Repainting our homes is not something we do very often, which means many of us don’t know which type of emulsion paint is the right one.
With such a range in the type of paint, brands and colors to choose from in the UK, if you’re feeling overwhelmed then you’re not alone.
Which emulsion paint is the best? Is Johnstones better than Dulux? These are all questions every homeowner asks themselves before taking on a home decoration project.
Don’t despair, I’m here to help. Whether you’re using an emulsion paint sprayer, or a good ol’ fashioned brush and roller, the list is the same.
So Which Are the Best Emulsion Paints on the UK Market?
Firstly, whilst there are tons of different types of paint, let’s quickly run through the different types of emulsion finishes so you can get your head around the different ones.
Here are main 5 finishes you’ll likely encounter:
- Gloss
- Satin
- Eggshell
- Silk
- Matt (Most common)
The most commonly used emulsion for walls and ceilings is the Matt finish. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to assume you’ll most likely be using the standard Matt finishes.
Of course, each different brand, be it Dulux or Farrow & Ball will have a variety of colors in each range so we’ll also stick to the Pure Brilliant White varieties to keep things simple.
Best Overall for Walls & Ceilings: Dulux Pure Brilliant White Matt Emulsions
Considered the most popular mid-range brand of paint in the UK, you really can’t go to far wrong with Dulux. It’s extremely well filtered (so no lumps), dries in a short amount of time, and has a long-standing history of perfection.
Basically, it does what it says on the tin. It makes your walls light and bright.
At the time of writing it is available in a range of colours (33 colour choices on Amazon at the moment), unless you’re color matching or need something specific, then this your go-to emulsion.
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Choose from 1 litre to 5 litre container sizes, so depending on your requirements you can make sure you don’t overbuy (or underbuy for that matter).
If still in doubt, there are over 33,000 customer reviews for you to devour, with a lot of images of the various colours used on other customers’ walls.
Best Value for the Money: Crown Extra Value Pure White Flat Matt
If budget is the main priority on your list then the Crown extra value range is around 30% cheaper than its Dulux counterparts.
It’s a simple, good quality paint that doesn’t break the bank. It’s perfect for rental properties that gett redecorated after every tenant, or perhaps children’s bedroom that changes color frequently as they grow or just gets dirty very quickly.
Available in 7.5 litre pots, this is a ‘one size fits all’ solution for your matt emulsion problems.
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Open the tin, add water as needed and apply with a medium pile roller. In a well-ventilated room, you can expect it to be touch dry within 2-4 hours.
Best Ultra Tough & Washable: Dulux Easycare Washable Matt Emulsion
Sometimes, regular products just don’t cut it. Enter the Dulux Easycare range.
It’s proven formulation is rated to be up to 20x tougher than their regular emulsion range, the Easycare products benefit from high impact, anti-stain and easy to clean properties for those areas in the home that always seem to get dirty.
Just one coat of paint can produce a finish that will protect your walls against muddy dogs sliding along them, coffee splatters, kids felt tip pens, everyday cooking stains and much much more. Simply wipe it with soapy water or a damp cloth and your wall will be good as new.
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It’s certainly not the cheapest on this list so you likely wouldn’t want to use it on ceilings or rarely used surfaces of the home, but it fills a purpose and gets very rave reviews from customers.
As emulsions go, this one typically retails at approximately 30% more than Duluxes standard range per litre so bear this in mind when planning which rooms it is going to be used in.
Best Emulsion for Bathrooms: Johnstone’s Water Resistant Bathroom Emulsion
If you’re tired of regularly repainting your bathrooms due to lack of ventilation then the Johnstones Water Resistant collection could be the best way for you to go.
Considered specialist paints, its moisture resisting mid-sheen finish, it offers mid-range protection again slow damp and mold build-up in rooms that suffer the most from it.
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By the litre, it doesn’t work out that much more expensive compared with the bestselling Dulux Matt range that doesn’t offer any water-resistant properties so this is a no-brainer for bathrooms or washer rooms.
Best Coverage: Johnstones 5 Litre Brilliant White Trade Paint
If cost is no object or you’re a professional decorator, then the Johnstone’s Trade range is considered one of the best. From emulsions to glosses, the entire Trade family is well-renowned in the industry.
Not only for its quality paints that provide excellent coverage from just a few coats but because of the quality of finish once it dries.
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As with most trade paints, the colors are exactly as advertised, long-lasting and thick. Whilst you may find it a little harder to apply to the surface because of the thickness (most tradesmen like to thin their own), you will find yourself decorating much less frequently and achieving a much better finish by simply spending a little more on a top of the range product designed for professionals.
For a very quick recap, here are our Top 3 products:
- Chromalock Technology
- 33 Colour Choices
- Matt Finish
- Amazon's Best Seller
- Matt Emulsion
- 7.5 litre Pots
- Pure Brilliant White
- Amazon's Choice
- Stain Resistant
- 33 Colour Choices
- Matt Emulsion
- Amazon's Best Seller
Summary
And that’s it, they are my top 5 picks to suit a wide variety of uses, which is best for you? Well, hopefully, I’ve provided enough details for you to be able to choose for yourself.
The only thing I cant help you choose is colour 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for or want to learn more, here are some frequently asked questions from around the web.
Which paint brand is best?
Which brand is best depends on who you ask. Dulux, Johnstones and Farrow & Ball’s are considered the industry leaders. Dulux being the most common among homeowners, Johnstones among decorators and Farrow & Ball is typically at the higher end of the market.
Which paint is best for walls?
Emulsion is the industry standard paint for most walls and ceilings. Gloss is reserved for window sills, doors, window frames, and other trim work.
What is the best washable paint for walls?
The Dulux Easycare Washable paint is considered one of the bestsellers in the UK. It’s extremely durable against various stains, kids, and pets!
Is Dulux Trade better than Dulux?
The difference between Trade paints and their regular counterparts is the thickness in the formulation. Most consumer products off the shelf come pre-thinned ready for application. Many tradesmen and decorators to have their paint unthinned to allow them to be more versatile (such as when using a paint sprayer)
