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For general walls and ceiling you should use a water-based emulsion (unless you are painting a bathroom or kitchen: See Page 3, In the Kitchen and Bathroom). This is available in most brands in all colours in a matt finish, which is flat, and a silk or satin finish, which has a shine to it. The matt finish is most popular, especially for living rooms and hallways, and especially if you are seeking a traditional look. However, it does have the disadvantage of not being washable, so if you have young children or any other means of getting your walls dirty fairly easily, then you might want to consider the silk/satin finish, as it is washable.
When it comes to choosing your brand of paint, it is important that you choose a good quality paint. All the Designer Paint Ranges such as Farrow & Ball, Zoffany, etc are of good quality. You may be able to find cheaper brands elsewhere, but this can work out to be more costly as cheap paint may require additional coats due to its inferior coverage. Additionally, better paints tends to last longer, is more resistant to dirt and fungus, and hides any uneven textures better. When it comes to choosing a brand within those of better quality, the most important thing is colour. Colour first, brand second. The colour is what you are going to have to live with for a while, so you must be totally satisfied with it. Try to get a few samples before you make up your mind. For more help on choosing colours read 'Choosing Colours - Guides and Suggestions'
To achieve an excellent finish with the emulsion you should use a medium pile roller or a 150mm professional wall brush. If the surface of your wall is rough, then a long pile roller is more appropriate. For hard-to-reach areas, such as the ceiling, you can use a roller fitted onto an extension pole. Rollers are available in kits, which is probably the best approach, or you can buy the roller sleeves, roller tray and roller handle separately if you are fussy about the quality of the different parts. It all of course depends on your budget. If you are using deep colours several coats may be necessary to prevent the surfaces from looking patchy.
For the edges a smaller 25mm Purdy Monarch Brush is appropriate. Even if you are only doing a one-off decorating job it is important to spend money on a decent brush, as cheap ones often have short, stubby bristles which can lead to an uneven finish, and bristles fall out easily. Bristle brushes tend to absorb liquid more easily and so can lose shape when used with water-based paints; synthetic fibres, however, such as those of the Purdy Monarch and the Tendiko 3200 do not hold water and will maintain shape, giving a fine finish.
You may want to give a special paint effect to the walls, such as a colourwash or a cracked effect. We have a range of Special Effects Tools that you can use. For most special effects you should use an acrylic (also known as water-based) eggshell paint in the brand and colour of your choice. Having decorated the wall it is important that you protect it with a varnish such as Polyvine Acrylic Decorators Varnish, which can be satin or flat.
