The best paint for a high traffic area is a washable, scuff-resistant finish that still looks good up close. For walls, that means Little Greene's Intelligent Matt Emulsion, Farrow & Ball's Modern Emulsion or Paint & Paper Library's Architects' Matt. For skirting, doors and banisters, choose an eggshell or satin from the same brands.
Hallways, stairs, kitchens and family rooms take a daily battering from bags, shoes, bikes, hands and pets. The softest, chalkiest wall finishes are beautiful, but they are made for quieter rooms. The good news is that you no longer have to choose between a flat, considered look and a wall you can actually clean.
Here is how the hard-wearing finishes from all three brands compare.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Pleat (280)
What makes a paint right for a busy space
Three things matter in a hard-working room.
- Washability. You should be able to wipe away a mark with a damp cloth without leaving a shiny patch or lifting the colour.
- Scuff resistance. Bags and shoulders brushing past should not polish or mark the surface.
- A finish you are happy to live with. Durability generally rises with sheen, so the aim is the toughest finish at the level of sheen you like.
Little Greene describe their own Absolute Matt Emulsion as gently wipeable, and Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion is intended for low-traffic rooms. Both are lovely in a bedroom or sitting room, but for a hallway or kitchen we would point you to the finishes below.
Wall finishes, brand by brand
- Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion (2% sheen). Little Greene call it more durable and completely washable, and describe it as perfect for high traffic areas. It is rated Class 1 for wet scrub resistance, the top rating.
- Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion (7% sheen). Farrow & Ball describe it as washable, scuff-resistant and protected against mould, and recommend it for hallways and kitchens.
- Farrow & Ball Dead Flat (2% sheen). Washable and suitable for walls, woodwork and metal, so one finish can run across a whole hallway.
- Paint & Paper Library Architects' Matt (3% sheen in pastel colours, 5% in dark ones). Self-priming and washable, with what Paint & Paper Library call excellent scuff and stain resistance.
All four keep a flat, modern look. If you prefer the very lowest sheen, Intelligent Matt and Dead Flat sit at 2%. If washability matters above all, Modern Emulsion's slightly higher sheen is a sensible choice.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colour Used: Kohl (124)
Woodwork, skirting and stairs
Skirting boards, door frames and banisters take the hardest knocks of all, so they need a tougher finish than the walls.
- Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen) or Intelligent Satin (30 to 35%). Self-priming, and in scrub testing the Intelligent finishes withstood 10,000 scrubs.
- Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell (20% sheen), rated Class 1 scrubbable, or Modern Eggshell (40%) for a little more shine.
- Paint & Paper Library Architects' Eggshell (10 to 20%), fully washable, or Architects' Satin (30 to 35%), designed for busy woodwork and kitchen cabinets.
For a painted hall floor, Little Greene make a dedicated Intelligent Floor Paint.
Choosing by room
- Hallways and landings. A washable matt on the walls and an eggshell or satin on the woodwork. A darker colour on the lower part of the wall, below a dado rail, hides scuffs well.
- Kitchens. Modern Emulsion, Intelligent Matt or Architects' Matt on the walls, with Intelligent Eggshell or Architects' Satin on cabinets.
- Children's rooms and playrooms. Intelligent Matt is certified child-safe, and Intelligent Eggshell or Satin covers furniture too. Our guide to painting IKEA furniture shows how.
- Utility and boot rooms. Treat them like a kitchen: the toughest wall finish you like, and a hard-wearing finish on any joinery.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Normandy Grey (79)
Colours that forgive everyday marks
Very pale colours show every fingerprint, and the very darkest can show dust and scuffs. Mid tones and characterful deeper shades are the most forgiving in a busy space.
Normandy Grey (79) is a quiet grey stone that Little Greene describe as extremely easy to live with. Pleat (280) is a strong, confident green, shown in the hallway above, and Kohl (124) is a warm charcoal-black that Paint & Paper Library suggest for joinery and statement walls. From Farrow & Ball, Studio Green (93) is a deep green that can look almost black indoors, and French Gray (18) a soft grey with a green lean. Order sample pots and look at them in the room before you commit.
Questions we are often asked
Is matt paint really washable now?
The tougher matt finishes are. Little Greene describe Intelligent Matt as completely washable, and Farrow & Ball and Paint & Paper Library describe Modern Emulsion and Architects' Matt as washable too.
Can I use the same colour in two finishes?
Yes. All three brands offer their colours across their finishes, so a washable matt on the walls and an eggshell on the woodwork can match exactly.
What about the ceiling?
Ceilings are rarely touched, so a softer flat finish such as Estate Emulsion or Absolute Matt works perfectly well there.
