Pure Flat Emulsion is Paint & Paper Library's softest finish: a 2% sheen, highly pigmented wall paint that the brand describe as the flattest emulsion available. It gives a chalky, velvety depth of colour on interior walls and ceilings, and it is best kept for calmer rooms, as it is gently wipeable rather than fully washable.
Paint & Paper Library are known for colour, and Pure Flat is the finish that shows it at its richest. With almost no light bouncing back from the surface, deep shades look denser and pale ones softer, and the wall reads more like a material than a coat of paint.
Here is what makes it different, where it works best, and when to choose its tougher sibling instead.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Copper Beech (314), Canvas II (302)
What makes Pure Flat different
- Almost no sheen. Paint & Paper Library give it a 2% sheen and call it dead flat, with a look close to a traditional distemper.
- High pigment. The brand describe it as highly pigmented, which is where its chalky depth of colour comes from.
- Breathable. It is microporous, so moisture can pass through it. Paint & Paper Library recommend it for lime plaster and older buildings, where walls need to breathe.
- Low odour. Water-based, with VOCs below 0.1%.
Because the surface reflects so little light, it is also forgiving. Minor dips and repairs in older plaster are much less noticeable than they would be under a finish with more sheen.
Where to use it
Pure Flat suits rooms where the walls are looked at more than they are touched.
- Sitting rooms and drawing rooms, where a deep colour in a completely flat finish feels enveloping in lamplight.
- Bedrooms, for a calm, soft finish with no glare.
- Dining rooms and studies, particularly in rich, dark shades.
- Ceilings throughout the house, which are rarely touched.
- Period homes with lime plaster, where a breathable finish matters.
The brand present it for low-traffic areas. For hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms, a washable finish is the better choice.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Plum Brandy (341), Masque (105)
Pure Flat or Architects' Matt?
Paint & Paper Library's washable wall finish, Architects' Matt, is the practical partner to Pure Flat.
- Pure Flat Emulsion: 2% sheen, gently wipeable, breathable, for interior walls and ceilings in quieter rooms.
- Architects' Matt: 3% sheen in pastel colours and 5% in darker ones. The brand describe it as completely washable, with excellent scuff and stain resistance, self-priming, and suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and high-use areas.
A sensible approach is to use Pure Flat in the living rooms, bedrooms and on ceilings, and Architects' Matt in the hall, kitchen and bathroom. The colour carries through; only the finish changes.
Practical details
- Recoating: Paint & Paper Library give a recoat time of 4 hours.
- Coats: plan for two coats for even, full colour.
- Cleaning: wipe gently with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid scrubbing.
- Woodwork: pair it with Architects' Eggshell or Architects' Satin in the same colour, or a tone lighter or darker, for a considered look.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Kigali (678), Capuchin (289), Mockingbird (695)
Colours that shine in Pure Flat
Pure Flat is available across the Paint & Paper Library palette, but some colours seem made for it. Rich shades such as Copper Beech (314), a warm, earthy brown, and Plum Brandy (341), a regal purple, take on real depth, while Kigali (678), a blackened denim blue, becomes soft and velvety. The brand's graded colours, such as Canvas I (301) to Canvas V (305), also work beautifully, with a paler strength on the ceiling and a deeper one on the walls. Order sample pots to compare a few side by side.
Questions we are often asked
Is Pure Flat washable?
It is gently wipeable, so it will take a light clean, but it is not designed for regular washing. Choose Architects' Matt where walls need to be scrubbed.
Does it suit pale colours as well as dark ones?
Yes. Deep shades gain the most drama, but pale colours take on a lovely softness in a completely flat finish.
Can I use it on new plaster?
New plaster must be fully dry before painting. Check the product data sheet for the recommended first coat, and our primers and undercoats page for the options.
