How To
How to prepare your walls before painting
The essential preparation steps that help your new colour look better and last longer.
6 min read
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Choosing the right finish for every room
A practical guide to matching paint finishes with the way each room is used.
5 min read · Editorial sample — replace with Uganda content
Finish matters as much as colour. The same shade can look soft and chalky in one room and bright and reflective in another, purely because of the sheen level you choose. Here is how to match finish to the way a room is actually lived in.
Start with how the room is used
Bedrooms, sitting rooms and ceilings see very little scrubbing, so a low-sheen emulsion such as a matt finish is ideal. It hides small wall imperfections and gives colour a deep, even appearance.
Kitchens, corridors, stairways and children's rooms are handled constantly. A silk or higher-sheen emulsion wipes clean far more easily and resists marks from furniture, bags and fingers.
Match the finish to the surface
Smooth plaster takes any finish well. Rough or textured walls suit textured and heavy-bodied coatings that are made to sit on an uneven surface instead of highlighting it.
Wood and metal joinery need their own systems — an undercoat followed by an enamel or a clear varnish, rather than a wall emulsion.
Remember light and room size
Higher sheen bounces more light, which helps small or dim rooms but also shows every bump. In a bright room facing strong afternoon sun, a lower sheen usually looks calmer.
Always test your chosen colour and finish together on a small patch of the actual wall, and look at it in both daylight and evening light before committing.
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