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The Colour Supplement
Home » Inspiration » How to Choose the Right Paint Finish

How to Choose the Right Paint Finish

Whether you are decorating a room or renovating a whole house,  choosing the right paint finishes from the start are integral to achieving perfect results for you. So here is our guide on how to pick the right paint finish for different rooms and surfaces. Our entire collection of colours are available in 3 different paint finishes: emulsion, eggshell and gloss. All of our heritage paints are of the highest quality, eco friendly and sustainably made with natural raw materials, including only natural earth and mineral pigments – check what’s in our tins here, we declare all ingredients that are in our tin, on our tin.

We are going to explain what all these finishes mean and where and when they are best suited around your home.

paint finish
Conservatory with 'Paris Grey' Water Based Eggshell on the woodwork and 'Brimstone' Emulsion on the walls

Emulsion

Our emulsion is a superior quality, water based, natural paint which gives a luxury, chalky matt paint finish which will bring your walls to life.  The aesthetically low sheen expected from a premium paint combined with an unmatched depth of colour is simply achieved by using natural pigments and non plastic binders with no need for any nasty microbeads.  We have an extremely low (the lowest!) VOC level (0.07%) of any emulsion paint because we ensure our paint is free from any toxic chemicals or synthetic ingredients. Made only from natural ingredients, all the ingredients in our tin are all listed on the tin!

Our Natural Emulsion Paint Finish is:

  • Durable, quality paint with low sheen (2%) and matt paint finish
  • Uniquely pigmented with natural earth and mineral pigments for an unrivaled depth of colour.  No azo dyes
  • Low VOC level at less than 0.1gm/litre. No harmful VOCs so helps indoor air quality in your home
  • Breathable – without a plastic binder our emulsion is 20 x more breathable than modern acrylic paint
  • Applicable in two coats with excellent coverage and good for spraying
  • Water based and made with only natural ingredients
  • Toxin free, no nasty chemicals, so great for allergy sufferers
  • Minimal if not no odour (smell is a very subjective thing!)
  • Wipeable and scuff resistant as well as being child and pet safe
  • Quick drying and easy to clean up after application

For more technical information about our paints, from breathability to storing our paints, click here to download our technical data sheets.

'Dutch Orange' in our Emulsion Paint Finish
'Gladstone' in our Emulsion Paint Finish

Where to use our Natural Emulsion:

  • Our Emulsion is the perfect paint finish for Walls and Ceilings
  • Perfect for primed lime plaster and great for use in old houses
  • Can be used in well ventilated bathrooms

Water Based Eggshell

Our Water Based Eggshell has a satin finish and is suitable for use on all interior woodwork and metalwork, including radiators.  This environmentally friendly, water based eggshell is solvent free, non yellowing and water thinnable.  It is a quick drying eggshell paint made with plant oils, minerals, natural pigments and bound with a novel, semi-natural binder called Decovery. We declare all the ingredients used to make this eggshell which is effectively VOC free and so the lowest VOC rating of any eggshell.

The ideal complement to our natural emulsion wall paint finish.  Edward Bulmer Water Based Eggshell creates a creamy impression which is luxuriant but it is also robust enough to withstand the rigours of modern living.

Our Natural Water Based Eggshell Paint Finish is:

  • Environmentally friendly, water based, eggshell paint
  • Colours made from natural earth and mineral pigments which are longer lasting and has greater depth, no azo dyes
  • Mid sheen at 30%
  • Completely wipeable and washable, scuff and stain resistant
  • Virtually VOC free (< 1g/l which is 0.07%).  Under EU directive classed as VOC free
  • No (or minimal) odour.  Smell is a personal thing!
  • Child and pet safe.
  • Vegan natural paint
  • Water based with no toxic chemicals, all ingredients are declared on the tin
  • Brushes easy to clean up after application
  • Available in our full range of 102 designer colours

For more technical information about our paints, from breathability to storing our paints, click here to download our technical data sheets.

'Jonquil' Emulsion on the walls and 'Fair White' Water Based Eggshell on the woodwork and door
'Fair White' Water Based Eggshell on the Radiator

Where to use our Natural Water Based Eggshell Finish:

  • Woodwork – great for Kitchen Cabinets, Doors & Door frames and Skirting
  • Metalwork, such as radiators (up to 70 degrees)
  • Walls in the house that might expect more where and tear (kitchen)
  • Bathrooms with little ventilation (wet-room, bathroom with panelling, or small bathrooms)
  • Not suitable for floors

Water Based Gloss

Our Water Based Gloss has a sheen of 80% and is suitable for use on all interior woodwork and metalwork, including radiators.  This environmentally friendly, water based eggshell is solvent free, non yellowing and water thinnable.  It is a quick drying eggshell paint made with plant oils, minerals, natural pigments and bound with a novel, semi-natural binder called Decovery.   We declare all the ingredients used to make this eggshell which is effectively VOC free and so the lowest VOC rating of any eggshell.  Edward Bulmer Water Based Gloss is not super high gloss.

The ideal complement to our natural emulsion wall paint.  Edward Bulmer Water Based Gloss will create an ultra modern shiny surface highly reflective to light but it is also robust enough to withstand the rigours of modern living, so you can wipe off those finger prints.

Our Natural Water Based Gloss Paint Finish is:

  • Environmentally friendly water based, eggshell gloss paint finish
  • Colours made from natural earth and mineral pigments which are longer lasting and have greater depth, no azo dyes.
  • Gloss finish with 80% sheen level
  • Completely wipeable and washable, scuff and stain resistant.
  • Virtually VOC free (< 1g/l which is 0.07%).  Under EU directive classed as VOC free
  • No (or minimal) odour.  Smell is a personal thing!
  • Child and pet safe
  • Vegan natural paint
  • Water based with no toxic chemicals, all ingredients are declared on the tin
  • Brushes easy to clean up after application

For more technical information about our paints, from breathability to storing our paints, click here to download our technical data sheets.

'Tea Green' Water Based Gloss on an exterior wooden bench
'Tea Green' Water Based Gloss on an exterior metal bench

Where to use our Natural Water Based Gloss Finish:

  • Perfect for interior woodwork and metalwork if you are looking for a higher sheen (80%)
  • Our Water Based Gloss is suitable for radiators and heat up to 70°C
  • Not suitable for floors
  • Perfect for exterior woodwork like doors or fences; we recommend painting from April to September
  • Great for exterior metalwork like railings and gates; we recommend painting from April to September

Have you found the right finishes and are you ready to paint? Watch our quick ‘How to’ videos below for top tips and tricks on how to paint with our Emulsion and Water Based Eggshell.

For more technical information about our paints, from breathability to storing our paints, click here to download our technical data sheets.

HOW TO PAINT USING OUR EMULSION
HOW TO PAINT USING OUR WATER BASED EGGSHELL

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The Colour Supplement

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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.

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