There's nothing like getting a fresh lick of paint on the walls to give your home an update.
The simple act of washing walls with colour, be it gentle or bold, can have a transformative effect on how you view and live in the space.
Where once it was a simple case of picking up a tin from your local DIY shop, now different formulas offer different finishes on your wall as well as different benefits for the people who live between them.
What is emulsion paint?
Emulsion is a water-based paint that holds particles of pigment in water. Once it’s slapped onto a wall, the water dries and the particles connect, leaving colour on the walls. Emulsion is favoured over oil-based paints, especially in interior renovations, because it’s far easier to apply and takes less time to dry.
This type of paint comes in three finishes: matt, satin and silk. The shinier the final result the more resilient and easier to clean it’ll be in the long run. However, matt is better at masking flaws and imperfections in walls and ceilings, leaving behind a really premium look.
Which paint for which room?
Contrary to what you might believe, you can’t always use the same tin of paint across every room in the house. Bathrooms and kitchens need a higher level of sheen, or gloss, to make them easier to clean and more resilient when faced with high moisture and humid conditions.
High-traffic areas like doorways and hallways can get away with less, while bedroom and living room walls will benefit best from the elegance of a matt or low-sheen emulsion.
Most DIY vendors have shelves heaving with tins of emulsion as it’s the most common type of wall paint. The choice can feel overwhelming so if you don't know quite where to start, we’ve rounded up an edit of the best shades to shop now.
Whether you’re planning a major paint job or just a small update, these cans have you covered.
Shop now
COAT Paints in Gumption
Where to use: dining room, lounge, bedroom
The once-cardinal rule of not painting interior walls black has long gone. Black is the new black when it comes to interior walls, even in north-facing rooms which are naturally darker than others.
This dark taupe brown emulsion boasts a matt finish with a 2 per cent sheen which means it’s excellent at hiding plastering flaws and ceiling imperfections. Once dry, it’s also easy to clean and will stay looking in good nick no matter the knocks and scuffs that come at it. A compelling argument if there ever was to go over to the dark side.
Buy now £29.00, COAT
Dunelm Rose Water Eggshell Emulsion Paint
Where to use: bathroom and kitchen
An eggshell finish offers more resilience than matt, making it the option to withstand temperature fluctuations and varying moisture levels. That said, it doesn't have to look hardwearing just because it is.
Dunelm has this delicate-looking shade of pink in its emulsion range, available in 1L and 2.5L pots to best suit your needs. The anti-bacterial paint is safe for use around kids with one coat touch-dry in around two hours, so you can get your home back to standard operating procedure.
Buy now £18.00, Dunelm
COAT Paints in Mezcal
Where to use: kitchen
With a highly durable paint that’s touch-dry in as little as two hours, this colour is perfect for adding a surprise element to high ceilings. It has a 15 per cent sheen so it’ll bounce light back around the space instead of sucking it away. Not only is it low-odour but it does well in high-moisture environments, making it one for jazzing up kitchens and bathrooms.
Buy now £29.00, COAT
Lick Red HTK 57 Matt
Where to use: kitchen diner
Love ketchup? How much? There’s no greater way to prove your love for the nation’s best condiment than by going to town with it on your walls.
Lick has teamed up with Heinz to create 570 limited-edition tins of energising red paint. A fun choice to cover the whole kitchen, highlight trims or simply create an accent feature, this emulsion can paint all sorts of surfaces, from metal radiators and woodwork to plastered walls and ceilings.
Buy now £45.00, Lick
Lick Beige 02 Soho Farmhouse Matt
Where to use: living room, bedroom
From its Soho House collab, this earthy beige with lifting yellow undertones is an easy choice to add warmth to your interiors. The biscuity shade, which comes in a 2.5L tin, is inspired by the private members club's Cotswolds retreat and offers smooth and even coverage, though two coats are wise for the perfect finish.
Use it across multiple surfaces and get it in matt or eggshell finishes, which dries to a gentle sheen.
Buy now £45.00, Lick
Lick Purple 03 DUMBO House Eggshell
Where to use: living room, bedroom, hallways
Dark, moody and infinitely interesting, this deep purple emulsion paint is inspired by Soho House’s NYC outpost. Although it comes in a matt finish, the sheen of eggshell stops the shade from feeling oppressive with a chic lustre. Paired with cream furnishing and metallic details, it feels cosy, cool and welcoming.
Shop the full Lick x Soho House collection here.
Buy now £45.00, Lick
Dunelm x Natural History Museum Kingfisher Teal Matt Emulsion Paint
Where to use: wainscotting, panelling and accent walls
In a bold hue that maximalists will love, this emulsion paint is part of the Wetlabs collab between homewares brand Dunelm and London's prestigious Natural History Museum. Inspired by the feathers of a Kingfisher, the statement teal can be used across surfaces to give a uniform appearance: think walls, woodwork, radiators and primed metal surfaces.
Buy now £28.00, Dunelm
Dulux Matt Emulsion Paint Timeless - 5L
Where to use: ceilings and walls
A warm white is the landlord's favourite for a reason. The neutral, inoffensive colour is universal, working with virtually all interior styles and tastes. Offering a flat, matt finish, the water-based emulsion can be used across the home - including ceilings - leaving behind a crisp finish with a gentle warming glow.
Buy now £34.00, Homebase
Farrow & Ball Estate Matt Emulsion Paint All White - 2.5L
Where to use: everywhere
Here's a classic white emulsion but from a brand name that's essentially the Rolls Royce of wall paint. You’ll find Farrow & Ball’s weird and wackily-named shades splashed across the walls of elite properties, from our own Windsor Castle to multi-million dollar mansions in LA.
If you want to join the club, but you shy away from loud colours, the brand has this classic white with a blue undertone. It can be used alone or paired with the more heritage colours in the collection to create a palette of freshness and light.
Buy now £54.00, Homebase
Victory Colours
Dorset-based Victory Colours is an independent family business that produces water-based paints with a focus on the full life cycle of its products.
Paint is made to order (eliminating the environmental cost of transporting and holding stock in warehouses), whilst all packaging is either recycled or made from sustainable sources, such as bamboo. They’ve even shunned sample pots in a bid to lessen the amount of waste going to landfills - instead, it provides hand-painted sample panels which can be fixed onto the wall without ruining your current decor or the need to be painted over.
Containing only trace elements of VOCs, the paints are free from formaldehyde, and heavy metals and are animal and cruelty-free. They also boast a stunning range of colour options which have real depth and a luxurious finish.
Price is for Matt emulsion, 2.5 litres.
Buy now £44.95, Victory Colours
