The Little Greene color card in front of a grey wall displayed alongside books, flowers and Little Greene sample pots.

How to Choose the Right Paint Finish

While selecting the perfect colour might seem like the ultimate factor in achieving your desired look, choosing the correct paint finish is equally as important. Little Greene can help you find the best paint finish for interior walls, floors, and woodwork, specially formulated to resist the wear and tear of the family home. We also have options for exterior finishes so you can bring colour to your outdoor space too.

Spending time considering which finishes are available to you and the unique characteristics of each is an essential part of planning your project. It is also important to consider the type of interior paint sheens best suited to your style and space. Follow this guide to learn more about the different paint finishes and the qualities of each.

Our most popular finishes for interior spaces

Living room painted in mid pink shade 'Ashes of Roses' with a lime green sofa on a wooden paneled floor.

Absolute Flat Emulsion

Our most popular paint, Absolute Flat Emulsion provides a beautiful and chalky matte finish, perfect for interior walls and ceilings.

A ‘barely there’ sheen level of 2%
No added VOCs, making it eco-friendly and certified child-safe
Wipeable with a damp cloth
Ideal for use on ceilings, walls and plaster work in quiet areas like bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms or study spaces

For a stunning, flat finish which accentuates the rich pigmentation of our paint colours, use Absolute Flat Emulsion.

Find out more about Absolute Flat

A hallway with white walls and flooring featuring a bike and sports equipment leaning on a blue and brown wooden staircase.

Intelligent Matt Emulsion

True to its name, Intelligent Matt Emulsion provides a durable, washable finish for high-traffic areas.

A low sheen of just 2%
Self Priming with Intelligent Grip™ technology
Multi Surface - You can achieve a uniform flat look on virtually any other surface in the room; woodwork, trim, panelling, radiators and even tiles or glass, all from the same tin
Contains no dangerous ingredients, certified Child Safe under the ‘Toy Paint Regulations’
Wipe away marks effortlessly, with warm, soapy water
Perfect for high-traffic areas like kitchens, utility rooms, hallways and children’s rooms

Intelligent Matt is the ideal choice for those looking for a finish for a busy, family home.

Learn more about Intelligent Matt

A bathtub in front of a wall with the lower half in a muted pink (Blush) and the upper wall in grey (Gauze - Dark).

Intelligent Eggshell

Intelligent Eggshell is an elegant yet robust, water-based finish ideal for interior woodwork.

A low sheen of 10-15%
Self Priming with Intelligent Grip™ technology
With enhanced resistance to moisture, staining, condensation and general wear and tear, Intelligent Eggshell is the most likely finish to be used on woodwork; baseboards, doors, panelling, radiators and window trims.
May be used on walls which require complete scrubbability - for example, kitchens and bathrooms
Fully washable and stain-resistant
Provides an easy-to-apply, smooth finish on all your interior woodwork

Intelligent Eggshell is an elegant low-sheen finish, perfect for interior woodwork and walls where total scrubbability is required.

Explore the benefits of Intelligent Eggshell

Paneled mudroom painted in green shade, Pleat, with contrasting deep red (Heat) shelving.

Intelligent Satin

With a slightly higher sheen level than Intelligent Eggshell, this satin-finish is suitable for all interior woodwork, in particular, household joinery, skirting, doors and windows as well as kitchen cabinets and wooden furniture.

30-35% sheen level
Self Priming with Intelligent Grip™ technology
Multi-surface - Supremely hard-wearing, Intelligent Satin is the ideal candidate for everyday household surfaces that are subjected to the wear and tear of daily life: walls, woodwork, kitchen cabinets, kitchen tiles, melamine, wooden furniture and glass.
Extremely wipeable and durable, especially when primed and applied with two coats

Refresh your woodwork and cabinetry with this sophisticated finish, available in the complete Little Greene colour palette.

Find out more about Intelligent Satin

Other water-based finishes for interiors

Hallway with an Air Force Blue painted floor, contrasting white (Shallows) walls and black (Jack Black) woodwork.

Intelligent Floor Paint

Transform flooring with this revolutionary water-based paint, providing a finish that is both robust and sophisticated.

Sheen level of 30-40%
Suitable for the busy home, with a low odour and dry within four hours
Easily washable
Works well on all floors and interior woodwork

Unlike oil-based alternatives, Intelligent Floor Paint is exceptionally durable and easy-to-clean.

Intelligent Gloss

Our high-sheen, water-based gloss provides an eco-friendly option for a traditional glossy finish.

Reflective high sheen of 87-90%
As with all our Intelligent finishes, this is washable with warm, soapy water.
Extraordinarily tough and fully washable, Intelligent Gloss is quick-drying, and capable of dramatically transforming a space (or a smart front door) using a combination of its unique light-reflectance and a fabulous, rich Little Greene colour.

Click here to learn more about Intelligent Gloss

Exterior paint finishes

Explore our exterior paint finishes for outdoor projects.

Outdoor shed painted in warm blue 'Juniper Ash' with a bright red chair surrounded by potted plants and trees.

Intelligent Exterior Eggshell

This exterior eggshell finish is easy-to-clean and available in our complete colour palette.

Low sheen level: 15%
Low odour
The UV resistant film created by this finish resists flaking and minimises fungal growth
This is a great choice for your outdoor wooden surfaces, such as window frames, doors, gates, garden furniture and outbuildings

With no need for primer on new timber or previously painted wood, our Intelligent Exterior Eggshell provides an easy uplift for your exterior woodwork and joinery.

Find out more

Yard with exerior wall in off white Wood Ash and pale blue shutters (Celestial Blue) with a seating area surrounded by trees.

Intelligent Masonry Paint

Designed to last up to 15 years on exterior walls, this tough formula achieves a smooth, matte finish.

Very matte, with a low sheen of 5%
A robust film makes this finish highly resistant to water and completely washable
A versatile paint, our Masonry Paint can be used on brickwork, new render and existing exterior paint

Transform exterior walls with this quick-drying paint that provides effective protection against the elements.

Click here for more details about Intelligent Masonry Paint

Primers and sealers

Doorway entrance with a grey green (Livid) painted door and doorframe with a contrasting pale pink (Confetti) wall.

Intelligent ASP

Use this highly versatile primer on interior and exterior surfaces to achieve an exquisite finish in your final top coat.

Low sheen of 5-8%
Quick drying time of just two hours
Prepares virtually any substrate for painting and can be coated in any of our finishes.

Available in any colour, this primer will be tinted to a slightly lighter version than your selected shade for a highly pigmented final finish.

Find out more about Intelligent ASP

FAQS

Which is the best finish to use in a bathroom?

For small rooms where steam is a factor to consider, we would recommend using Intelligent Eggshell for painting walls and woodwork, due to its long lasting, extremely-tough qualities.

Which finish should I use for hallways and high traffic areas?

Intelligent Matt Emulsion provides a durable, washable finish for high-traffic areas with a low sheen of just 2%. It is perfect for walls in kitchens, utility rooms, hallways and children’s rooms.

Which finish should I use for a bedroom?

Our most popular paint, Absolute Flat Emulsion is a beautiful, chalky, matt finish of just 2% which is perfect for use on walls and ceilings in bedrooms. Absolute Matt provides a sublime chalky finish, often referred to as ‘dead matt’ or ‘flat matt’ paint. It dries to an incredibly flat finish that exudes character.

If you would like more guidance about our finishes, contact a member of our Customer Service team.

Please refer to the technical data sheets for full information on each product.