Little Greene Paint Finishes Explained: Matt, Eggshell, Satin or Gloss?

Absolute Matt Emulsion is as close to perfectly flat as an emulsion can be. It absorbs light rather than reflecting it, giving deep shades an immersive richness and pale tones a soft, chalky quality. Made with 40% recycled ingredients and microporous, it lets walls breathe — a good match for lime plaster and heritage buildings. Wipeable rather than scrubbable, it is best kept to rooms without heavy wear.

• Coverage: Up to 14 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 2 — wipeable, not for high-traffic areas
• Tin sizes: 60 ml sample pot, 1 L, 2.5 L, 5 L, 10 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette and RAL Classic
• Drying time: Surface dry in 1 hour, recoat in 1–4 hours

Intelligent Matt Emulsion looks like a traditional flat emulsion but washes clean with warm soapy water. Intelligent Grip™ technology makes it self-priming on most previously painted surfaces, and it also works on woodwork, radiators, tiles and glass — so walls, skirting and radiators can share one colour in one finish. Breathable and child safe, it brings deep matt colour to the hardest-working rooms of the house.

• Coverage: Up to 14 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L, 5 L, 10 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette and RAL Classic
• Drying time: Surface dry in 30 minutes, recoat in 1–4 hours

Intelligent Eggshell is Little Greene’s most versatile finish: a refined low sheen with the toughness to go almost anywhere in the house. Its cross-linking formula and Intelligent Grip™ technology bond even to old oil-based (alkyd) finishes, and the fully washable surface resists moisture and staining — so it performs in kitchens and bathrooms as well as on skirting, doors and panelling.

• Coverage: Up to 14 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L, 5 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette and RAL Classic
• Drying time: Surface dry in 30 minutes, recoat in 1–4 hours

Intelligent Satin is the hard-wearing choice for the surfaces that take the knocks — skirting boards, door frames, kitchen cabinets and furniture. The mid-lustre finish brings out the undertones of each colour and gives trim a clear contrast against matt walls. Its cross-linking film keeps hardening after application, resisting wear, staining and mild chemicals.

• Coverage: Up to 12 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L, 5 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette and RAL Classic
• Drying time: Surface dry in 30 minutes, recoat in 1–4 hours

Intelligent Gloss is a water-based high gloss with the depth and reflection of a traditional oil gloss, without the long drying times or strong odour. Self-priming with Intelligent Grip™ technology, it bonds to wood, metal, plaster and aged alkyd finishes, and it is suitable inside and out — from front doors to skirting boards and radiators.

• Coverage: Up to 14 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette and RAL Classic
• Drying time: Surface dry in 1–2 hours, recoat in 2–6 hours

Interior Oil Eggshell is Little Greene’s oil-based low-sheen finish for those who still prefer the flow, open time and depth of a traditional oil coat. The longer working time helps achieve a smooth, brush-mark-free surface on doors, skirting, cabinetry and primed metal, and the hard yet flexible film holds up on radiators and pipework.

Like all oil-based paints, it may yellow slightly over time where there is little natural light, especially in white shades. Good ventilation is needed during application and drying.

• Coverage: Up to 16 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L, 5 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 4 hours, recoat in 16 hours

Traditional Oil Gloss is the benchmark high gloss: it flows off the brush and self-levels into a mirror-bright, high-opacity film. Made with naturally occurring vegetable oils, it delivers intense colour in fewer coats and holds its sheen through years of cleaning and weather — inside and out. It asks for patience between coats, and rewards it.

Like all oil-based paints, it may yellow slightly over time where there is little natural light, especially in white shades. Good ventilation is needed during application and drying.

• Coverage: Up to 16 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 4 hours, recoat in 16 hours

Intelligent Floor Paint takes the disruption out of painting floors. Water-based and virtually odourless, it is surface dry in one to two hours, so stairs can be painted in stages and hallways returned to use far sooner than with oil-based floor paints. Its cross-linking film hardens over time, resisting wear, staining, scuffs and mild chemicals on wooden boards, concrete and primed metal.

• Coverage: Up to 12 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 1–2 hours, recoat in 1–4 hours; light foot traffic after 48 hours, full use after 7 days

Intelligent Exterior Eggshell is built for wood that moves with the seasons. Self-priming on bare and new timber, it dries to a flexible, microporous film that expands and contracts with the wood instead of cracking or blistering. UV resistance protects the colour, and built-in protection inhibits mould and algae.

• Coverage: Up to 12 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Completely washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 2–4 hours, recoat in 16 hours

Named after the Little Greene chemist who developed it, Tom’s Oil Eggshell is a modified oil-based exterior finish for timber. Its exceptional flow leaves a smooth, even low sheen without brush marks, while the tough, flexible film resists UV and weather, moving with the wood rather than cracking. Suitable for softwoods and hardwoods.

• Coverage: Up to 14–16 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1 — fully washable
• Tin sizes: 1 L, 2.5 L
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 2–3 hours, recoat in 16 hours

Intelligent Masonry Paint brings the depth of the Little Greene palette to exterior walls. Its high-quality resin formula has the highest breathability classification, letting moisture escape from the wall while the surface resists water, dirt, UV and biological growth. It accommodates normal building movement without cracking and is designed to protect walls for up to 15 years (**).

(**) Providing it has been applied in accordance with Little Greene’s Product Advice Sheet. Not suitable for lime or natural renders — use Limewash instead.

• Coverage: Up to 13 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wet scrub Class 1
• Tin sizes: 5 L, 10 L (*)
• Colours: Full Little Greene palette
• Drying time: Surface dry in 2 hours, recoat in 2–4 hours; full cure in 7 days

Distemper is the oldest and softest form of wall paint. Little Greene’s version is a strengthened hard distemper: faithful to the traditional powdery, deeply matt look, but wipeable. With one of the highest breathability ratings available, it is the natural choice for lime and natural plaster in historic buildings, in low-traffic rooms.

Distemper is a specialist paint, available in lighter colours only and made to order. Soft distemper must be fully removed before application.

• Coverage: Up to 15 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Wipeable
• Tin sizes: 5 L
• Colours: Lighter (pastel) Little Greene colours only
• Drying time: Surface dry in 1 hour, recoat in 4 hours

Limewash is older than paint itself. Rather than coating the surface, it soaks into the masonry and builds colour through successive thin layers, giving walls a luminous, softly varied finish that shifts with the light and improves with age. Highly breathable, it protects lime render and porous stone by working with the building, not against it.

Limewash is a specialist paint requiring skilled application. Professional application recommended. Colours lighten considerably as it dries — judge the final colour after 48 hours.

• Coverage: Up to 6 m²/L per coat
• Washability: Not washable
• Tin sizes: 5 L
• Colours: Lighter (pastel) Little Greene colours only
• Drying time: Surface dry in 1 hour, recoat in 24 hours (48 hours in cold or damp conditions)