The purpose of baseboards and casing is to create a neat and tidy appearance at the bottom of the floor where it meets the wall. Baseboards are a thin plank that covers the area where the two meet. This is can be used to cover up any inadequacies and deformities in where the two meet. In older homes, baseboards were made to be more intricate and a decorative finish within the home, and modern day homes are beginning to return to this trend as well.

Depending on the interior design, baseboards can be nailed, glued or screwed into place to keep from being moved. Baseboards are a type of molding that runs along the bottom of the wall.