on October 08, 2026
Paint & Paper Library makes five paint finishes. Pure Flat Emulsion gives the softest, chalkiest walls in the range; the four Architects’ finishes are self-priming and tough enough for kitchens, joinery, furniture and exteriors. Start with the table to match a finish to your surface, then open each one for sheen, washability, coverage, tin sizes and drying times.
Best finishes by use
| Exceptional for | Finish |
|---|---|
| Interior Walls & Ceilings | Pure Flat Emulsion, Architects’ Matt |
| Kitchens, Bathrooms & High-Traffic Walls | Architects’ Matt, Architects’ Eggshell |
| Interior Wood & Metal | Architects’ Eggshell, Architects’ Satin, Architects’ Gloss |
| Kitchen Cabinets & Furniture | Architects’ Eggshell, Architects’ Satin |
| Low-Traffic Wooden Floors | Architects’ Satin |
| Exterior Wood & Metal | Architects’ Eggshell, Architects’ Satin (wood), Architects’ Gloss |
| Exterior Walls | Architects’ Matt, Architects’ Eggshell |
The five finishes, one by one
Pure Flat Emulsion
Under 5% sheen, deeply chalky
Best for: Interior walls & ceilings, bedrooms, living and dining rooms
Pure Flat Emulsion is the flattest, most chalky finish in the Paint & Paper Library range. Highly pigmented and light-absorbing, it gives dark colours real depth and pale shades a soft, powdery elegance that changes gently with the light through the day. It is made for rooms where atmosphere matters more than toughness — for hallways and busy family spaces, choose Architects’ Matt.
- Velvety, chalky flat finish
- Highly pigmented, high opacity
- Breathable
- Wipeable
- Water-based
- Interior use only
Architects’ Matt
Under 5% sheen, smooth matt
Best for: Interior & exterior walls, hallways, kitchens, family bathrooms
Architects’ Matt proves a matt wall does not have to be fragile. It keeps the calm, low-sheen look of a true matt, with colour sitting evenly across the wall, but adds Class 1 scrub resistance and outstanding water resistance. Self-priming on most surfaces, it works on walls, woodwork, metal and tiles, inside and out.
- Durable, low-sheen matt finish
- Self-priming on most surfaces
- Multi-surface: walls, wood, metal, tiles
- Scuff and stain resistant
- Interior and exterior
- Lowest VOC in the range (max 1 g/L)
Architects’ Eggshell
10–20% sheen, low sheen
Best for: Woodwork, kitchen cabinets, radiators, kitchen & bathroom walls
Architects’ Eggshell is the finish for surfaces that are touched, splashed and cleaned every day. Its controlled low sheen gives cabinetry and joinery a crisper, more finished edge than a matt, without tipping into shine. The cross-linking formula is hard-wearing and highly water resistant, so it performs in kitchens and bathrooms as well as on exterior wood and metal.
- Refined low-sheen eggshell
- Self-priming on most surfaces
- Multi-surface: walls, wood, metal, furniture
- Outstanding water resistance
- Interior and exterior
- Water-based, low odour
Architects’ Satin
30–35% sheen, mid sheen
Best for: Trim, cabinetry, furniture, panelling, low-traffic wooden floors
Architects’ Satin sits between eggshell and gloss: enough sheen to sharpen mouldings and give furniture presence, with more restraint than a high gloss. Its cross-linking formula resists stains, wear and mild chemicals, which makes it a natural choice for kitchen and utility cabinetry — and, on carefully prepared boards, for low-traffic floors.
- Mid-sheen satin finish
- Self-priming on most surfaces
- Stain and mild chemical resistant
- Suitable for low-traffic floors
- Interior and exterior woodwork
- Water-based, low odour
Architects’ Gloss
Over 85% sheen
Best for: Front doors, interior & exterior woodwork, metal, statement joinery
Architects’ Gloss is a water-based alkyd gloss with the depth and feel of a traditional solvent-based finish. Its high sheen deepens colour and makes mouldings, doors and joinery read with real definition, in period and contemporary interiors alike. Flexible and hard-wearing, it is suitable inside and out — but, like any gloss, it rewards careful preparation.
- High-gloss, enamel-like finish
- Self-priming on most surfaces
- Flexible and hard-wearing
- Interior and exterior
- Water-based alkyd, low odour
Like other alkyd finishes, it may yellow slightly over time where there is little natural light or near heat. Drying is slower than the rest of the range.
(*) Not available in every colour. Paint & Paper Library Architects’ A.S.P (All Surface Primer) is recommended for significant colour changes, bare metal and plastics under any of the finishes above. None of the five finishes is suitable for lime or other natural plasters.