The Best Interior Paint for Walls & Ceilings

Well, I don’t know about you, but I've definitely been spending more time indoors than I did in the months before. And honestly, I just realised how neglected our interior walls are after a busy summer! Everything could really do with a fresh coat of paint before the festive season kicks in.

If you find yourself in a similar situation and are seeking a reliable interior paint that meets essential criteria, here are my key requirements to consider:

• High durability for long-lasting results: We want our paints to stand the test of time, especially in high traffic areas of the house. Earthborn Lifestyle is an excellent choice for a busy modern home!
• Ease of application for a smooth finish: The paint should apply smoothly with a professional-looking result. We have received very good feedback from our customers who use Eico emulsion paints, which are easy to apply and have a very durable finish for busy homes.
• Low VOC emissions for a healthier indoor environment: Celtic's paints have the lowest levels of volatile organic compounds available. Consider Earthborn Claypaint, which is especially suitable for bedrooms—you can sleep in the room the same day you apply it!
• Good coverage to minimise multiple coats – The paint should provide good coverage to minimise the number of coats needed, saving time, money and resources! I recommend Keim Innostar as a one-coat wonder for an all-bright white finish, offering some of the best coverage in the range.
• A variety of excellent colour options – We love having options! I really enjoy seeing a vibrant colour card with a variety of shades and hues to choose from. At Celtic, we mix paints in-house and can mix hundreds of different colours using Earthborn, Eico, and hopefully, soon, Beeck paints too!
• Sustainability & Eco paint options: Our paint brands are highly certified with EU Ecolabel, Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort, Cradle to Cradle, and many more, which indicate a high level of environmental and health standards. All paint options at Celtic are water or mineral-based, which are kinder to the environment, and painting applicators are easy to clean with water and soap.

By sticking to these important standards, you'll be confident you're choosing a product that truly offers quality and a brilliant long lasting finish!

The best interior paint for your needs can be found among our top-rated options listed below. These paints are tried, tested, and highly recommended by both us and our customers!

Top durable and washable paints for your home:

Alright, first on the list is paint suitable for high-traffic areas. If you're painting hallways, porches, kitchens, and bathrooms, you need something that can withstand all the scuffs and marks it might get, so these are our top choices.

- Earthborn Lifestyle Emulsion: a durable, washable, and eco-friendly alternative to standard washable emulsion. Perfect for busier households, it is acrylic-free and virtually VOC-free. We mix it in-house; it comes in all the standard Earthborn colours. Sorry, no samples are available for this range.

- Eico Alterior Emulsion Paints: Choose this paint if you want an easy-to-apply product that offers a professional, durable finish and comes in hundreds of colours. Proven to be quite popular with our customers, I chose this paint for our bedroom and am very pleased with it. It's very washable—I’ve had to wash away a few cups of tea that went flying off the bedside table, and I was happy to see the wall look clean after a good scrub!

Keim Premium Optil Interior Emulsion: A high-performance sol-silicate paint that provides an intense, matte, lightfast finish on mineral substrates. It can be applied over existing paint layers. This breathable, mould and mildew resistant, low VOC, and highly durable paint truly ticks all the boxes!

The best paints to keep walls mould-free

If you're painting in areas prone to high condensation, such as bathrooms and kitchens, where mould might already be present, consider using mould-resistant paint. Options include lime-based paints like Keim mineral paints or Beeck Mineral Coatings. For enhanced protection, choose paints specifically formulated with biocides, such as Auro anti-mould paint, which help prevent mould spore growth. Check out our recent handy guide to bathroom paints to explore our selection of anti-mould paints and other tips.

Best interior Paint for professional colour finishes:

OK, all our paint brands are special, each with its unique benefits and properties. Usually, the only thing you need to decide on is the colour, right? They all have handy colour cards to help you pick. Feel free to order free colour cards from our website, and it’s a good idea to test the colour in your own home and lighting first before making a final decision. Eico paints, Keim, Beeck, and Earthborn all offer a wonderful range of classic colours to suit your style.

Recently, Earthborn announced its colour of the year 2026! We’re excited to see that Freckle, a soft, earthy and inviting colour, is a versatile shade that brings a grounding presence of comfort and connection to any space. Make sure you check out the Earthborn colour card!

Top Paints for Heritage Homes: Enhance breathability & preservation:

Select breathable paints to maintain your property's historic integrity. Choose natural or mineral-based options that are suited for heritage conservation. Ensure these paints are compatible with the original materials to prevent any potential damage during application. Look for eco-friendly choices that support sustainability while preserving the property's appearance and integrity. Mineral and natural paints like Earthborn Claypaint are perfect for older buildings. Alternatively, Beeck interior paint, which is lime and mineral-based, is also a great option.

Keim paints provide protection and preservation for historic and listed buildings. Rather than just coating surfaces, these paints penetrate and bond with them using sol-silicate technology. We encourage you to try Keim Optil, an innovative, light-reflective paint that complies with the highest standards for breathability and durability.

Top Eco-Friendly Paints for a Healthy Home:

How does paint contribute to a healthy home? These paints are free from harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds that can harm our respiratory system. Unlike other paints filled with plastics and strong odours, options like Keim Ecosil ME are odourless, breathable, and resistant to condensation. They also incorporate the MiNox effect to improve air quality. You might not be familiar with this term, but essentially, it is a water-based paint that neutralises toxic gases and pollutants from the environment, helping create a healthier living space.

Top paint picks for maximum trade value & prime coats

Back and better than ever! The earthborn ecopro matt emulsion, a long-standing favourite budget-friendly paint, remains superior in many ways. It contains minimal VOCS and is free from oils and acrylics, making it a safe choice for you and your home. We’re pleased to see it back in stock after a slight redesign, with a recent formula that enhances ease of application. It now has minimal spatter and is resistant to drips, offering excellent coverage. That's why it's our top pick for a simple, reliable white paint that meets all your needs. I used this paint throughout my house when we moved six years ago, and it's still holding up well in our busy home! Give it a try- samples are available on our website.

I hope you found this article helpful. If you would like to speak with someone before placing your order, please feel free to call us. We have firsthand experience with these products and are happy to guide you through the various options.