Best value durable paint brands for decorating a whole house

[AguNwaanyi]

Finally getting around to painting my home and would love to hear personal experiences with different paints.

Originally, I got some testers from Farrow & Ball, but their prices are quite steep so can’t choose this for my whole house.

We have used Valspar in the past for diy and it was okay-ish but could be that our technique just needed some work. It does seem to be more budget friendly. But I am wondering if there are other better quality ones that aren’t too expensive (?) Durability is really important as well. Or different types might work for different rooms (?)

Welcome any pointers.

i've decorated the whole of downstairs in differnet colours of Dulux Trade and found it excellent. Mainly just the vinyl matt for walls but I also used the Diamond one in the hall for scuffability as thenkids drive me mad with their shoes and dragging their babckpacks along the walls. I particularly like the quick dry satinwood for skirting boards as its water based so much easier to clean up.

I tend to buy it online as Dulux Trade isnt parricularly cheap (Next Day Paints usually cheapest) but a little goes a long way. I find it easy to paint with compared to other brands used in the past.

I dont work for Dulux! 😃

Haha, thank you. Is Next Door Paints one of the places for the high quality version? Just seen warnings not to get Dulux Trade from
B&Q as apparently it’s not the same.

We're at the point of painting after major renovations. We go to a local paint shop and they colour match to F&B, dulux, lick and all the main paint lines using armstead as a base. They do sell the main brands too but why pat 3x as much for a brand name??? We're only 2 rooms in, so I can't comment on durability, but we're very pleased so far.

'Armstead is a professional-grade trade paint brand owned and manufactured by AkzoNobel (the makers of Dulux). It serves as a high-performance, budget-friendly alternative to Dulux Trade, favoured by contractors and DIYers for its superb coverage, durability, and extensive colour-mixing capabilities'

www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/brands/armstead

Our decorator used to recommend Valspar Trade. We invited him round to quote for another job and he now recommends Johnson Acrylic Durable Matt.

Definitely not Farrow and Ball, it just becomes dusty and wipes off in our house.
Replaced it with Dulux which seems much better.

I’ve decorated the whole house in Johnstone’s.
China clay is a beautiful neutral.

I think as long as it says 'Dulux Trade' on the tin insteas of 'Dulux' it doesnt matter where you get it from. But yes, B&Q only sell the 'Dulux' cheaper, non trade version I believe, which is inferior (I think they have some Trade in the professionals section?)

You can buy Dulux Trade from Dulux Decorator Centres, Brewers in person and online lots of place eg Next Day Paint, The Paint Shed etc. If you are buying in person look online first as its sonetimes a bit cheaper to order online and pick up in store.

Zinsser, especially for woodwork and their specialist mould prevention paint for bathrooms.

I used Zinzer to cover up water damage on a ceiling and to prime a laminate shelf to paint, but do they do a an emumsuon range for painting walls?

Mould prevention sounds good!

We used Johnsons brilliant white gloss on the downstairs toilet skirting boards and door , ( previous colour was an off white gloss )
Walls then painted Brilliant White Silk ( cannot remember which brand )

The Johnsons morphed from white to cream which looks noticeable next to the white walls and will need re-done

Not sure what they used on the walls, but a previous landlord used to use Dulux weathershield on the (indoor) woodwork (doors & skirtings) as they said it was very durable with tenants. Not sure if it smells more than "indoor" paint or not as the flat was going to be empty when they decorated.

Do you have a Brewers Decorating Centre near you? I used to use Dulux the diamond finish or hard wearing finish, the one you can wipe down. But more recently used Albany from Brewers, also in the washable finish. It worked out cheaper than the Dulux, they colour match to F&B, and it was a lot more pigmented so i ended up using less.

That'll be the gloss finish, it's notorious for yellowing.

Our local Dulux store has the codes for farrow and ball, so you can get a match of any colour and it’s good quality paint, reasonable price etc.
Little greene is expensive but paints beautiful, and is a tougher finish than farrow.

Just checked and none near but not too bad to get to with transport so will take a look. Thanks!

I’ve used Johnstone’s Matt and egg shell colour matched to farrow and ball. 5litres johnstones durable Matt emulsion is currently £45

I get it from Brewers

Johnstone's. I walked into a decorating centre, spent £30 on 10 litres and its incredibly durable.
I have the colour Whippet which is a lovely soft neutral.

It's the oil in the gloss paint. Over time, it rises to the surface of the paint.
Next time use a satinwood, or do what I did and paint the trim in a different colour.

Always buy trade paint from eg Brewers or The Paint Shed. There are lots of sites talking about which paint to use, Johnstones always comes out well. I’ve used Crown Trade Clean Extreme which I like for areas such as hall/utility. Also to say if you’re doing white go white not brilliant white.

https://www.thedecoratorsforum.com/best-durable-matt-emulsion-paint/

Dulux all the way.

Johnstone washable matt emulsion for high traffic areas. I have used pure brilliant white in my kitchen, living room, bedrooms and it's affordable. Good stuff. I get it from B&Ms.

We also use Dulux Trade diamond matt from Brewers. Brilliant stuff.