As a decorator, I am often asked which paint brands are best. There are so many different types of paint on the market, and many of them very good. My main advice would be is not to buy too cheap. It may seem a bargain, but in the long run is a false economy. Many “economy” paints have a high water content that means you actually end up using much more and the finish is often lacking.

Matte Paint

Matte Paint is a paint that does not reflect much light and has a very low shine.

Matte paint is one of the most popular paints used today. I would consider matte paint to one of the easiest paint of beginners, as it is generally easy to apply with a brush or roller and covers blemishes easier.

Soft Sheen/Silk Paint

Very similar to Matte paint in application, but offers more of a sheen to the finish. Soft sheen/ Silk Paint can create more warmth and a softer look to your room.

Egg Shell Paint

Eggshell is much more durable and often used in bathrooms and Kitchens due to their tough, durable finish. A great choice for families with young children as much easier to wipe away marks. Available in emulsion for walls and acrylic base ideal for interior wood, metal and plaster.

Ceiling Paint

I tend to recommend you use a different and neutral colour on you ceilings. Painting a whole room uniform colour can make your room seem closed in. I would recommend Matte or Eggshell paints that don’t reflect to much light. Soft/ Satin sheen for example will only make the room look smaller.

Glossy/ Semi Glossy Paint

Gloss paints are notoriously more difficult to work with.

Thicker and harder to spread evenly, Semi-gloss tends to be really bright and has a smooth; even surface that is durable. Gloss is popular to for furniture and woodwork. It’s generally easy to clean and tends to resist moisture more.

High gloss paints have many of these same characteristics, but are in most cases even more durable and more reflective. I would not recommend a gloss finish on walls, it would be too overpowering and almost impossible to get a perfect finish.

Primer

A primer creates a smooth and flawless finish to uneven surfaces.

Any decent professional painter would use a primer. Using a primer makes the paint looks better and wears better.

You can get different primers for different surfaces, so make sure your read the tin properly and get the right one for the job.

Paint with chalk.

Paint with chalk has been around for some time but has become more popular in the last few years.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “shabby Chic”, paint with chalk is perfect to achieve this look.

The advantages are you do not need to prime first though as a professional painter and decorator i would recommend you do so for maximum durability.

Easy to sand and distress, probably the best option for furniture painting novices.

There are many different types of chalk paint on the market. Look out for my future blog on Autentico V Annie Sloan.

Chalk board paint is also a great option for children’s bedrooms. What’s better than a child actually being allowed to draw on the walls! The best bit of all is you can just wipe it clean again.

These are just the basics in paint available as a specialist painter and decorator I work with many different mediums. But these are the ones you are most likely to come across.

I’ll be blogging more in the future about decorative finishes and how you can achieve some basic skills to try at home yourselves

If you are looking for a painter and decorator in Bristol please do not hesitate to get in touch.