Which emulsion is best?
Finding the right emulsion for your room or project can be a bit confusing with lots of different paint finishes and brands available. We've tried to simplify this for you by running through the most popular finishes, where they are best used and why you might pick one over another.Â
What is Emulsion Paint?
In short, an emulsion is an interior paint suitable for walls and ceilings. Emulsions are usually water-based, making them fast-drying, low odour and low in VOCs.
Vinyl Matt Emulsion
By far the most popular and commonly used emulsion paint, vinyl matt paints are suitable for most interior walls and ceilings. Vinyl matt emulsions are water-based which mean they are low odour and low in VOCs. They're also fast to dry, usually recoatable after 2-4 hours and create a smooth, matt finish.
They're great for homes and low traffic commercial environments but aren't suitable for high humidity areas like bathrooms or kitchens.Â
Vinyl matt paints can be gently wiped clean but aren't highly durable so if you're looking for a washable, scrubbable paint finish that is matt for interior walls, we'd suggest a durable matt emulsion, also known as an acrylic matt emulsion.
Acrylic Matt Emulsion - Also Known as Durable Matt Emulsion
Arcylic matt emulsions are becoming more popular for busy family homes with children and pets around, thanks to their more durable finish. An acrylic matt emulsion is often known as a durable matt or a scrubbable matt. These are interior paints for walls and ceilings that can be repeatedly scrubbed, cleaned and washed without damaging the finish or colour.Â
They're great for busy homes and can handle high humidity environments like bathrooms or kitchens with some even containing mould inhibiting properties designed for us in humid areas. You might see durable emulsions that include reference to a 'scrub rating' which is an industry known test which rates the durability of the paint finish. A scrub rating of 1 means it's highly durable.
We wouldn't recommend a durable emulsion paint on a ceiling unless it's in a high humidity area, a regular vinyl matt is fine in these instances.Â
Some of the more modern durable emulsion formulas can also be applied to interior wood or metal which allows you to colour drench walls, ceilings, woodwork and radiators in the same finish. These are known as multi-surface paints.
Acrylic Eggshell Emulsion
Arcylic eggshell emulsions are slightly more durable than acrylic matt emulsions and have a higher sheen level. It's a common misconception that eggshell finish paints are shiny; they're actually considered low sheen, but they aren't as low sheen as a matt finish. Acrylic eggshell emulsions are interior paints for walls and ceilings that can be repeatedly scrubbed, cleaned and washed without damaging the finish or colour.Â
They're perfect for bathrooms, kitchens or other high humidity environments and are great for walls with wooden panelling where you want the same finish acrossthe walls and the panels. Some contain mould-inhibiting properties designed for us in humid areas too, so if you're painting a bathroom, look out for this feature.
Flat Matt Emulsion
Flat matt emulsions are the lowest sheen level available for interior walls and ceilings. They are often below 5% sheen level, some as low as 2%, and are usually kept for low-traffic areas of the home like bedrooms or offices. They create a luxuriously flat finish, which isn't always practical in hallways and busier family areas of the home but some more modern flat finishes like Farrow and Ball Dead Flat or Dulux Trade Durable Flatt Matt can be used in busy areas as they have durable formulas that allow them to be washed, scrubbed and cleaned.Â
While some formulas are durable, we wouldn't recommend using a flat finish in a high humidity area or a kitchen or bathroom environment.
Flat emulsions are usually water-based making them low odour, low VOC and fast to dry.Â
Vinyl Silk Emulsion
Vinyl silk emulsions are one of the most durable emulsions available although they come with a high sheen, light-reflecting finish. The durable silk finish is ideal for walls that may require regular cleaning and are prone to condensation, such as kitchens and bathrooms although are falling in popularity in living and bedroom spaces due to their higher sheen levels.Â
Vinyl silks are usually water-based making them low odour, low VOC and fast to dry.Â
Vinyl Soft Sheen Emulsion
Vinyl soft sheen emulsions sit somewhere between a matt emulsion and a silk emulsion. They have a higher sheen than an eggshell finish but aren't as shiny as a vinyl silk finish. Soft sheen finishes are moderately durable, they can be washed and wiped clean regularly but they aren't fully scrubbable. They're popular in bathrooms and kitchens, or busy hallways.
Vinyl soft sheen emulsions are water-based making them low odour, low VOC and fast to dry. They're suitable for interior walls and ceilings, usually in homes or low traffic commercial environments.
