What paint is best value?

dllive

Hi All,
I want to paint some rooms in my house (2 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, stairwell). Its an old cottage, so I want that 'cottagey' and cosy feel. At the moment its all painted in Jasmine white.

I really like the look of the Farrow & Ball paints, but - I presume - they are really expensive. Can I take a F&B colour to a place like B&Q and have them mix it for me? Is it a false economy buying cheaper brands of paint?
Thanks

martinthebandit

Over the years I have found that paint is one of those things that you get what you pay for. Especially for a non professional, cheap paint gives cheap results.

Oh and this site http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/DECORATING.htm may be useful to you.

aarchk

I cant speak as a professional but my dad just painted my living room using the dulux colour mix paints and he remarked that they were lovely quality and he wished he had used them when decorating his house.

Just by using testers I could see the difference between the Dulux and the Homebase/B&Q brand paints so I agree that you should use the best paint that you can afford. I couldnt really afford the dulux but bought when it was 3 for 2 plus 15% off at homebase last year, so maybe worth waiting for an offer?

dllive

Thanks for the link - looks good! Im a complete newbie, so that will be helpful.

Which brands would you suggest that are good value (Dulux etc...)

Niv

I have recently decorated a couple of rooms in my house and have bought tester pots of the following makes:, Dulux, Crown, B & Q own brand. I much prefer Dulux to the others I have tried. Crown is terrible I will not touch that with a bardge pole. I was really surprised how rubbish Crown was in fact, the worst paint I have ever used and that includes some hyper value mega store stuff I used a few years ago!

Niv

martinthebandit

Dulux paint, cheap roller, with an extending handle and a good quality brush for cutting in has worked for me.

Oh and the more time you spend on preparation before you paint the better the finished job.

Sarahdol75

Niv wrote: »

I have recently decorated a couple of rooms in my house and have bought tester pots of the following makes:, Dulux, Crown, B & Q own brand. I much prefer Dulux to the others I have tried. Crown is terrible I will not touch that with a bardge pole. I was really surprised how rubbish Crown was in fact, the worst paint I have ever used and that includes some hyper value mega store stuff I used a few years ago!

Niv

I am so glad someone else has said Crown paint is rubbish, we have just decorated 2 bedrooms in Crown and it is terrible, looks messy, have now got to go out and buy Dulux(which is what we always used) and repaint bedrooms.

daveyjp

Leyland/Johnstones every time. Not the cheapest, but excellent quality - only available from trade centres, but there are plenty of them around the Country and they will mix colours to match other swatches.

It is a false economy to buy cheap as you may well end up doing more coats so you use more paint, but more importantly the job ends up taking ages!

bluejag

If you are painting a significant amount, then it may be worth checking if there are any local paint suppliers in your area. Often these can mix the paint to you specific colour and can be cheaper than the high street

keystone

Dulux Trade, Mcphersons, Johnstone, Leyland. You can get the paint mixed to the color you want almost anywhere. F&B is overpriced and overhyped and not very good IMHO. Cheers

namecheck

Professional painters often like Johnstones paint (as it is much cheaper than Dulux, and they get a trade discount). I don't think it's too bad but think Dulux is much better.
Farrow and Ball paint looks really good in an old property, though it is pricey. Even if the colour is matched by another manufacturer, the finish will not be the same. (Professionals do not like F&B! - though I've found it really easy to use and had no problems after painting.)