Some paints are better than others at surviving in challenging environments such as kitchens and bathrooms. My go-to white emulsion is Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt but I wouldn’t apply it in bathrooms and kitchens because it’s not as resistant and durable as Zinsser Permawhite when it comes to humid environments. All of the paints we will discuss in this guide are trade paints. You may be asking what exactly is a trade paint? Well, all major paint manufacturers have both a retail and a trade version of their emulsion paints. The trade paint version of these emulsions are higher quality, offer better opacity, are more durable and achieve a professional finish. Trade paint covers in fewer coats, has much better opacity and lasts much longer than retail paint. One Coat impresses with an advanced formula that ensures flawless results on all surfaces, including bare walls. It can even seamlessly cover a darker colour on a previously painted wall, which is a rather uncommon feature for a one-coat paint. Inhibits the growth of mould which is essential if you have moisture issues in your kitchen or bathroom

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Johnstone’s One Coat, Dulux Once Matt could be a great choice. This water-based emulsion has been specially developed to ensure a one-coat coverage on walls and ceilings in a fraction of the time needed to redecorate with standard interior paint. Can be temperamental on extra porous surfaces, such as unsealed coving and filler, where flaking can occur. However, a primer can easily remedy this. Whilst the opacity isn’t great, I give Zinsser Permawhite a solid 9/10. It’s resistant to moisture and can be cleaned many times over which makes it the perfect investment for kitchens and bathrooms. 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. 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.I frequently use Valspar Tough Matt for various projects, and it’s never failed to deliver a pleasing result. The paint provides great coverage and a pretty flat finish, emitting a lovely white glow that is certain to brighten any room. It’s also worth noting that I’ve never experienced any issues with flaking off, though it’s not the ideal choice for new plaster. Valspar Tough Matt is a superior choice for pure brilliant white emulsion, especially when compared with brands like Dulux Diamond Matt. It offers superb coverage and a pleasing finish. Just remember to thin it down and mix well before application, and you’re all set. With its high opacity, it bleaches out beautifully when drying, injecting a fresh brightness to the walls which is ideal if you’re painting rooms that get minimal natural light. If you are looking for a higher sheen finish or are looking to paint a bathroom or kitchen using a white emulsion, then an acrylic eggshell finish will be the best option. Acrylic eggshell paints have higher durability than matt finishes and are moisture resistant, meaning they can withstand the high condensation conditions of kitchens and bathrooms. My top tip: best results are achieved with proper preparation and the use of a quality roller – I personally recommend the Hamilton microfibre 12-15”.

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. MacPherson Eclipse is a flat emulsion that’s hugely popular with professional decorators with some refusing to use anything but this on ceilings. If you have messy children or excited dogs in the home getting their paws all over your paintwork then it would be a good idea to trade aesthetics for durability. If you’re worried that this is going to make your surface look shiny, you don’t need to be. Most emulsions come in a flat or matt finish which essentially means you’ll be getting a pure, modern white look without the high sheen. How to Paint Using Emulsion

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If your walls don’t need frequent cleaning, you can choose something that looks better but it’s quite as durable. 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 When painting an interior wall, there are a number of qualities that you want from a paint, especially when using a lighter shade like white. You need a paint to has a strong white colour and that has a good opacity, otherwise known as its coverage or its ability to cover the wall. This is crucial if you are painting over a previously coloured interior wall as without a strong opacity, you will need to apply three or more coats of paint to get a high-quality finish. A large number of emulsion paints can be mixed in almost any colour, meaning there is no need to colour a white emulsion paint yourself. It is possible to tint emulsion paint yourself, although we do not recommend this as this will impact the quality of the paint. Ultimately finding the right paint for you and having it mixed in a colour of your choice is the best option. Q. Is emulsion paint water-based?