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Better quality white paint?

(55 Posts)
Lisagran Fri 07-Jun-19 13:01:57

We painted our sitting room with white emulsion a few years ago and now it needs re-doing. Is it worth spending more on high end paints like Farrow and Ball? Big difference in the cost! Or are Dulux / Crown etc just as good?

ctussaud Sat 08-Jun-19 10:13:59

If you’re painting a room in a dark rich colour, the extra pigment in high-end paint will give a better result. We had a small room painted rich red and many people thought we’d put velvet on the walls. When we came to repaint, the specialist painter had gone out of business so we had the red paint copied by Dulux. The colour was spot on but the velvety finish was lost.

If you’re painting a naturally dark room, avoid white as in daylight it will always appear grey. I’d vote for yellow; as pale or as dark as you like, but it’ll look wonderful.

Paperbackwriter Sat 08-Jun-19 10:25:23

I'm keen on Farrow and Ball - it's something to do with the density of their pigments. I don't find their colours dull at all but my son--in-law, who was painting our spare room in Pale Hound said it was 'gloomy'. That was until he'd finished it and then changed his mind! As for white - I find Brilliant white just too glaring and a bit blue-ish. A good bet is the basic trade white. Simple and effective, whoever it's made by.

Greciangirl Sat 08-Jun-19 10:36:01

It seems you can’t buy gloss paint anymore. Well, not from ordinary suppliers. It’s on,y available from dulux trade centres.
The replacement paint has a dull finish and I don’t like it,

Has anyone else found that.

sweetcakes Sat 08-Jun-19 10:39:58

I used Wilko paint once very disappointed didn't cover well and when cleaning a mark of the wall the paint came off with it! Never used it again.

marionk Sat 08-Jun-19 10:47:00

We used Farrow and Ball in our spare room - I can only say it was the WORST paint I have ever used - awful to put on, awful coverage (used more to paint this little bedroom than our entire lounge in Valspar) and it has marked badly which won’t wipe off. Valspar all the way from now on

theretheredear Sat 08-Jun-19 10:47:10

Well having tried many over the years, i have found Johnsons trade covers & lasts the best.

theretheredear Sat 08-Jun-19 10:50:45

Johnstones paint!smile

Craftycat Sat 08-Jun-19 11:00:09

Our decorator will only use Farrow & Ball- he supplies it as part of his fee sit once we have chosen colour & gets it trade so it is not expensive. At first we were wary but it gives such a good finish & lasts so long that now we are fine with it.
They have some gorgeous colours too.

Coolgran65 Sat 08-Jun-19 11:13:01

We use Valspar premium. It’s excellent and they will mix to exact colours using a computer.

Fernbergien Sat 08-Jun-19 11:13:49

Used Wilco paint in bathroom. A good grey colour. Pleased.

pollysgran Sat 08-Jun-19 11:20:13

Stopped using F&B because of cost but have since found other paints vastly inferior so a completely false economy, now back to F&B, including eggshell paint on furniture. I can’t fault it. The man in B&Q persuaded me that Valspar was great. I bought a deep dark green for a dining room that was only used in the evenings. What a disaster. I painted coat after coat, and when I finally finished the so-called matt finish had a sheen which I HATE on walls.
However, after reading this thread I’ll try Little Greene too!

Edithb Sat 08-Jun-19 11:35:22

I use eggshell rather than gloss for woodwork as it stays white. I also use it outside on stone sills and gate posts and it is very durable. Brushes can be washed out with water.

mokryna Sat 08-Jun-19 12:08:06

I have used F& b paint everywhere and everyone comments how much they like my colour choices but I just put it down to the extra pigment giving the colour a deeper context. However my daughter swears by Little Green but we both have F&B wallpaper.

Redrobin51 Sat 08-Jun-19 12:15:49

When we moved to our bungalow our lounge which is long and much narrower we found it got very little natural light. The bay window is small and we just get a small amount of sun in the first quarter of it. It was extremely dark and despressing. We decided to redecorate have a pale fireplace and carpet but the thing that made the most difference was the pain. We used Dulux Light and Spave and chose the Moon Shimmer shade. Even though it went on the walls looking a very soft white when the carpet was down it somehow reflected that colour. The room suddenly looks much lighter and larger and everyone who saw it before can't believe the difference. The decorator said it was the best paint she had ever had to put on and went out and bought some for her own home. Someone I know recommended it as she lived in a dark rectory and she said the difference was immense even though she hadn't changed any of the carpet or furnishings.
We had an unfortunate experience with Valspar as we were some of the people who had the batch that was faulty, at certain times of year when it is warm the room has a hint of a cat pee smell even though no cat has been near the place. The colour was beautiful but I would never risk it again. I know some people went to great lengths to get compensation from Valspar and did but unfortunately we had too much going on in our lives at the time, always regretted not pursuing it further. Good luck with whatever you chose.

Niucla97 Sat 08-Jun-19 12:16:26

A friend of mine swears by Homebase paint

newnanny Sat 08-Jun-19 12:19:39

We use Crown white emulsion and that has not lost its brightness. The worst gloss we have ever used was Johnsons white which went cream in a matter of a few months. We are non-smoking household.

BusterTank Sat 08-Jun-19 12:25:48

I bought farrow and ball paint and would not say it's the best quality . A painted recommended B&Q valspar paint its hard wearing and washable . If it was the farrow and ball colours you want they will mix them for you , for quarter of the price .

GinJeannie Sat 08-Jun-19 12:31:18

Disappointed in Wilco emulsion as it took 3 coats of Delicate Duck Egg to cover cream bedroom walls. Guess you get what you pay for, but I do love this colour!

Pat1949 Sat 08-Jun-19 13:08:26

I didn't like Valspar, it seems to be a bit runny. Tend to stick to Dulux. My daughter uses Farrow and Ball which gives a very nice finish

nannypiano Sat 08-Jun-19 13:41:48

I like rooms done in white emulsion. They are so easy to touch up when marks appear. I always use the trade paint from Jewsons. If it's good enough for professionals it's good enough for me.

sandelf Sat 08-Jun-19 13:46:13

Don't know about white but if you go colour - I found the little extra for B&Q 'Colour Courage' range was WELL worth it - much easier to get on smoothly and a denser pigment - so true colour when it dries and it stays treu even on a very sunny surface. www.diy.com/colourcourage

allsortsofbags Sat 08-Jun-19 13:55:20

We have used B&Q Valspar (top of their range) and Macphersons Trade at home.

We have had good results in the past with Jonson's Trade Magnolia for our rental but these days even that is hit and miss.

If possible I go to a trade outlet but B&Q have done really well with their Valspar range. I am all for putting on the fewest coats and wanting it to be hardwearing.

Lisagran Sat 08-Jun-19 14:09:06

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotSpaghetti Sat 08-Jun-19 15:27:25

Anyone used any of the modern "eco" paints (other than Little Green) please?
Would love to know about coverage and resilience to every-day living.

olive2709 Sat 08-Jun-19 18:28:27

We use Dulex white with a pink tinge so you know we're you stopped pink disappears when dry helps the old eyes