Choosing paint: which finish goes where
Matt, eggshell, satin or gloss? A plain guide to choosing paint for each room in a London home.
The colour gets all the attention, but the finish decides how a room looks up close and how well it copes with daily life.
Walls and ceilings
Flat matt hides uneven walls best and suits ceilings and bedrooms. For hallways, stairs and family rooms, choose a durable or scrubbable matt, which looks the same but can be wiped clean.
Kitchens and bathrooms
Use paint made for the job. Kitchen and bathroom paints resist moisture and are less likely to grow mould. Good ventilation matters just as much as the paint.
Woodwork and doors
Satin and eggshell give a softer modern look and hide small marks. Gloss is the most hard-wearing and the easiest to wipe, but shows every dent.
Premium or trade paint?
Premium brands such as Farrow and Ball offer deep, chalky colours. Trade ranges such as Dulux Trade are built for coverage and durability. Both work well when the preparation is right. We are happy to use either, or the paint you have already chosen.
Test before you commit
Paint a large sample on two walls and look at it in morning and evening light. Colours change a lot in London's grey light.
How much paint do you need?
A litre of emulsion covers roughly ten to twelve square metres per coat. Measure the width of each wall, multiply by the height, add the walls together and double it for two coats. Bare plaster and strong colour changes use more. We work this out for you when we quote.
Trade paint or retail paint?
Trade paints usually cover better and last longer than the retail tins with the same brand name, so fewer coats are needed. That often makes the dearer tin the cheaper job.
Colour mistakes to avoid
- Choosing from a small card. Paint a large sample and look at it morning and evening.
- Brilliant white in a north-facing room, which can look grey and cold. A soft off-white is warmer.
- Matching woodwork and walls exactly in different finishes. A slight contrast usually looks more deliberate.
Rental properties
For rentals we suggest one durable, wipeable neutral used throughout. It makes touch-ups between tenancies quick, because the colour and finish always match.