Advice & ideas

Know-how, colour & honest advice

Practical guides from behind the counter — the things worth knowing before you open a tin, plus colour ideas and trade tips. No jargon, no upselling.

Advice8 July 2026 · 5 min read

Trade paint vs retail paint: what's the difference?

Trade and retail paint are not the same tin with a different label. Here's what actually separates them, and when the trade version is worth it.

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Advice· 6 min

How much paint do I need? A simple room-by-room guide

Buying too little means a second trip; buying too much wastes money. Here is the quick way to get it right before you open a tin.

Advice· 5 min

Matt, eggshell, satin or gloss: choosing the right paint finish

Sheen is not just about looks — it decides how tough a finish is and how much it shows. Here is where each one belongs.

Prep· 7 min

The prep checklist every lasting paint job starts with

A lasting finish is ninety percent preparation. Skip it and the best paint on the shelf will still let you down.

Advice· 5 min

Water-based vs oil-based trim paint: which and when

Modern water-based trim paints have changed woodwork painting. Here is when to use them and when the old oil-based tin still earns its place.

Advice· 4 min

What order to paint a room in (and why it matters)

Painting in the wrong order means fixing drips on surfaces you thought were finished. Here is the sequence the trade uses.

Advice· 5 min

Brush or roller? Choosing tools that give a better finish

The tool matters as much as the paint. Here is how to choose, and why a cheap brush is a false economy.

Prep· 5 min

How to get sharp paint lines with masking tape

A crisp line is the detail people notice. The secret is not a steady hand — it is the right tape, used the right way.

Prep· 5 min

Painting new plaster: mist coats and patience

Fresh plaster is thirsty and needs handling differently. Get the first coat wrong and the whole wall can peel later.

Local· 6 min

Exterior painting in North Devon: weather, timing and coastal damp

A coastal climate is hard on exterior paint. Getting the timing and the system right is what makes it last.

Colour· 6 min

How to choose a colour that actually works in your room

The colour that looks perfect on a tiny card can look completely different on your wall. Here is how to choose with confidence.

Colour· 4 min

Getting a colour matched and mixed: how it works

Found the perfect colour on something that is not a paint chart? It can usually be matched and mixed while you wait.

Advice· 6 min

Fixing common paint problems (and stopping them next time)

Patchy walls, brush marks, flashing, peeling — most paint problems trace back to a handful of causes. Here is how to fix and avoid them.

Advice· 6 min

Painting woodwork for a smooth, professional finish

Woodwork is where a paint job is judged up close. A smooth finish is all in the preparation and the coats.

Prep· 5 min

Filling and caulking: the small jobs that make a big difference

Filler and caulk are not the same thing, and using the right one in the right place is what makes a room look properly finished.

Advice· 4 min

How to clean and care for your brushes and rollers

A good brush should last years, not one job. Five minutes of cleaning is the difference — here is how to do it properly.

Advice· 5 min

Painting a front door that lasts (and lifts your kerb appeal)

Your front door is the first thing anyone sees and the hardest-worked bit of paint on the house. It deserves doing properly.

Prep· 5 min

Damp, mould and condensation: sort it before you paint

Paint over mould and it comes back through. The lasting fix starts with the cause, not the colour.

Prep· 4 min

A decorator's guide to dust sheets and protecting a room

Ten minutes protecting a room saves an hour scrubbing paint off the floor. Here is how the trade does it.

Trade· 5 min

Trade accounts explained: how they save time and money on site

For anyone who paints for a living, a trade account is less about a discount and more about not losing half a day to materials.

Local· 5 min

Why buy from a local independent merchant instead of driving out of town

Convenience, advice and community — the reasons to buy your paint and tools down the road rather than out of town.