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Where to buy paint?

22 replies

Okigen · 15/07/2021 21:31

Hi, this is my first time buying a property so pretty noob. I like Farrow & Ball colours but heard they are quite hard to apply and don't last long. Is there anything more durable and noob-friendly? I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for quality Smile
Ah also the paint needs to be easily washable (as in I can use a towel to clean up kitchen spills, for example). Not sure if this depends on suppliers or not but just want to mention it.
Many thanks!

OP posts:
pubble · 15/07/2021 21:33

I like mylands

User0ne · 15/07/2021 22:03

Buy the best quality trade paint you can afford. They'll match farrow and ball colours. The paint shed has a good range and some useful guides

www.thepaintshed.com/trade-paint

Roseily · 15/07/2021 22:30

Yeah get trade paint if possible - much better quality and cheaper than Farrow and Ball.

Leyland Decorating Centres leylandtrade.com are good - they are in most towns and can offer a range of trade paints and will match colours or they have a good range of Leyland colours.

My only advice is dont go first thing as this is usally when there is a rush on from all the local decorators!

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 15/07/2021 22:31

I find Farrow emulsions really good - excellent coverage and they last, plus the colours last too so touching up is easy. If you want a wipe-down finish, slap a coat of decorator's varnish on top.

I'll never touch their water-based gloss again, though. I used it a few years ago and it was terrible.

milian · 15/07/2021 22:33

Little Greene Intelligent range are our most useable paints currently.

1starwars2 · 15/07/2021 22:38

I always buy Dulux good colours and coverage.
Don't buy "own brand" it's usually shit, thin with poor coverage.

jenjen517 · 15/07/2021 22:38

I swear by wilko paint. It's so good and so cheap.

DameLucy · 15/07/2021 22:43

Valspar from B&Q. They mix the colours for you and there’s literally hundreds of colours to choose from. Goes on really nice and V700 is scrubbable.

HforHotel · 16/07/2021 01:35

I colour match F&B and Little Greene with Johnstone’s intelligent matt. The finish and coverage is excellent and it doesn't mark. I buy through Brewers.

AndWhatNext · 16/07/2021 01:59

Valspar from B&Q

Subbaxeo · 16/07/2021 07:16

We’ve used F&B a lot and never had a problem with it. We used the modern emulsion in our kitchen and it was wipeable and hard wearing. It’s thinner paint to apply but the finish is very good. We also use Paint and Paper Library owned by Little Greene and it’s thicker to apply but again, very good finish.

FuzzyPuffling · 16/07/2021 08:26

I'm a huge fan of Little Greene paints.
Best quality I've found, and wonderful colours. And they do mail order.

Okigen · 16/07/2021 12:09

Wow, so many suggestions. Thank you everyone Grin

OP posts:
BlueMongoose · 17/07/2021 12:11

I use Dulux trade. Trade is a bit thicker than consumer paint. You can thin thick paint if you need to but you can't thicken thin paint. Leyland, Johnstone, plenty of good brands. Avoid the really cheap ones, they are just selling you paint with more water in it, so not cheaper- you have to do more coats, which also takes longer. Most will colour match to anything you like if you go to the right outlet.
Picking the right paint for the room and the surface is the key. Firms like Dulux have lots of choice- see their websites- some matt, some satin, some washable, like silk and eggshell, some specially hardwearing. Dulux has a different website for their trade paints here: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en/products They also have a site for their consumer paints: www.dulux.co.uk/en/product-overview

If your local place doesn't do the colour you want in the surface you want, I recommend 'thepaintshed' online.
Posh paints are expensive but don't necessarily offer anything extra. Exceptions are paints like Earthborn claypaint where the ingredients are different- that specific one is wonderfully easy to put on, and doesn't stink the house out as it dries, but is not as hardwearing as you seem to need.

If you're a newbie, some tips-
-you can get roller 'scuttles', I find them easier to use than trays
-I use a large ladle to get paint from a can to the tray/scuttle/bucket so the can lid doesn't get clogged up with paint
-for ceilings, you can get telescopic rods for rollers so you don't need to get up on ladders.
-always use dustsheets! The very best, and only worth it if you will be doing a fair bit of decorating, have fabric on one side and plastic on the other. The fabric absorbs drips. Purely plastic the drips stay wet and walks everywhere if you aren't careful.
-get decent brushes, not the cheapest. Where you have to 'cut in' (paint the edges with a brush) to a roller-ed wall, I prefer to cut in first, roll after
-if you're only doing a small area, a radiator roller wastes less paint
-when cleaning a roller, first scrape the paint off with a curved scraper -DIY places have them. Roll the roller on the bottom of the sink (if you can) in water, a lot comes off. Then rub roller up and down all round with a bar of soap and rub, rinse, and wash roller clean. Using soap will leave it nice and fluffy again when it's dry. But wash every last bit of paint out until the water runs clear, or you'll get hard bits when it dries.

BlueMongoose · 17/07/2021 12:15

(on reflection, you might be better with a roller tray than a scuttle if you are very new to the game- my bad)

30degreesandmeltinghere · 17/07/2021 12:16

Just sat gazing at Wickes colour book!!
Well amazing!!

Mybobowler · 17/07/2021 12:27

Another vote for Valspar from B&Q. My entire house is painted in Farrow & Ball knock-offs by Valspar - the coverage is great, it's washable and fairly kid proof, and about half the price. I have one room painted in actual F&B and, while the colour is richer and it has a much flatter finish, it shows every single bloody mark and drives me bonkers.

HouseIsOnFire · 17/07/2021 23:45

I had valspar peel off with masking tape, was heart breaking!

Dulux everytime now - have a look if you have a dulux trade centre near you - don't need to be in the trade and they're so helpful and colour match!

user27424799642256 · 17/07/2021 23:53

I have Wickes kitchen paint. Never had any issues wiping it down when needed.

Ladyrattles · 18/07/2021 00:11

My dad (a retired decorator) said we should always buy Dulux and swears its the best paint. However, it sets off my asthma (which my dad thinks I'm imagining lol). So we sneakily tried F&B without telling my dad it wasn't dulux. We were really impressed with how far F&B paint went & how easily it applied. The wipeable emulsion was the better finish of the ones we used but all the colours are so nice. It was the first time I haven't had problems after painting and the paint smell was gone really fast.

usetopie · 13/09/2023 15:15

Hey, congrats on your first property purchase! Farrow & Ball has beautiful colors, but you're right; they can be a bit tricky. You might want to consider paints from a reliable Irish paint company. They often offer durable, noob-friendly options that are also washable. Quality is worth the investment.

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Karmatime · 13/09/2023 16:25

I’ve just finished decorating today! I used a combination of Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Dulux. Little Greene and F&B were both easy to apply and look lovely - kind of a velvety matt and the colours are just beautiful. The F&B is a bit thinner. I used Dulux Timeless too -the standard matt - and it was so thick, like painting with porridge! I ended up having to water it down.
If I could afford it I’d do LG or F&B everywhere but I couldn’t justify it for off white so just chose it for where I’m using colour.
If you have a Brewers near you they are great and stock everything I needed. I think they will also mix for you.

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