Skip to content
Shop Samples
Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Account 0Basket
  • Shop
    • Natural Paint Colours
      • Blues
      • Browns
      • Greens
      • Greys
      • New Neutrals
      • Oranges
      • Pinks/Purples
      • Reds
      • Whites
      • Yellows
    • Featured
      • The Bestsellers
      • The Northern Light Palette
      • Nursery Paint
      • Shade Collection
      • Archived Colours
      • Bespoke By Bulmer
    • Preparatory Products
      • Accessories
      • Colour Cards
      • Primers
      • DIY Painting Set
      • Edward Bulmer’s Book
    • Explore Colour Charts
    • Sample Pots & Testers
  • Inspiration
  • Colour Consultancy
  • How To
    • Choosing Eco Paint Finishes
      • Try Our Samples
      • Emulsion
      • Water Based Eggshell
      • Water Based Gloss
      • Paint Suitable for Lime Plaster
      • Radiator Paint
    • Practical Painting Advice
      • How to Paint Interior Walls and Ceilings
      • How to Paint Interior Woodwork and Metal
      • How to Paint Exterior Woodwork and Metal
    • FAQs
      • Technical Data Sheets
      • Safety Data Sheets
      • Delivery & Returns
      • Packaging
  • Our Difference
    • Responsible Design by Edward Bulmer
    • Pioneering Plant Based Paint
    • Our Honest Ingredients
    • Why Natural Paint?
    • Colours for a Cause
  • Visit
    • London Showroom
    • Retail Partners
    • What’s On
  • Blog
  • Our Bestsellers
  • Paint Calculator
  • 4.75 Reviews.io Rating
  • Order your Colour Chart
Home » Advice on Natural Paint » Practical Painting Advice

Advice on Natural Paint

  • How to Paint Interior Walls and Ceilings
  • How to Paint Interior Woodwork and Metal
  • How to Paint Exterior Woodwork and Metal

Practical Painting Advice

Explore more in this section

Quick Guidelines for Painting

Prepare the room

Move all furniture, including rugs, into the centre of the room and cover with dust sheets. Put dust sheets or newspaper on the floor space beneath painting. It is best to tape newspaper down. Safely remove any light switch plates, door plates, window and door fittings and store somewhere safe with fixings. Ensure all surfaces to be painted are dry, sound, free of dirt. Patch up any cracks and holes, fill and sand to leave a smooth surface for painting. Open doors and windows and keep the room well ventilated while painting and afterwards when practicable.  For detailed advice look at our technical sheets.

Make sure you have all the right equipment

Everything you will need :

  • Dust Sheet 
  • Filler
  • Sandpaper / Sanding Block
  • Paint Tray
  • Paint Brushes 
  • Roller Frame 
  • Roller Sleeve 
  • Paint Kettle 

Tips About Painting

  • Check you have the correct colour – sounds silly but always good to double check !
  • Stir thoroughly before use
  • Apply plenty of paint in first coat (as if you are only going to need one coat)
  • ALWAYS paint to a wet edge
  • Allow all previous coats to dry thoroughly before applying subsequent coat

We want you to achieve the best results so please check through the following guidelines and the further information on the Technical Product Information page which we urge you or your decorator to read.

Tricks for Clearing Up

We recommend getting as much paint out of the brushes and roller by painting on some old paper or newspaper and wipe with old cloth if necessary. Let the brushes and roller sleeve soak in warm soapy water.   Rinse the tray immediately so it can be reused. Thoroughly dry all equipment and store hanging up. The water that you soak the equipment in can either be used on a compost heap or plants!

Dry any waste paint as it is natural enough for the compost heap or disposal with your household waste collection when dry.  Please recycle other packaging or old tools.

Decant leftover paint into smaller airtight containers and keep out of reach of children. Leftover paint maybe stored for up to a year at room temperature. Outdoor sheds and garages will be too cold in the winter. If you have enough leftover paint to be useful, why not donate it to a local charity.

Please see the links in the top left of this page which explain in detail how to successfully paint various surfaces.

Tips About Painting

  • Check you have the correct colour – sounds silly but always good to double check !
  • Stir thoroughly before use
  • Apply plenty of paint in first coat (as if you are only going to need one coat)
  • ALWAYS paint to a wet edge
  • Allow all previous coats to dry thoroughly before applying subsequent coat

We want you to achieve the best results so please check through the following guidelines and the further information on the Technical Product Information page which we urge you or your decorator to read.

Tricks for Clearing Up

We recommend getting as much paint out of the brushes and roller by painting on some old paper or newspaper and wipe with old cloth if necessary. Let the brushes and roller sleeve soak in warm soapy water.   Rinse the tray immediately so it can be reused. Thoroughly dry all equipment and store hanging up. The water that you soak the equipment in can either be used on a compost heap or plants!

Dry any waste paint as it is natural enough for the compost heap or disposal with your household waste collection when dry.  Please recycle other packaging or old tools.

Decant leftover paint into smaller airtight containers and keep out of reach of children. Leftover paint maybe stored for up to a year at room temperature. Outdoor sheds and garages will be too cold in the winter. If you have enough leftover paint to be useful, why not donate it to a local charity.

Please see the links in the top left of this page which explain in detail how to successfully paint various surfaces.

Browse our primers and other natural preparatory products

Shop Preparatory Products

Browse our painting accessories, from rollers to brushes

Shop Painting Tools

The Colour Supplement

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • YouTube

Contact Us

01544 388 535

info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk

Our New London Showroom

194 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UP

Paint Advice

  • Choosing Finishes
  • Practical Advice
  • FAQs
  • Technical Data Sheets
  • Colour Disclaimer

Why Our Paint?

  • Responsible Design
  • Pioneering Plant Based Paint
  • Our Honest Ingredients
  • Lifting the Lid
  • Green Claims Policy

About

  • Our Team
  • Our Film
  • Our Paint
  • Careers
  • Trade Customers

Quick Links

  • Shop Natural Paint
  • Shop Preparatory Products
  • Delivery & Returns
  • Delivering to America
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2025 Natural Paint UK Ltd. Registered in England & Wales (11061886).

Court Of Noke, Pembridge, Herefordshire, HR6 9HW

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

How much paint do I need?

We have created this calculator to help you estimate the amount of paint you will need for your project. Please note that this is only an estimate, based on normal surfaces with two coats of paint.

Please check our practical painting advice - if you are painting onto a very absorbent surface, you may need more paint, and for best results, you may need to prime your surfaces.

If you end up with any leftover paint, get inspired with ways to use any excess paint - it's even compostable!

What are you painting?

Estimated
Painted Wall/Ceiling Area

Our natural matt emulsion is perfect for interior walls and ceilings.

0 litres

0 m2

This estimate is based on the dimensions of your room, minus the space taken by average doors and windows.

For this area, we suggest would be adequate.

Estimated
Woodwork Area

Our water based eggshell or gloss is ideal for woodwork or metalwork.

0 litres

0 m2

This estimate is based on skirting and the doors/windows you tell us about. 1 litre should cover 2-3 doors or 20m of skirting.

For this area, we suggest would be adequate.

Account 0 Basket