When embarking on any painting project, whether it’s refreshing your living room or revamping your exterior façade, the paint brand you choose plays a pivotal role in the outcome. The UK boasts a range of reputable paint brands renowned for their quality, sustainability, and durability. Exploring the unique features of each can help you make an informed decision on the best paint for your interior or exterior projects.
Dulux
One of the most well-known paint brands in the UK, Dulux has been a household name for decades. For both interiors and exteriors, Dulux offers a remarkable range of products that cater to different needs, making it a go-to option for many. Their selection covers everything from matt and silk paints to specialised formulations for kitchens, bathrooms, exterior masonry, and woodwork.
Dulux’s endurance range for interiors is particularly popular due to its long-lasting finish. Areas prone to high traffic, like hallways or living rooms, benefit from paint that doesn’t wear down or demand touch-ups after a short period. Their EasyCare washable and tough paint feature is perfect for families with young children or pets, as it allows for effortless cleaning of surfaces without damaging the paint.
One of the standout features of Dulux is the extensive colour range, offering over 1,200 shades. Their online visualiser tool also allows you to see what any given colour will look like in real-time, helping you avoid the common mistake of choosing shades purely from colour samples. Dulux also prioritises eco-friendliness, continuously working to improve their sustainability, through water-based, low-volatility-compound formulations.
Although Dulux is a trusted brand for both DIY enthusiasts and professionals, it may come at a higher price point compared to others on the market. However, customers often deem the quality, durability, and range of options as worth the investment.
Crown Paints
Crown Paints is another popular UK manufacturer with a rich history, and they compete closely with Dulux for market share. Known for their reliable and cost-effective products, Crown offers excellent quality at more affordable prices, making them ideal for the price-conscious decorator without sacrificing performance.
The company is known for its Clean Extreme range, particularly useful for homes with children or pets. The paint’s anti-moisture and anti-stain properties ensure lasting results when used in kitchens, bathrooms, or any other moisture-prone areas. Besides, their wall and ceiling paints come with an array of finishes, including gloss, satin, and matt, offering great versatility.
Crown’s Breatheasy technology is particularly appealing for health-conscious homeowners, as the paint is 99% solvent-free. This makes it an excellent choice for bedrooms, nurseries, or any room where air quality is of particular importance.
While Crown may not have quite the overwhelming variety of colours that Dulux offers, they still have a sufficient palette, which remains broad enough to cater to most interior designs. They’ve also invested in eco-conscious initiatives, emphasising sustainability, waste reduction, and recycling in their manufacturing processes.
Farrow & Ball
If you’re after something premium or perhaps a more artisan approach, Farrow & Ball may well be a leading contender. Known for their luxurious finishes and highly curated colour palette, Farrow & Ball is a top choice for design enthusiasts looking to make a statement with their paintwork.
Founded in Dorset in the 1940s, Farrow & Ball sets itself apart by sticking to traditional methods of paint production but also embracing eco-friendly formulations. All of their paints are water-based, low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and manufactured using natural pigments. Despite the eco-conscious formula, premium-level durability is maintained, with their paint known for exceptional lasting power both indoors and outdoors.
Farrow & Ball doesn’t offer thousands of shades like some other brands. Instead, they present a well-thought-out selection of 132 colours. Each one is rich, highly pigmented, and considered. Their paints are intentionally designed to work well in various lighting, with some shades shifting subtly depending on the time of day and natural light levels.
The cost of Farrow & Ball paints is noticeably higher, and many argue that you are paying for the branding as well as the quality. However, for those keen on design, it tends to be well worth the investment. For exteriors, their masonry paints offer equal luxury, with resistance to extreme weather conditions and rich tones that outshine a lot of less premium alternatives.
Johnstone’s
Johnstone’s is another well-respected player within the UK paint market, catering particularly to professionals but also widely popular among DIYers. Its top-tier offerings are made more appealing by the brand’s competitive price points.
An extensive range of products characterises Johnstone’s, from wall and ceiling paints to their trusted wood and metal finishes. For more demanding environments, such as moisture-heavy rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, Johnstone’s has several ranges designed to resist mould and maintain structural integrity, ensuring your walls remain pristine.
