Every chip on the chart, as an article
Paint types
What does low-VOC paint mean, and how do you read the label?
What low-VOC paint means in the UK, how to read the grams-per-litre figure on the tin, what the legal limits are, and how to keep a freshly painted room aired.
Photo: Michael Cory, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Matt, eggshell, satin or gloss: which paint finish goes where?
A room-by-room guide to paint finishes for UK homes: where matt, eggshell, satin and gloss each work, what sheen does to a wall, and how to test before buying.
Choosing colour
What colours work best in a north-facing room?
Why north-facing rooms look cold, which paint colours hold up in that light, how bulbs change the result, and a week-long sample test for British homes.
Preparing surfaces
Could my old house have lead paint, and is it safe to sand?
How to tell if your older UK home may have lead paint, why dry sanding and burning off are the risky jobs, and when to overcoat, strip or call a professional.
Photo: Ich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
How do you prepare a wall for painting?
How to prepare a wall for paint in a UK home: three checks first, then steps for sound walls, new plaster, mould, shiny or flaking paint and old wallpaper.
Small rooms
Does a light colour really make a small room look bigger?
What research says about pale paint and small rooms, what it leaves out, and four ways to colour a box room or study, with drawn room mock-ups.
Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons