Paint & Paper Library

The best cream and off-white paint colours from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, including Wimborne White, Pointing, Slaked Lime and Cornforth White, and how to choose.

The best black and charcoal paint colours, from Farrow & Ball Railings and Off-Black to Little Greene Lamp Black and Basalt, with advice on undertones, finishes and where black works best.

The best washable, scuff-resistant paints for hallways, stairs, kitchens and family rooms, comparing hard-wearing matt and woodwork finishes from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

The best brown and taupe paint colours, from Farrow & Ball's London Clay and Elephant's Breath to Little Greene's Portland Stone, with advice on combining warm neutrals in a scheme.

The best paint colours for west-facing rooms, from warm neutrals and soft pinks that glow in the evening to blue-greens that balance golden afternoon light, chosen from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

The best paint colours for open plan spaces come from one family of related tones. How to choose a colour family, define zones, tie the space together and check the light.

Soft, flat finishes and calming colours for bedrooms. We compare the chalkiest matts from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, with the colours we return to most.

The best red paint colours from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, from classic crimsons like Incarnadine and Eating Room Red to brighter Radicchio and earthy Red Earth.

The best bathroom paint is a washable, moisture-resistant finish in a well ventilated room. We compare the bathroom finishes from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, and how to prepare.

How to paint a new-build home: preparing fresh plaster, washable finishes for busy open-plan rooms, and the soft whites and warm neutrals that suit bright, modern light.

The best paint for a rental property is a tough, washable matt in an easy neutral. The finishes that hold up, the colours that suit most tenants and how to make touch-ups simple.

Pure Flat Emulsion and the self-priming Architects' Matt, Eggshell, Satin and Gloss explained: which finish to use where, coverage and durability, the best choice for woodwork, and Paint & Paper Library's graduated neutral families.