Shopping for paint should be as simple as walking into a DIY store and picking the first can you see. Only it isn’t. Many people become overwhelmed when they take that turn into the paint aisle and see hundreds upon hundreds of different paints stacked on all the shelves.
It’s only normal that you could find yourself getting overwhelmed when there are seemingly three to five brands all offering the same paint and you’re none the wiser as to which brands work best for you. So how do you find the right paint brand? Well, I’m about to tell you with some handy tips and tricks! And it all starts with a little sparkle.
Brands tend to pick a lane and stick to it
If you were going to paint your kitchen and bedroom, you’d be better choosing different brands to do the job. Why is this the case? Well, certain brands tend to lean towards one paint type/style and pretty much master it.
For example, everyone knows Dulux because they make some of the best matt based paints, i.e. paints you’ll use in the home when doing some DIY. But do you know that the Norwegian brand Jotun Visir is the one to go for when you’re painting the windows and doors on the outside of your house?
When you’re in the paint aisle and see that there’s only one brand matched beside the store budget version of the same paint, it’s a sign that the brand has cornered the market and is the best choice for the job.
Brand paints also tend to specialise in certain features
Now, this is a bit of a weird one, but when you’re looking for a certain colour or intense shade, you’ll often find that brands also stick to a particular section, especially if you’re looking for paint that has additional features.
What do I mean by features? Well, if you wanted a paint that was mildew-resistant, washable or comes in an eggshell finish, you’ll notice that opting for a brand name is the way to go. They don’t necessarily keep how they make their paint as secretive as say KFC with their herbs and spices, but when you want a paint for a specific reason, always go with the brand option.
Do as the tradespeople do
Want to know a secret? If you want a better deal when buying brand paint, don’t go to a DIY store that sells everything for the home. Instead, go and find a local trade paint store. These stores are where tradespeople go to buy paint in bulk, and they’ll buy what is known as branded trade paint.
Trade paint is made so painters can get through a lot of it quickly and so that it will dry in faster. Usually, these kinds of stores are membership only, but that doesn’t put us at a loss. Online stores like The Paint Shed make it easy for me and you to buy brand name paint at trade prices and get it delivered right to the front door; ideal if you have to stay at home.
Before shopping, don’t wash
As a brief aside before I wrap up, I don’t know how this “trade secret” came to be, but if you’ve been told you should wash your walls before you paint them, that’s just not true. Tradespeople don’t have the time to meticulously prep a wall by giving it a gentle wash and waiting for it to dry, so you shouldn’t either.
The only time you’d ever need to wash something when using brand paint is if you’re painting over furniture or material which catches a lot of dust naturally and you want to avoid pesky dots and bubbles.
Are you getting ready to paint?
Before you even think about lifting a brush, make sure you’re fully prepped. Read this article on 5 Crucial Factors to Consider Before Repainting Your Hometo get advice on everything from testing different colours to figuring out how much paint you need.
