On the other hand, if I’m painting over lighter colours, I would go with Covaplus because it’s a dream to apply. White Emulsion: Trade or Retail? Due to the fact that it’s mould resistant (I believe it contains a fungicide that inhibits the growth of mould), I would personally use this if your kitchen or bathroom struggles to extract moisture. I actually used this paint in my mother’s kitchen as she’s frequently boiling food on the hob and has a terrible extractor fan and it still looks great 3 years on. As we have mentioned, the higher the sheen of the paint, the more durability it has. The most popular finish for an interior wall is matt, which if it is a vinyl matt emulsion, can be wiped using a cloth to remove dirt but does not have significant scuff resistance, meaning a standard vinyl matt paint is best suited for low traffic rooms such as living rooms & bedrooms. Not suitable for ceilings due to the potential for flashing with natural light (I recommend MacPherson’s Eclipse for ceilings)

I always keep this in mind when choosing the right white emulsion for the job. I find that whilst Albany Supercover isn’t the greatest for application, it has superb opacity and covering power which makes it a good choice when painting over dark blues or reds. All this is possible thanks to a high viscosity, but this trait has a negative side too. In fact, it makes the product harder to spread on walls, lowering the coverage. Albany Supercover offers exceptional quality and coverage. Despite a few minor issues, it’s a worthwhile choice, especially for transformations involving light shades over dark colours. It was my go-to before Covaplus, and it certainly holds a premium standard in my book.Our choice for the best acrylic eggshell would be Macpherson Acrylic Eggshell as it has a fantastic opacity, it does not drag when applied meaning you can get a great finish and it offers brilliant value for money. Importantly, it will not yellow which is not what you want when using a white emulsion, meaning your white walls will remain looking bright white for years. Emulsion paint is a widely referred to term that essentially means a water-based paint designed for interior walls & ceilings that has vinyl or acrylic resins added to it to make it hardwearing. This is in contrast to oil-based paints that are designed for use on woodwork & metal. Emulsion paints come in a range of finishes that vary in level of sheen, or their ability to reflect light. Matt is the least reflective finish and the most popular emulsion paint, with eggshell having slightly more sheen, followed by the mid-sheen finishes of satin and silk, with silk being the mid-sheen finish designed for walls while satin is used on woodwork. Finally, gloss has the most sheen of any paint finish, which is why it is more often than not used on woodwork, although it can be used on interior walls. It is important to note that the more sheen a paint finish has, the more durability it will have, which is why the harder-wearing finishes of satin and gloss are used on woodwork and metal trim that takes more punishment than other surfaces. The Best White Emulsion Paints For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. Can be temperamental on extra porous surfaces, such as unsealed coving and filler, where flaking can occur. However, a primer can easily remedy this. Valspar Tough Matt, my preferred pure brilliant white emulsion, is an impressive product with standout qualities. When compared with brands like Dulux, specifically its Pure Brilliant White Emulsion, Valspar Tough Matt outshines in terms of coverage, rendering Dulux’s version quite disappointing.

As always, the way you paint will depend on which emulsion you have at hand but there are a few tips you can follow to get that perfect, modern finish. Albany Supercover is a robust and reliable choice when it comes to painting over dark colours. I often turn to this when I need to transform a space with a fresh white finish. The paint has a creamy texture, which eases the application process, although I do recommend thinning it slightly to prevent tramlines. One of the biggest problems with any interior decorating, but especially when using a white emulsion is staining on walls. This is caused by moisture that is leading to discolouration or damp on the wall. Water stains come from a range of sources, including leaking pipes or penetrating damp caused by water ingress on an exterior wall that is soaking through to the interior wall. Stains can also be caused from indoor smoking. Whilst the opacity is good, it’s not the best so you will probably need at least 3 coats, especially if you’re covering a darker colour than white but it’s a price worth paying as you’ll avoid problems further down the line. Covaplus is an unbeatable choice for achieving a consistent, pleasing look throughout your home. This white emulsion paint is not just about exceptional finish and durability, but also about providing value for money, making it my go-to choice for my own projects.

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Ever since changing over to MacPherson Eclipse, there’s nothing else I’d consider using. Tikkurila AR2 is a quality white ceiling paint but it’s just too expensive considering Eclipse does the same job. I noted that Good Home’s White Emulsion is less flat than its previous version and slightly less opaque. However, it is more durable. While it’s a decent choice for retail gear and rental properties, I wouldn’t recommend it for personal use, particularly when compared to paints such as Johnstone’s Durable Matt. I’ve tried plenty of retail paints out of curiosity and the consistency is usually so watery that it’s a nightmare to apply with all the splashes. Of course, because it’s so watered down, it can sometimes take 6 coats to cover dark colours.