Painted skirting boards and door in a hallway, Paint & Paper Library Lead and Squid Ink

How to Paint Skirting Boards

How to paint skirting boards properly: the right paint and finish from Little Greene, Paint & Paper Library and Farrow & Ball, step-by-step preparation and painting, and the common mistakes to avoid.

Bathroom painted in Little Greene Hicks' Blue

Humidity and Paint: How to Paint in Damp or Humid Conditions

Why humidity slows drying, causes condensation marks and surfactant leaching, and how to paint bathrooms, kitchens and damp days well, with the right finishes from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

Kitchen painted in Little Greene Giallo

How to Paint MDF

How to paint MDF for a smooth, lasting finish: preparing faces and thirsty cut edges, choosing a primer, and the right eggshell or satin, for flat-pack and custom joinery alike.

Painted kitchen cabinets in Paint & Paper Library colours

Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

The best paint for kitchen cabinets, compared: Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell and Satin, Paint & Paper Library Architects' finishes and Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell, with sheen, priming and preparation explained.

Radiator and shelf painted in Farrow & Ball Matchstick

Best Temperature to Paint Indoors

The best temperature to paint indoors is a steady room temperature above 10°C and below 30°C. Here is what Farrow & Ball and Little Greene advise, and how to handle cold, heat and humidity.

Built-in cupboards and shelving painted in Farrow & Ball Off-Black

Paint Drying Time vs Curing Time

Paint can feel dry in an hour or two but take days to fully harden. We explain the difference between drying and curing, with the times Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library give.

Hallway and dining area painted in Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin

How Long to Wait Between Coats

How long to wait between coats of paint, with recoat times for Little Greene Intelligent, Farrow & Ball Estate and Modern, and Paint & Paper Library Architects finishes, plus what slows drying.

Living room with walls and fireplace painted in Farrow & Ball Green Smoke

Low VOC Paint: Why It Still Smells and How Long It Lasts

Why low and zero VOC paint can still smell, how long the smell of fresh paint usually lasts, what Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library say about VOCs, and how to clear the air.

Modern interior with walls painted in Farrow & Ball Strong White

Paint Coverage Calculator

How much paint do you really need? A simple way to measure a room, the coverage of every finish we stock, and a worked example for walls, ceiling and woodwork.

Room painted in Farrow & Ball Kakelugn, Douter and Sizing

Best Paint for Woodwork

The best eggshell and satin paints for skirting, doors and window frames, ranked. Sheen levels, durability and preparation for Little Greene, Farrow & Ball and Paint & Paper Library.

Living room with walls painted in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue

How Many Coats for Dark Colours

How many coats does a dark paint colour need? Why deep shades behave differently, the tinted primers that save a third coat, brand by brand advice and simple ways to get an even finish.

Panelled room painted in Farrow & Ball Wimborne White

How to Paint Over Dark Colours

Covering navy, charcoal or deep red with a light colour? The primer strategy and coat count that actually work, with Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.