Eggshell, satin or gloss?

[AutumnOrange]

Please someone help a painting novice!
What paint is best to use on woodwork (including bannisters) in a house of 6 people (so lots of knocks) and should I prime? Sand, paint, resand and recoat? Any brands that are particularly bad? I am on a budget.
Oh and also should I do ceilings, woodwork then walls?
Any advice very much appreciated.
Thank you 😀

I am sure others will have better advice as I am still learning about this too.

When you are prepping (so sanding etc) it doesn't hugely matter what order you work in (you can keep rotating through each). But the final painting order is ceiling first, then if you have it coving, then walls and finally your door frames, skirting etc.

Your ceiling should be 1 to 2 coats.
Wall it will depend on condition and colour change so could vary between 2 up to 5 (I like to paint it all white and then do my colour)
Woodwork - give it a good fine sand (120 grit paper) to and a clean with sugar soap. I don't usually use a primer but I have a low traffic house. Once sanded give it a coat of paint, light sand again and a second coat.

I have used eggshell which is a lovely matt finish but it does mark easily, definatley would not be using it on banisters and high traffic areas!

Then its personal preference between satinwood and gloss. I used satinwood to repaint my fireplace and really like it, it has a nice soft sheen. Personally not a fan of gloss but that's not to say if you like it then you shouldnt use it!

Hope that helps.

I have used Dulux for all my painting and seems good to me.

Thank you so much! I am not keen on gloss either.
So sand with 120 then paint. When I sand again do I use the 120 again?

Step 1: sand all woodwork (120 grit)
Step 2: clean with sugar soap and leave to dry
Step 3: First coat of satinwood (leave to dry)
Step 4: Sand all woodwork again but lightly (again 12 grit) - you don't want to lift off the paint from step 3.
Step 5: wipe down the dust from sanding
Step 6: second coat of satinwood

I would recommend using the trade version of the dulux satinwood as it does seem more durable. I haven't used other paint brands so can't compare to others.

When you sand in-between coats (you don't have to but it'll give a slightly better finish) you want to do it really lightly, I usually use 120 or 180.

I used eggshell when we did all our woodwork a few years ago as I love the finish, will go for satinwood next time though on bannisters, skirting & doors etc as it's just not hard-wearing enough in our pet, child, clumsy adult household. It only has a little more of a sheen but should last longer.

Avoid the super cheap brands (we used wicks own in some places & dulux/johnstones elsewhere & the wicks looks awful & was hard to paint with). Will be going with Little Greene when we redo as I've used it for furniture & it's lovely, but expensive.

I would avoid Farrow & Ball at all costs. I don't think their wall paint is that bad if prep & undercoat is good (still wouldn't use it though) but their woodwork appropriate paint is terrible.