Whether you’re reviving a tired piece of furniture, adding finishing touches to a newly renovated kitchen, or preparing your garden fence for winter, knowing which brand of paint to buy can be a headache. After all, there are dozens of brands to choose from with each claiming to be the superior choice of paint.

As a trusted retailer of both interior and exterior paint, we know a bit about paint. But in truth, there is no ‘hero’ brand of paint for every job around the home. Instead, many brands are better for some jobs than others. For example, whilst Dulux paint is great for interior walls you may find that Zinsser is a better choice for exterior walls.

In this guide to the best paint brands, we’ll share out top picks of indoor and outdoor paint. Plus, we’ll recommend the best brand of paint for applications such as walls, furniture, fencing, masonry, and more. All of which will make the process of choosing your paint a little less stressful.

The aim of the game with interior wall paint is to get a level, and consistent result with the minimum of effort. With the wealth of choice available, it can often seem like finding the perfect paint is impossible. Let’s cut through the noise and discuss the best brands to use when considering paint for your walls.

Dulux

When buying paint, Dulux are likely the first brand that comes to mind and with good reason. Delux offer the broadest choice of colours available, whether that be in their standard emulsion range or premium Heritage range. Their range of paint is also DIY-friendly, with it providing great coverage with only a couple of coats. 

At DIY Megastore, we love Dulux's Easycare range. Available in a range of colours so suit almost any taste, they use stain repellent tech to fight against the all too common spillages in kitchens and bathrooms. Although made for kitchens and bathrooms, Easycare paint is also great for hallways or other areas with high traffic. 

Farrow & Ball

A little more pricey than other brand, Farrow & Ball specialise in elegant hues that you'll struggle to find elsewhere. But it's the use of more pigment and less water that makes this brand's paint more costly, but you'll be rewarded with a deeper colour that will leave guests in awe. 

Much like Lick (who are mentioned further down), Farrow & Ball's paint is low in VOC (the nasty volatile organic compounds found in paint). This makes it kinder to the environment as well as those who live in the space that's being painted.

Frenchic

Relatively new to the paint scene, Frenchic started as specialist in furniture paint. But since 2014, they have expanded their range to include a wonderful range of wall paint too. This includes their trademark chalk wall paint, which provides a velvety and luxurious finish. 

Frenchic's range of chaulk paint can also be used on select wall tiles, radiators, woodwork, and flooring. But with their paint being ultra matte, it's best suited for rooms with plenty of natural daylight where you don't rely on your walls 'bouncing' light around. 

Lick

On a mission to give "home decor a makeover", Lick make paint that's kinder to you and the environment. They are the only B Corp certified brand on this list, demonstrating their commitment to their team, broader society, and the environment. Plus, their paints have low VOC and they are proudly made in the UK. 

We love Lick's peel-and-stick samples that allow you to see how paint may look on different walls without leaving any marks. What's more, unlike some other brands on this list (we're looking at you Farrow & Ball) their colour names are simple and to the point. 

When it comes to furniture paint, it’s all about the finish. With the right finish, your furniture can look completely brand new and fit right in with a change of style. A fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to upcycle old furniture, making those ancient hand-me-downs from well-meaning relatives look unique and truly like they belong in your home and not someone else’s.

Frenchic

Launched from the dining table of Pam Gruhn in 2014, Frenchic quickly became the go-to brand for anybody looking to revive their furniture with a lick of paint. Whilst Frenchic now offer a range of wall paints too (as we mentioned earlier in this article), they began as specialists in furniture paint. 

Although water based, Frenchic's Al Fresco paint offers superb durability with it being able to resist UV and withstand tough weather. This furniture paint is available in a choice of 26 wonderful colours, ranging from deep greens to refreshing yellows. 

Annie Sloan

If you love Frenchic's chaulk paint then you're sure to love Annie Sloan's paint too. Developed in the 1990's and still popular today, Annie Sloan's furniture paint requires no sanding or priming. Simply pop open the tin and get painting!

