The Ultimate Guide to Architrave Profiles and Interior Design Styles

Architraves have been around for thousands of years. As quite a visual feature present in every home, these pieces of moulding have huge decorative potential as they can quite, literally, 'dress' your interiors.

When combined tastefully with skirting boards and window sills, architraves produce a winning combination, suited for every type of interior decor.

In this ultimate guide to the top architrave profiles, you'll learn about the most trendy interior design styles, and the best mouldings for each. You'll also find a guide to every type of architrave finishings in store here at The Skirting Board Shop, and answers to the most frequently asked questions. 

Let our award-winning team help you choose and achieve your decor-goals! With over 900 reviews and a product rating of 4.7, we are top industry experts providing high quality -at an affordable cost.

 

What Are Architraves?

In case you didn't know, architraves are the pieces of trim surrounding your doors and windows. These have both decorative and functional uses. Architraves decorate, bring texture and can make spaces feel more spacious and grandiose. 

Even though architraves don't offer structural support to your doors and window frames, they hide imperfections and help keep the openings around your house safe and protected. 

For a 101 to these fab pieces of moulding, check The Skirting Board Shop essential guide to architraves. 

 

Top 7 Architrave Profiles --> And the Best Interior Design Styles for Each

Our curated selection of architraves and interior design trends will help you envision and create stylish spaces around your home. Feel free to mix and match, and be as conservative or free-spirited as you wish! 

1. Best for...a Contemporary, modern and minimalistic style - -> Squared and Grooved
2. Best for...a versatile Transitional style look mixing the old and the new - -> Ovolo
3. Best for...a full-on farmhouse elegant feel, ideal for Shabby Chic and French Country styles - -> Torus
4. Best for...Coastal vibes, Hamptons style - -> Georgian and Lambs Tongue
5. Best for...Creating a Rustic style space inspired by nature - -> Rounded One Edge Wood Timber Veneer
6. Best for...Traditional period homes - -> Victorian and Edwardian
7. Best for...Modern rooms with texture and a Hollywood-bound glam twist - -> Art Deco

An Overview of the Top Interior Design Trends

Before diving into the specifics of each architrave profile, it's key to grasp the basic ideas of the design styles you'll find on this guide. 

To make it easy, we've grouped some of these that tend to be similar. 

Contemporary 

This style refers to the present and the future. A mix and match of many different specific trends, it has been growing non-stop as the chosen one for most new builds and townhouses.

A neutral palette, simple lines, and smooth surfaces -ditching ornamented decorations- that rely heavily on elements like wood, glass, stainless steel and metallic finishings.

Focusing on easy living, and creating a relaxed uncluttered ambience, this everchanging trend also takes elements from other styles like Mid-Century Modern, Asia Zen, Minimalism and Scandinavian.

Transitional Style  

This trend offers a balance between traditional home features and modern design. 

Many people find minimalism and full-on modern luxury a bit too cold, and yet they also feel highly ornamented interiors are a thing of the past. So no wonder why this style is hot at the moment then! More so when it allows homeowners to combine and blend a variety of furniture, fabrics and finishings without getting locked into any specific rules.

Shabby Chic and French Country Farmhouse

You may not know the names, but you've seen these popular styles everywhere! A mix of comfort, cosiness, vintage and rustic pieces, these are linked to 18th-century rococo design, but worn.

Although French Country is a style on its own, both are usually thought to go hand in hand. However, French Country focuses more on blending elegant furniture and curved shapes with a farmhouse feel. On the other hand, Shabby Chic vibes are more distressed and less structured.

Coastal and Hamptons

Both these styles have you covered for all-things-fancy and beach life! A laid back, coastal nautic theme dominates the colour palettes of these trends. Massive windows, double doors, patterned textiles, and crisp whites blend to create a relaxing free-flowing atmosphere.

The main difference between these trends is that Coastal is more of a general term evoking beach life, where Hamptons is a set style born in Long Island, New York. 

Rustic

Embracing the charm of a countryside home, this nature-inspired style is relaxing and visually grounding. Rugs, soft textures, earthy tones, simple lines and statement features -like a fireplace or a large pendant light- complete the look. 

Unpretentious and even rugged, this type of design suits rooms of all sizes and can be achieved quite easily by focusing on wooden accents.

Edwardian and Victorian

Let us clarify that these architectural and interior design styles are not the same. Still, they share some important characteristics, which is why they are usually grouped together to define the concept of 'period homes.'

Both Edwardian and Victorian homes are widespread across the UK, so you'll likely be familiar with these ornamented, grand interiors.

