Buying & finishes.
What is emulsion paint?
Emulsion is water-based paint for walls and ceilings — pigment and binder suspended in water that dries to a matt or low-sheen finish. It's the standard paint for interior plaster surfaces.
Is expensive paint actually worth it?
Sometimes — but not always. Expensive paint genuinely buys you better pigment density, depth of colour and opacity, but the gap between premium and good trade paint is smaller than the price suggests. Where it really earns its keep is colour, not durability.
How do I test a paint colour properly?
Paint two coats onto a large piece of white card — not straight onto the wall — then move it round the room and look at it morning, noon and night before you commit.
What's the most durable paint finish for a hallway?
For hallway walls go with a wipeable matt or a modern eggshell — something washable that shrugs off scuffs and fingerprints. For the woodwork, skirting and any panelling, a satin or eggshell on the trim takes the knocks far better than a flat matt ever will.
What's the difference between primer and undercoat?
Primer prepares and seals a bare or tricky surface so paint can grip; undercoat builds an opaque, uniform base for your topcoat. They do different jobs, and on a properly prepped surface you often need both.
What's the difference between matt, eggshell, satin and gloss?
The difference is sheen — how much light the finish bounces back. Matt is flat and hides imperfections, eggshell has a low subtle sheen, satin is shinier and more wipeable, gloss is the hardest, shiniest of the lot. Sheen goes up, hiding power goes down, durability goes up.
What's the difference between emulsion and eggshell?
Emulsion is your standard wall and ceiling paint — water-based, breathable, low to mid sheen. Eggshell is a tougher, slightly glossier finish for woodwork, trim, and high-traffic or wipeable areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
What paint finish should I use on garden furniture?
Use an exterior eggshell for timber garden furniture — it sheds water, resists UV and is easy to touch up. For metal furniture, go with a dedicated exterior metal or direct-to-metal finish over the right primer.
How reliable are paint tester pots?
Tester pots are reliable for colour, but only if you use them properly — paint a big enough patch, give it two coats, let it dry fully, and view it on the actual wall in real light. The sheen often differs from the topcoat, so judge colour not finish.
How many sample pots do I need?
For most rooms, get 3-4 shortlisted colours in sample pots, one pot per colour. Each pot covers enough for two decent test patches, and that's all you need to judge a colour properly.
How long does paint keep once opened?
A properly sealed opened tin of emulsion or water-based paint keeps 2 to 5 years; oil-based and solvent paints can last even longer. The killer isn't time — it's air, skin and temperature, so storage matters more than the date.
Do I need special paint for ceilings?
No, you don't strictly need dedicated ceiling paint — a good matt emulsion does the job. But a proper flat matt finish hides imperfections far better than the sheen on wall paint, so use the flattest finish you can.
Which paint brands are the most eco-friendly?
Earthborn is the standout for genuine eco-credentials — clay and mineral based, near-zero VOC and breathable. Edward Bulmer (natural, plant-based binders), Little Greene and COAT are also strong choices.
What's the difference between a brilliant white and a warm white?
Brilliant white is an optically brightened, blue-leaning white designed to look as stark and clean as possible. A warm white has yellow, red or grey pigment added to soften it, so it reads softer and cosier rather than clinical.
What paint finish should I use on woodwork and trim?
Eggshell is the right call for most woodwork and trim — durable enough to wipe and scuff, but matt enough to look modern. Save gloss and satin for traditional schemes or where you want a hard, washable surface.
What paint finish should I use on tiles?
Use a tough eggshell or satin finish on tiles — never matt. The job lives or dies on the primer, not the topcoat, so a tile-grade adhesion primer underneath is non-negotiable.
What paint finish should I use on skirting boards?
Use an eggshell or satinwood finish on skirting boards. It's durable enough to take knocks and scuffs, wipes clean, and looks far more contemporary than high gloss.
What paint finish should I use on radiator?
Use a hard-wearing eggshell or satinwood designed for metal and wood trim — it handles the heat cycling far better than gloss and gives a modern, low-glare finish. A specialist radiator enamel is only worth it if you want a true gloss.
What paint finish should I use on metal railings?
Use a gloss or satin direct-to-metal finish over the right primer. For traditional iron railings, gloss is the classic and most durable choice; satin/eggshell looks more contemporary but sheds water nearly as well.
What paint finish should I use on melamine?
Melamine needs a hard-wearing satin or eggshell topcoat over a proper adhesion primer — never matt, and never paint applied straight onto the bare surface. The primer is what makes or breaks the job.
What paint finish should I use on MDF?
Prime the cut edges first, then go for eggshell or satinwood — a mid-sheen oil-modified or acrylic trim paint that fills the grain and gives you a hard, wipeable surface. Matt emulsion on bare MDF is asking for trouble.
What paint finish should I use on kitchen cabinets?
Use eggshell on kitchen cabinets. It's tough enough to wipe down, hides imperfections better than a high gloss, and gives that modern, low-sheen look everyone's after. Avoid full matt — it won't survive greasy fingers and steam.
What paint finish should I use on front door?
Use an exterior eggshell or satin finish on a front door — it's tough, weatherproof and forgiving, where high gloss looks dated and shows every imperfection. Reserve full gloss for traditional Victorian and Georgian doors where it's part of the period look.
What paint finish should I use on exterior brick?
Use a breathable smooth masonry paint in a matt finish. Brick needs to let moisture out, so a vapour-permeable matt coating is the only sensible choice — never use a low-permeability gloss or sealed finish that traps damp behind the surface.
What paint finish should I use on ceiling?
Flat matt, every time. Ceilings catch raking light from windows and overhead fittings, and any sheen will throw every roller mark, lap line and plaster imperfection straight back at you.
What paint do I use on a bathroom ceiling to stop mould?
Use a proper bathroom-grade moisture-resistant emulsion — Dulux Easycare Bathroom or Crown Easyclean Kitchen & Bathroom — and sort the underlying ventilation, because no paint fixes a mould problem caused by trapped steam.
What is the difference between trade and retail paint?
Trade paint is formulated for speed and durability — faster drying, harder wearing, designed for pros covering big areas. Retail paint prioritises easy application and finish forgiveness for the once-a-decade DIYer. Same brand, often different beast.
What is masonry paint and when do I need it?
Masonry paint is a tough, weather-resistant exterior paint formulated for brick, render, pebbledash, concrete and stone. You need it any time you're painting the outside walls of your house — normal emulsion will not survive out there.
What is contract matt and when should I use it?
Contract matt is a cheap, breathable, dead-flat emulsion designed for new plaster and large unfinished areas like new builds. Use it as a mist coat and undercoat on fresh plaster — not as your final decorative finish.
What is a primer and when do I need one?
A primer is a prep coat that gives your topcoat something to grip, blocks stains and bleed-through, and evens out a porous or patchy surface. You need one on bare or new surfaces, after big repairs, when changing surface type, and any time you're covering stains, knots or strong existing colours.