Profiles, heights and materials that hold up to humidity and look right with your doors and ceilings.
Trim is the frame around every room. Baseboard and door casing cover the gaps where walls meet floors and openings, but they also set the style of the whole house. Pick the wrong size or profile and even an expensive renovation can look unfinished. Here is how we help homeowners choose.
Start with ceiling height
Baseboard should scale with the room. A short baseboard on a tall wall looks thin, and an oversized one in a small room feels heavy. As a starting point:
- 8 foot ceilings: baseboard around 3½ to 5¼ inches tall.
- 9 to 10 foot ceilings: 5¼ to 7¼ inches.
- Higher ceilings and open great rooms: 7¼ inches and up, sometimes built up from two pieces.
These are guides, not rules. Your flooring, door height and the style you want all play a part, which is why we look at the space in person before recommending a size.
Match casing to baseboard
Door and window casing should feel related to the baseboard. A common approach is casing that is a little narrower than the baseboard is tall, with the same style of edge. Where the two meet at the bottom of a door, the casing should be slightly thicker than the baseboard so the joint looks intentional.
Pick a profile that fits the house
Modern and transitional Florida homes usually look best with simple profiles:
- Flat stock with a small eased edge for a clean, modern look.
- Craftsman style casing with a flat face and a cap on top, which pairs well with shaker cabinets.
- A simple ogee or step for a softer, transitional style.
Very ornate colonial profiles can look out of place next to flat panel doors and modern cabinets.
Choose materials for humidity
Humidity makes wood move. In bathrooms, laundry rooms and areas near exterior doors, moisture resistant materials such as primed finger-joint pine with a good paint finish, or PVC trim in wet spots, hold up better than raw MDF. Whatever the material, it should be sealed and painted on all exposed faces.
Tip: Ask how inside corners will be joined. Coped corners stay tight as the house moves through the seasons, while simple mitered inside corners tend to open up over time.
Plan the finish
Paint grade trim is the most common choice. Semi-gloss or satin paint is easier to clean than flat paint and shows the profile better. Stain grade trim in oak or maple is beautiful, but every joint shows, so it takes more time to install and costs more.
Get a second opinion on the space
The best way to choose trim is to look at your doors, floors and ceilings together. If you are planning new trim in Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden or Horizon West, we are happy to walk the house with you and suggest sizes and profiles that fit.
