The bluffer’s guide to paint and painting

Confused about paint selection for indoor surfaces? Kya deLongchamps weighs up your many options

Colour is the basis of all paint — here pigment is piled up for use in an Asian market.

Interior paint selection can be a confusing area, and there are more formulations available than ever before. Some paints are completely dedicated to single surface types, others are multi-use performers and yet others require no priming whatsoever, reducing time and fuss for the DIY weekend warrior. Matching paint types to the receiving surface is the single most important thing to get right, so let’s start there.