Rich colours, s-shaped mouldings, wide cornices, wall panels, and an unabashed extravagance make of era homes unique living spaces.

Art Deco Modern and Hollywood Regency

Iconic, unexpected, modern and luxurious, the main traits of Art Deco Modern are jagged corners, straight lines and pointed edges. 

Geometric and glamorous, Art Deco calls for shiny finishings, contrasting popping colours, and high-quality materials. Usually paired with the Hollywood Regency ways, both trends evoke the golden age of the movie mecca. 

A great perk of spaces inspired by these styles is that you don't need to go all in to achieve the look. You can choose to focus on your mouldings, lighting design, or simply add a statement piece to bring it all together. 

Choosing the Best Architrave Profile to Create and Match Your Home's Interior Design

Now that you are pretty much an interior design expert, it's time to get creative. Find which specific architrave profile will help you achieve the look. Each one has been selected specifically to suit these!

1. Best for...a Contemporary, modern and minimalistic style - -> Squared and Grooved

To get a modern, contemporary look, pick an architrave that magnifies the idea of straight, simple lines and few details.

The Skirting Board Shop Square and Grooved architraves feature square edges, and a rectangular grooved line running parallel 1.5 cm off the outer edge. 

Available in 18 mm and 22 mm thickness, these also come with widths of 144 and 68 mm. To pair your architraves with your skirting boards, check your options here.

For a different alternative that will help you achieve the same look, check out The Skirting Board Shop's Burford profile. This has an angled -not rectangular- line that's grooved closer to the centre of the stripe. 

Burford architraves come with an 18-mm thickness and a width of 119 mm, and 68 mm. 

2. Best for...a versatile Transitional style look mixing the old and the new - -> Ovolo

The great thing about going Transitional is that you can do a whole mashup of antiques and yet add the sleek grace of contemporary pieces. 

If you wish to keep your architraves as subtle as possible to simply create texture through your furniture, get Chamfered and Rounded or Rounded One Edge mouldings. 

For a balance between the several elements of your home interiors, you could go for more architectural detailing on your mouldings. In this case, the Ovolo 68 mm profile -available as a set with skirting boards - would be a perfect fit. 

Ovolo architraves have both sleek lines and soft curves, giving dimension to your openings without taking over the stage. 

3. Best for...a full-on farmhouse elegant feel, ideal for Shabby Chic and French Country styles - -> Torus

With a wide range of Torus skirting boards and architraves in store, it's fair to say this popular profile definitely withstands the test of time. 

Showcasing a protruding semi-circular, convex curve on its top section, this is a versatile moulding that fits most interiors. A Torus architrave is elegant, visually-pleasing, and capable of 'dressing up' the openings around your house. 

We chose it as a favourite for both Shabby Chic and French Country styles because it brings noticeable texture to your openings. Think of these as half-way between a backcountry farmhouse and a Victorian home with ornate wall-panelling, dado rails, ceiling roses, or wood beams. 

The Skirting Board Shop's Torus architraves come in sizes 18 mm x 68 mm, 57 mm and 94 mm. As the standard width of this profile is 68 mm, we have in store a variety of finishings: white primed, as a set, white fully-finished, KOTA Polymer, American Veneered White Oak, Black Walnut, and foil-wrapped Golden Oak. 

4. Best for...Coastal vibes, Hamptons style - -> Georgian and Lambs Tongue

You may think you'd need a big spacious room to achieve a Hamptons style look, but that's not entirely true. 

When it comes to architraves, highly-decorated profiles can help create a sense of space and openness. How? It may be a simple visual trick, but a grandiose architrave creates a focus on windows and doors. It enhances the natural flow of each room and helps your openings look bigger and brighter. 

The important thing here is to stick to a pale blues and yellow tones palette, complemented by lots of white. You should also avoid clutter, more so if decorating a small house or apartment.

A Georgian profile architrave is rich in detail. And yet, as it has geometrical Greek-inspired squared and rounded shapes, it has become a top choice for adding texture and expression to any room -without overdoing it. 

For a Coastal look that's half-way between the elegance of the Hamptons and a bit of contemporary, relaxed inspiration, choose the Lambs Tongue profile.

This all-rounder architrave is great for a variety of interiors. We've selected it for a Coastal theme because of its wavy, rounded edges running along its straight lines. Simple and beautiful.

Available at The Skirting Board Shop, in sizes 18 mm x 57 mm, and 68 mm -white primed.

5. Best for...Creating a Rustic space inspired by nature - -> Rounded One Edge Wood Timber Veneer

Get inspired by nature and the magic of the forest! This modern architrave profile is a top choice for any room calling for character and warmth. An absolutely no-fuss rounded architrave in a variety of finishings to suit all your wooden interiors -from top to bottom!

