, the design choice lies with the homeowners and how they want their rooms to look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the Typical Size of Baseboards?
Baseboards for an 8-foot wall usually range from 3 to 5 inches in height.
However,5 to 7-inch baseboards are suitable for 10-foot walls.
What is the Cost of Replacing a House’s Baseboards?
Baseboard installation costs between $5 to $10 per foot.
The average cost of replacing baseboards for a 144-foot perimeter home is about $1280.
How Often Should I Replace Baseboards?
Baseboards need replacement after 5 years if they are severely damaged.
However, it is better to paint them after 2 to 3 years rather than replacing them.
