Dulux is the dependable workhorse of British decorating. It's not trying to be Farrow & Ball, and you shouldn't expect it to be — but for the right job it earns its keep.
Where Dulux shines is value, coverage and availability. You can walk into any trade counter or DIY shed and walk out with a tin, get it colour-mixed on the spot, and cover a whole house without remortgaging. That makes it the natural choice for landlords, big repaints, ceilings, kids' rooms and anywhere you're painting a lot of square metres on a sensible budget.
The range is genuinely vast — FiniSpec holds 2,092 Dulux colours, with deep neutral (335), blue (265) and green (262) families and an LRV range running from a near-black 1.2 right up to 92.3. So whether you want a barely-there off-white for a ceiling or something with real punch, it's in there.
For a bit of character, the heritage and feature shades are worth a look. Dulux Night Jewels 1 is a properly moody deep tone for a feature wall or a snug, Pharaohs Gold 2 brings warmth without going full mustard, and Sundrenched Saffron 1 is a cheerful, sunny shade for a hallway or playroom. Mixed in Diamond Matt, they'll take a wipe and a knock far better than a budget matt.
The honest caveat: Dulux standard emulsion can be a touch thin on coverage, so factor in a primer or an extra coat over bold colours and dark-to-light changes. For depth of pigment, chalkiness underfoot and that hand-finished look on a feature room, the premium brands still win. But you're paying three times the price for it.
Practical advice: spec Diamond Matt for high-traffic walls and Light & Space if you're trying to bounce light around a dim room. Don't bother with the cheapest contract matt unless it's genuinely a throwaway rental — it patches badly and you'll be back up the ladder in a year.