We particularly love Annie Sloan's paint for upcycling furniture. It's available in a vast selection of colours, with some being the boldest of any brand. If you're searching for a bold orange or characterful green, then look no further than this range of chaulk paint. 

Little Greene

Similarly priced to Farrow & Ball, Little Greene offer a range of premium-finish paint in a selection of unique hues to add personality to your furniture. A few of our favourites include their luxurious Scree and unique Portland Stone colours. 

At the heart of Little Greene's range of furniture paint is their Intelligent Satin collection. It offer a low-mid sheen that gives furniture the ideal amount of 'pop' in a room. What's more, it dries within 4 hours and is made to withstand the wear of family life. 

Johnstone's

Much like Dulux, you've likely come across Johnstone's down the aisles of your local DIY store. From chalky furniture paint to tough cupboard paint, they cover most basis for anybody looking to revitalise their space.

Admitedly, Johnstone's furniture paint isn't available in as many colours as other brands on this list. But you'll find the most common picks such as pale greys, dark slates, and modern blues. For those looking for a unique finish, Johnstone's also have a metallic paint that's great for painting mirror frames. 

Paint for ceilings is all business. You need a paint that does the job, spreads evenly and gives crisp results and coverage. The colour, of course, is up to you but rarely will a ceiling venture outside of white or cream, mainly because lighter colours are best for reflecting light, though you also don’t want the ceiling stealing the thunder from your interior walls.

Johnstone’s Wall & Ceiling

A no-nonsense paint, designed to be liberally applied. It quickly and easily coats surfaces and is touch dry in a couple of hours, allowing you to apply several coats in a relatively short amount of time.

Crown Matt Emulsion

Another staple of decorating well known across the country; this paint comes in a brilliant white colour that offers a great counterpoint for colourful walls. Gives a nice sheen and after a few coats, a crisp result that you’re sure to be pleased with.

Dulux Matt Emulsion

One of the most reliable brands in the UK. You can’t really go wrong with Dulux, they have a range of paint for almost any household decorating task. Their classic emulsion will spread evenly, its creamy texture helps to hide minor imperfections while the crisp colour erases stains left from previous DIY misadventures.

Not only do you need the paint for your bathroom to be functional, with anti-mould and water-resistant qualities, but it also needs to come in a range of interesting colours to match the style of the room. Look no further as we discuss the best paint for bathrooms, from the decorative to the more functional.

Dulux

Their Easycare bathroom range is 10 times tougher than their standard matt emulsion. As always with Dulux, you can expect to be able to choose from a sensational variety of colours, including neutral and pastel shades ideal for modern bathrooms.

Ronseal

You know the catchphrase; with this specialist anti-mould paint your bathroom will be protected from mould for six years because, guess what? It does exactly what it says on the tin. This range of paint tackles mould at its source and prevents it from developing at all. Great for bathrooms with very little ventilation.

Dryzone

All killer, no filler; this paint means business. The major drawback with this brand is the lack of colours available but when it comes to protecting the surface of your bathroom from condensation you couldn’t ask for more. As with Ronseal, this paint has Biocidal properties making it great for tackling persistent black mould issues.

Often, garden furniture is barraged by the elements and prey to heavy degradation from wind and rain damage. You will periodically need to refresh the coating on your furniture, not only to replenish its looks but to make sure it can withstand constant bombardment from the weather.

Cuprinol

Specifically their Garden Shade Paint, designed to enhance the effect of wood grain and bring life to drab wooden garden furniture. Available in a range of colours featuring muted shades for a more understated look, this paint boasts six years of weather protection.

Ronseal

Rainproof in an hour and available in a whopping 29 colours, Ronseal’s garden paint can be used on terracotta, metal, brick and wood making it a versatile choice. Not only can you protect your garden furniture from the elements, but with these paints you can do it in style.

