Interior Colours

Interior Colours

Coloured interior emulsion for walls and ceilings, as distinct from the brilliant white range. Finish is the decision that changes how a colour reads in a room. Matt is flat and absorbs light, which hides uneven plaster and makes a deep colour look richer, but it marks more easily. Soft sheen carries a slight lustre, bounces more light around a darker room and wipes down better, which suits hallways, kitchens and children's rooms. Washable and scrubbable matt splits the difference, giving a flat finish you can actually clean. Colour behaves differently depending on the light a room gets, so a north-facing room will pull a warm shade cooler and grey, while a south-facing room warms everything up. Testing a sample pot on two walls before committing is worth the delay. Coverage runs roughly 12 to 16 square metres per litre depending on finish and how porous the surface is, and most colours need two coats over a contrasting base.

Dulux supplies almost the entire range here across matt, soft sheen and Easycare washable finishes in 2.5 litre and 5 litre tins, spanning the neutrals, greys, greens, blues and heritage shades that make up most Irish interiors, with Fleetwood adding Irish-made colours alongside. For brilliant white and ceiling paint see Interior White, for woodwork see Gloss and Satinwood & Eggshell, and for the tools to apply it see Paint Brushes and Paint Rollers.