You’ve chosen the colours you want and are about to get decorating. But where do you begin selecting the right paint? There are lots of different finishes you can choose from, not to mention primers and undercoats. Other rooms will need different types of paint too, so it’s important to get the right paint for the job.
Emulsion paint is water based and non-toxic and is perhaps the most commonly used interior paint. It comes in a wide variety of finishes and is used to paint walls and ceilings.
This has a non-reflective, flat surface well suited to bedroom and living room interiors. When used in darker colours, it adds depth and is a fresh and modern finish. Matte paints are good at masking imperfections in surfaces, but they scuff easily and are very difficult to clean. They’re often used on ceilings.
These are both slightly glossy finishes that give a lovely sheen without being too shiny. They are easier to clean than matte finishes and are durable. Silk finish is usually used for walls and ceilings, with Satin finishes for woodwork.
This is a popular semi-matte finish with the subtle sheen of an eggshell. It’s a clean and modern finish without being too matte or glossy.
Perfect for painting ceilings and large white areas, this paint goes on pink and dries white, so you can make sure you’re covering every inch.
This is a high shine paint, primarily used for woodwork such as skirting boards and door frames. It’s durable and long-wearing, giving a finished look to your interiors. The surface needs to be thoroughly prepped, as the high shine will easily show up any imperfections.
Due to the amount of moisture, humidity and grease in these rooms, it’s essential to use paint that can withstand these conditions without becoming damaged. Paint labelled for use in the Kitchen or Bathroom has been specially mixed for these rooms. A regular emulsion is made with water, absorbing moisture in the room and becoming discoloured and mouldy.
Primer is painted onto new surfaces such as wood and metal that have to be ‘primed’ for painting. The primer bonds to the surface, allowing the paint to flow and stick to the surface. It also forms a barrier, preventing the paint from being absorbed and helping to prevent mould forming.
An undercoat is a form of primer used to even out imperfections in the surface to be painted. If the surface has been painted before, there’s no need to use a primer; it will just need undercoating. The undercoat helps block out previous layers of colour and enables the topcoat to apply correctly.