Rust-oleum

Available in natural shades to help blend in with the environment. Makes your furniture truly a part of your garden, allowing you to seamlessly meld the furniture in with plant life. Help turn your garden into a tranquil escape and revive old wooden and metal chairs, benches, and tables with this range of crack, peel, and fade-resistant paint.

It’s a big job, but it has to be done. Once every decade (if you’re lucky) you’ll need to repaint the exterior walls of your house. And it won’t just be because the paint is looking drab either, without regular maintenance, weather damage can cause havoc with the brickwork of a building if not controlled.

Emperor Paint

Almost three times as expensive as other brands, if you really want to ensure the protection of your home, this is the one to go for. This paint is nothing less than revolutionary when it comes to protecting masonry. Named after the Emperor Penguin due to the inspiration they took from the water-repelling and heat-retaining attributes of this endangered species. The paint aims to reduce energy costs by not only being resistant to water but also allowing more heat to be retained than other masonry paints.

Sandtex

Manufactured by Crown, it’s best to use this paint when you can be sure of dry weather, as it does take some time to dry. Having said that, the paint utilises micro seal technology to make sure it can withstand the worst weather the UK can throw at it. It’s a popular choice because of its mould-resistant properties, ability to be used without a primer and is very reasonably priced.

Leyland

A great budget option, Leyland Granocryl offers excellent weather protection and is touch-dry in a couple of hours. It can be used on pebbledash, rendering, concrete, and brick giving you a high-quality finish after applying a couple of coats.

Much like exterior walls, exterior doors need regular maintenance to ensure the elements don’t cause extensive damage over time. But it doesn’t have to just be functional, the choices available to you will allow you to both weather-proof your door and have it looking more welcoming than ever.

Dulux

Their Weather Shield paints come in satin and gloss with a choice of 8 spectacular colours. With ten years of guaranteed protection, you’ll have a pristine-looking front door to welcome family and guests into your home for years to come.

Rustins

Available in tins specifically for smaller jobs, this paint gives you a good bang for your buck. Don’t let the small size fool you, even at 250ml this will be enough to apply two coats to most doors. Although not available in many more colours than its Dulux contemporary, the colours tend to lean more into the peculiar and bold. A great choice if you really want your door to stand out from the crowd.

Rust-oleum

A great paint that can be used for almost any surface in the home. Rust-oleum’s Universal paint range is ideal for pretty much any job you can throw it at. This is a fantastic choice for UPVC doors, a popular door material in modern times due to its hard-wearing attributes.

Wooden fences and sheds look great and are designed to be hard-wearing, the trouble lies in the fact that wood is also fantastic at absorbing moisture, leaving it open to increased damage from rain. Luckily, there are many options to choose from with fence & shed paint that allow you to make your garden weatherproof in a matter of hours. In a country where, on average, it rains for over half the year, garden maintenance is at the forefront of most homeowners’ minds.

Cuprinol

Their Ducksback range offers amazing protection from the elements for up to 5 years. It is a quick-drying, wax-enriched paint that uses the coarse grain of wood to adhere more effectively to the surface. The one drawback is that on smoother surfaces it may take more coats to produce an even finish and provide effective protection. For rough wood grain, you can’t get much better.

Johnstone’s

Fade resistant for 3 years and offering a large range of options, their one-coat paint will quickly seal wooden fences and sheds from the effects of harsh weather. A great budget option to get your garden looking refreshed and ready to endure the glorious British weather.

Ronseal

As if we couldn’t talk about garden fences without bringing up Ronseal. Stains, sealants, one-coat paints and their Fence Life Plus range, which offers complete waterproof, rain protection in an hour as well as resistance to frost and snow. You can’t go wrong by choosing any number of options offered by Ronseal when it comes to weather-proofing your fences and sheds.

There you have it, hopefully by reading this page we’ve given you a good idea of the best options open to you for whatever your next DIY project may be. For more inspiration and in-depth discussions of DIY for every aspect of the home, check out our comprehensive blog. Alternatively, give us a call and speak to one of our award-winning customer service representatives today to discuss your needs for your next exciting DIY project.