Paint brands.

[Globules]

Is there much difference between them?

If you could choose between Valspar, Dulux and Good Home, which would you go for? And why?

Assistant in B&Q was raving about how good he thought Good Home was, but his wife preferred Dulux. Never even heard of Valspar before.

My bathroom installer recommended Johnson's paints or Valspar. Went with the Valspar and happy with it. If the colour is discontinued and we need more in the future, it won't be a problem because with their mixing system, they can mix paint to any colour you require.

It did take 3 coats, but we knew it was going to take at least that as we were covering a truly ghastly mustard.

Modern paints- Dulux trade, Johnstone trade, or Leyland trade.
Paint for old houses, earthborn claypaint.

I use Satinwood Trade all the time, it works fine for me. You'll miss out on a lot if you exclude all Dulux's brilliant Trade paints because a water-based woodwork paint isn't much good- they have some fantastic specialist finishes, like L&S. I honestly think all water-based QD wood/metal paint is pretty shite, and I've tried a few. If you used the spirit-based Satinwood Trade it flows and levels excellently and brushes out beautifully and certainly doesn't dry as you work. It takes a couple of days to dry enough for the mattish finish to emerge and the glossy appearance to dull, that's all. It flows so well you can even joina wet bit to a previously painted dry bit and if you brush it out properly, you can't see the join.
I recently (my mistake) bought a water-based exterior black gloss (not Dulux as it happens but a good brand) for a lamp post. The post was perfectly prepared and primed. The gloss was b* awful, despite careful stirring it was stringy, had next to zero coverage, and was drying mattish. I stopped after about a square foot. Went and bought some Trade Gloss and it went on like a dream, covered in one coat, and is very shiny.
I do occasionally use a water-based gloss. But only when I need the QD aspect and what I'm doing is just painting a temporary bodge of some sort. That's about the only thing any water-based gloss is any good for in my book.

Oil-based gloss/satin/eggshell - whatever - would always be my choice for woodwork and metal etc.

The ONLY time I plump for water-based is if it’s white. Oil-based white will “yellow” much quicker than water-based.

Agree with @TattoedLady that Colourtrend paint is brilliant, lovely finish and great colour range. Also comes in a good range of finishes so lots of choices there too.

Frenchic wall and trim paint is also lovely to use, washable and nice colours.

I have heard great things about Little Greene but haven’t used it myself.

I’ve converted the 3 decorators working on new house to Benjamin Moore ScuffX for woodwork. Expensive but goes a long way.

I have never heard of a decorator say that F&B is any good, they generally hate working with it.
We had a piece of furniture made for an awkward space and the quite high-end company clearly stated that they do not work with F&B paints.

From what I hear from decorators, F&B is just bog standard paint with fancy PR and an expensive price tag. I saw a TV programme on the company, very interesting and all that, but I was waiting to hear what was different about their paints chemically to any old modern trade paint. Nada. Doesn't seem to be clay-based or anything like that.

I am told that LG is good, but I'm happy with Dululx Trade and other local Trade paints when it comes to modern paint. Earthborn Claypaint for clay based paint for lime plaster (claypaint also doesn't smell the place out and is worth a go for those with allergies).

@BlueMongoose how do you find Earthborn Claypaint in terms of durability? Can it be scrubbed (lightly)? Would you recommend it for high traffic areas like hallway/stairs?

My uncle was a decorator and he liked Johnstones best so I always use that . Assuming they've got through colour wanted .

Not the person you are replying too, but I would say possibly not. We have it in every room in our house (even the kitchen), but are v careful not to mark the walls. Scrubbing at marks will remove the paint as well as the mark, BUT painting over marks is very effective - new patches blend really well with older paint.

Thank you @BotchedToe