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.
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 forgiving, eggshell has a low subtle sheen, satin is shinier and more wipeable, and gloss is the hardest, shiniest of the lot. As sheen goes up, durability goes up and hiding power goes down.
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 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 does low-VOC mean and does it matter?
VOCs are volatile organic compounds — the solvents that evaporate as paint dries and cause that strong smell. Low-VOC matters most in poorly ventilated rooms, kids' bedrooms and for anyone sensitive to fumes, and the good news is nearly every modern water-based paint already meets the bar.
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.
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 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.
What finish should I use in a bathroom?
Use a dedicated moisture-resistant matt or eggshell for the walls and ceiling, and an eggshell or satinwood on the woodwork. The mould resistance matters more than the sheen level in here.
What are sheen levels and how do I choose one?
Sheen is how much light a paint reflects, running from dead flat matt through eggshell and satin to gloss. As a rule: matt or flat on walls and ceilings, eggshell on woodwork and joinery, and save higher sheens for surfaces that take real abuse.
Is expensive paint actually worth it?
Sometimes, but not always — expensive paint genuinely buys you better pigment density, depth of colour and opacity, and that's where it earns its keep. On everyday durability the gap between premium and good trade paint is far smaller than the price suggests.
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.
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 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 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 is the difference between trade and retail paint?
Trade paint is tuned for opacity and speed — high coverage, fast recoats, bigger tins for pros getting through serious wall area. Retail paint trades some of that for a richer finish and longer open time, which suits the once-a-decade decorator.
How much paint do I need for a room?
Measure the wall area in square metres, divide by the coverage on the tin (usually 11–13m² per litre per coat), then multiply by the number of coats. For a standard 4x4m room you'll want around 6.5 litres for two coats on the walls.
Do paint-and-primer-in-one products actually work?
Sometimes, but the name oversells it. Paint-and-primer-in-one works fine on sound, previously painted surfaces in a similar colour — but it's no substitute for a proper primer on bare, stained, or problem surfaces.
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 finish should I use in a kitchen?
For kitchen walls use a wipeable, washable finish — Dulux Easycare or Little Greene Intelligent Matt for a flat look, or eggshell if you want a touch more durability near the hob and sink. For cabinets and woodwork, use an eggshell or satin(wood) cabinet system.
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.