You can find the Rounded One Edge -also known as Bullnose- profile in-store in sizes 18 mm x 68 mm, and 57 mm.

For wooden finishings, check out our American White Oak Veneer, American Black Walnut Veneer, and Light Oak foil-wrapped, fully-finished.

Those looking for a slightly different option, check out the Rounded Two Edge, available in American White Oak Veneer. 

If you are not after wooden finishings, then find our range of white fully finished, KOTA Polymer and white primed Bullnose architraves. These also come as thin and narrow as 15 mm and 44 mm -ideal for laundry rooms and bathrooms.

6. Best for...Traditional period homes - -> Victorian and Edwardian

These styles need no introduction! Victorian and Edwardian profiles showcase rich, voluminous shapes with waves and sweeping curves. What makes them different when compared to other styles is that their outlines are not limited to the outer section, but cover all the trim’s surface.

Ideal for period home renovations, these are also favourites for large rooms, complemented with tall skirting boards. 

To achieve a toned-down version of these lavish styles -or to suit smaller rooms-, pick an Ogee profile. 

Similar in shape, the Ogee is a stellar option for era homes with wooden finishings. Available in American White Oak Veneer, Black Walnut, Light Oak and Golden Oak-fully-finished.

7. Best for...Modern rooms with texture and a Hollywood-bound glam twist - -> Art Deco

A best-loved option for homeowners getting into a decorative frenzy. Ragged edges, patterns, shiny surfaces...you know the drill already! Nothing beats Art Deco to breathe vintage modernity into your interiors. 

Have fun with this architrave and watch it bring cohesiveness to all the lines around your walls, doors and windows. When paired with matching skirting boards, this profile enhances a sense of continuity around every room. A subtle, yet bold, decorative touch.

Types of Architrave Finishings

At The Skirting Board Shop, we have a wide array of finishings for you to choose. From fully-finished to high-quality real wood veneered mouldings, rest assured you'll find the best fit for your new build or renovation.

White Primed Architrave

White Primed architraves have a moisture-resistant MDF core. These come ready for you to undercoat and paint, which makes them a highly versatile option for DIY-ers. You can choose the finishing and matching colour to suit all your interior decoration needs.

Kota Polymer Coated

Kota Polymer Coated architraves feature the latest technology on MDF Mouldings. These come fully finished and ready to install -no painting needed! Smooth and silky in texture, Kota mouldings are high quality, durable, and won't change colour with time.

Fully Finished White Foil Wrapped

The Skirting Board shop fully finished architraves are a handy and hassle-free option. These come in white and consist of an MDF core wrapped in a layer of vinyl mixed with resin (foil). Affordable and chip-resistant, these mouldings won't ever need to be re-painted. 

American White Oak Veneered

An MDF-core architrave, wrapped in American White Oak wood. Veneer refers to the use of a thin layer of wood that's attached to the MDF moulding, giving it a warm finish. These architraves come unfinished, ready to wax, oil or lacquer -perfect to achieve matching interiors. 

The American White Oak has a pale yellow hue with a light brown heartwood, and it's widely used for mouldings, flooring, furniture and doors. 

American Black Walnut Veneer

Another choice of real wood veneer with a moisture-resistant MDF core. 

Black Walnut is a symbol of exclusivity and sophistication. Hence, it's found in many modern properties, leaning into a Minimalistic and even Industrial design. 

Light Oak Foil Wrapped

For a fully finished wood-like look, check out our range of Light Oak Foil Wrapped architraves. The difference between a veneer and a foil-wrapped finishing is that the first one is covered on real wood and the second on a vinyl wood patterned foil.

Similar in colour to the American White Oak, this option has warmer hues with golden tones.

Golden Oak Foil Wrapped

Also foil-wrapped, our Golden Oak architraves are the most vibrant colour option of all and come fully-finished, ready to install. Its characteristic irregular, dotted wood grain pattern gives it a rich decorative effect.

Cleaning Architraves

When it comes to cleaning your architraves, you can follow the same simple steps to cleaning your skirting boards. 

Always make sure not to use abrasive cleaners as these can ruin your mouldings. Remember to also dust-off the architraves heads as these accumulate dirt like nothing else! 

Fitting Architraves

This is not a huge task, but it does require patience, care, and a DIY spirit. For a comprehensive guide on this topic, check out this article on how to fit architraves. 

 

If you need help choosing your next best piece of architrave, get in touch with our experts calling 0800 048 0786, and make the most of our award-winning customer service team. You can also request free samples to decide what will suit your home best. Happy reno!