Johnstone’s trade paints are some of the best in the industry, with some decorators swearing by their One Coat Matt and Universal Primer. Even though their consumer lines are still of high quality, it’s their professional range that holds consistent praise. If you’re looking to save time on renovations, their “One Coat” products are solid choices; they truly tend to live up to their name, offering excellent coverage with minimal need for re-coating.
Their long tradition in producing affordable yet effective exterior paint also makes Johnstone’s a good option for people looking to paint masonry, wood, or metalwork outside. With weather-resistant properties and resilient pigments, their exterior paints can endure the UK’s varied and often unpredictable climate.
Leyland Trade
Mostly found in decorating centres and trade supply stores, Leyland Trade is a popular choice among professionals. It is well-regarded for its budget-friendly prices and excellent performance, offering good coverage, durability, and workability compared to other trade brands.
While Leyland products tend to have mid-range coverage in some cases, their strength lies in providing a professional finish at a lower cost. Leyland paints cut down on preparation time, and their quick-drying emulsions and primers are favoured for commercial, industrial, and home projects.
Leyland Trade paints may not come in the broad range of colours offered by Farrow & Ball or Dulux, but their palette is still versatile, with colours curated to reflect contemporary, functional environments. Interior decorators appreciate Leyland for their versatility on various surfaces, such as wood, bare plaster, or previously painted walls.
On the exterior front, Leyland offers weather-resistant masonry paints designed to withstand the elements, particularly suited for traditional British homes. With excellent opacity levels and UV resistance, many professionals trust Leyland Trade for outdoor projects that not only need to look good but stand the test of time.
Little Greene
Little Greene may not have the widespread recognition of some other brands, but it is fast becoming a favourite, especially among high-end designers. Known for producing both traditional and modern colours, Little Greene’s range appeals to homeowners looking for distinctiveness in their design style.
One of the unique selling points of Little Greene is their dedication to environmental causes. The brand has committed to producing wholly sustainable paints. Their products are water-based, contain low levels of VOCs, and many of the pigments used are naturally sourced. Little Greene is also known for working closely with conservation bodies to recreate historic colours.
Little Greene’s interior paints are available in a wide array of finishes — from subtle matt to velvety gloss. For exteriors, The Intelligent Masonry Paint range is one of the more durable options on the market, offering weather protection of up to 15 years when properly applied. The natural pigments and advanced formulation mean the colour will stay vibrant even in prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions.
The premium price tag might be a drawback for some, but those invested in unique, eco-friendly aesthetics may find the investment worthwhile. Additionally, Little Greene employs mindful packaging with recyclable tins and minimal plastic, further enhancing its appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Sanderson
Known primarily for their beautiful fabrics and wallpapers, Sanderson also offers a solid selection of high-quality paints that harmonise eloquently with their broader product offerings. Established in 1860, the brand has a history closely tied to British home décor, and their paint colours reflect classic taste and elegance.
Sanderson paints have a luxurious, smooth finish, whether in matt, eggshell, or gloss. Their colour palette leans towards soft tones that work well in both period homes and modern properties. Their finishes are designed to enhance the timeless elegance that Sanderson wallpapers are famous for.
These paints are also formulated with durability in mind, especially their water-based eggshells that are suitable for wood and metal applications as well as interior walls. This makes them excellent for trim work, cabinetry, doors, and other frequently handled surfaces.
For homeowners with a penchant for period architecture or traditional design, Sanderson’s paint line is hard to beat. Its prices, again on the higher end, combine with a reputation for longevity and pigment richness, ensuring that your paint job will look fresh for as long as possible, indoors and out.
In Conclusion
The UK paint market is blessed with a diverse range of options, each tailored to specific needs and tastes. Dulux and Crown offer reliability for both professional and DIY enthusiasts, while Farrow & Ball and Little Greene are a staple for those willing to pay a premium for superior finishes and eco-friendly formulations. Johnstone’s and Leyland Trade are trusted names among professionals for providing versatile and cost-effective solutions for larger-scale projects, and Sanderson appeals to the design-inclined homeowner with their rich, curated offerings.
Before committing to a brand, consider the scope of your painting project, your long-term goals, and your budget. Likewise, take note of the unique challenges that both interior and exterior spaces present. Whether it’s durability, colour depth,
