10 Best Interior Paints 2022 | UK Interior Designer Reviewed

1. Consider the Surface You're Painting When Choosing a Finish
   
2. Before You Begin, Work Out How Much Paint You Will Need
   

A matt emulsion creates a muted yet beautiful finish. Matt emulsion paint offers a no-shine finish and, therefore, will not suffer with reflective walls or ceilings as they have a sheen level of less than 10%.. The biggest benefit of matt interior paint is that it easily hides any flaws during the application, so you don't need to layer multiple coats. 

Chalk paint is another type of matt finish with a slightly thicker consistency with a definite no-sheen finish. Unfortunately, matt paint has a tendency to hold dirt and dust. This wouldn't be much of a problem if it were easy to clean. However, too much force can damage the delicate finish. 

This doesn't stop matt paint from being the most popular choice for living rooms and dining rooms. Although, we wouldn't recommend painting bathroom or kitchen walls with a matt finish, as they could stain over time. As matt wall and ceiling paint is one of the most popular choices of finishes, there is plenty of colours and brands to choose from.

Ensure clean edges with our Best Masking Tapes!

A satin finish has a mild sheen to it, gently catching and reflecting the light. It has the ability to brighten up a room, without looking too glossy. The best thing about a silk finish is that it's easy to clean and it doesn't wear away with each wash, so it's less likely to pick up stains as a matt coverage would. That's why using silk in a kitchen, a bathroom, or a child's bedroom is a very wise decision.

Just bear in mind that it doesn't hide imperfections very well, all the lumps and bumps may show up a bit more. For example, any greasy marks are going to be visible on your walls until you clean them. 

This means that they are quite high maintenance in comparison to matt paint, although easier to clean overall. However, a satin finish on woodwork helps to hide imperfections and gives the colour a softer appearance.

Gloss has a high-shine finish with an extremely reflective surface. It reflects a vast amount of light, so this finish works best with lighter shades of paint. The maximum sheen means it's highly durable and wipe-clean, too, making it a reliable choice for bathrooms and children's bedrooms.

Using gloss paint means you won't need to add an additional coat of gloss finish to your surface, saving you the money that you'd have to spend on a can of clear gloss coat. If you have any wooden accents in your house, you will see the most benefits from gloss paint.

You have to have a great surface to make it look its best, but it is hugely practical and adds a lovely contrast to walls that are painted in a matt finish.

Prepare wooden surfaces with our Best Sandpapers for Wood!

If you want a can of paint to freshen up the borders around a room, or to apply to your doors, you can probably get by with 1-2 litres of paint. However, if you have plans to paint your walls, you'll need to be prepared. It's important that you have enough paint to cover the whole wall in one go. Otherwise, the finished product will look patchy and uneven. 

To do this, measure the surface you would like to paint in square meters and buy 2.5 litres per every 12 square meters. But don't forget to account for the multiple layers you might need to apply! We advise that you double or triple your surface square meters to ensure that you have enough paint for each layer. 

If you are in the store and do not have exact measurements, then Dulux estimates that 1-litre tin will be ideal to paint a 2.5m interior feature wall, whilst around 2.5 litres would cover all walls in a 2m x 2m or equivalent room, and you'll need about 5 litres to cover all walls in a 4m x 4m or equivalent room.

Reach those distant spots with our Best Step Ladders!

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Best for a smooth finish - Johnstones, Washable Paint
2. Best for its even coverage - Dulux, Matt Emulsion Paint
   
3. Best overall - Hemway, Chalk Paint
   
4. Best for covering up blemishes - Crown Retail, Core Emulsion Silk Mustard Jar
5. Best value for money - Wilko, Walls & Ceilings
   

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

When you're redesigning or refreshing the interior of your home, you'll likely want more than one colour. It's a good idea to buy all your paints from the same brand if possible. This is because each brand uses their own paint mixing formula, regardless of the colour or finish. By picking paints all from the same brand, you can ensure consistency of vibrancy, finish and texture.

Written and researched by Annie Speight

Our ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

We partner with specialists across various fields to proof-read our buying guides to deliver accurate and reliable information. Our specialists do not endorse any products that we recommend.