Room by Room

The best paint for children's rooms: toy-safe, low-VOC, wipeable finishes from Little Greene and Farrow & Ball, plus soft colours for nurseries and bedrooms that grow with your child.

The best paint for hallways: washable, scuff-resistant finishes for walls and stairs from all three brands, and welcoming colours that hide everyday wear and suit a hall with little daylight.

Breathable distempers, limewash and flat emulsions compared, plus when a modern finish is the better choice. The best paint for period homes from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

The best exterior paint colours for front doors, window frames, railings and masonry, from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, with the right paint for each surface.

The best paint for a feature wall is a deep colour in a flat matt. How to choose the wall, colours that make an impact, tonal alternatives and the finishes that show colour at its best.

Warm or cool? How to choose a white for your ceiling that does not look stark, with our favourite ceiling whites from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

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 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 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.