UO Guide To COAT Paint
Urban Outfitters sells paint now? Yep! Transforming your space can be as simple as applying a fresh coat of paint. However, navigating how to paint for the first time can be tricky so we’ve gone to the experts at COAT @coatpaints. Find out useful tips for prepping your walls, colour inspiration and creating the perfect finish. Made in the UK, discover the new low-odour, low-toxin and entirely vegan COAT paint drops featuring exclusive shades only available at UO.
What are 3 things to consider before painting your space?
1 - What do you want to achieve?
Think about the end result and how you ideally want the room to feel from a repaint. That will help when it comes to choosing paint colours.
2 - Lighting in the room
Is it a huge room with loads of natural light, or a snug space with artificial light? Again, this will really help decide on what colour works best.
3 - Current furnishings
We're all about sustainability, and you probably aren't about to throw out all of your existing furniture when repainting. So try colour samples alongside existing furnishings and artwork before choosing a colour.
Advice to new homeowners when choosing a type of paint?
Choose a quality paint to get yourself a flawless finish. High-grade paint uses better ingredients, is richly coloured and more durable - meaning you'll get a paint that's a dream to apply with a flawless finish that lasts.
Choose the right paint for the job. You'll need a different paint finish for walls versus woodwork or radiators. It's not difficult but choosing the right one means your final finish will look the best and stand the test of time.
Look for eco-conscious Low VOC and Low Odour products. Eco-conscious paints are often vegan and free of animal testing. They're kinder to the planet and people as they minimise the amount of nasty toxins emitted as the paint dries. Water-based paints are best as they have no solvents which are harmful to humans. The entire COAT range is eco-conscious.
Picking a colour scheme...where to start?
Start by asking yourself what you want the finished room to feel like? Vibrant? Relaxing? Cosy? There's no right or wrong when it comes to colour, it's just about choosing the right shade to balance the light in the room.
If you want a vibrant space that stimulates the brain, choose bold and bright colours like neon blues or purples - great for home-working spaces. Relaxing spaces like bedrooms often suit more muted colours like soft sage greens or mellow pinks. Or for full-on cosy vibes either go with a warm neutral shade, or a very dark blue or black. It might sound odd but darker colours can actually absorb light reflection and blur the edges of the space, making it feel warm and cosy.
Also think about the lighting in the room as rooms that are naturally bright and filled with light can take most colours well, but for darker spaces you need to choose more carefully. It's a myth that light colours miraculously make dark rooms feel brighter though. On the contrary they might just draw attention to the fact there's limited light, so we say embrace the dark and choose bolder shades if you're brave enough!
How to create a colour balance:
We use a simple trick: the 60-30-10 method. You’ll be surprised how many interior design pro’s use it, but it’s super simple. Choose one colour for 60% of the space (the walls), a second 30% colour for the room (furniture and curtains) and a third at 10% to accent. You’ll love how well this plays out to create balance in all spaces.
Getting started – the tools you need are...
Dust sheets or something to cover the floor/furniture
Bucket of warm water (mild detergent) and sponge
180 grit sandpaper (check the pack of the sandpaper)
A stepladder
Paint roller and tray
1” or 2” paint brush (for painting the edges)
Decorating tape (for masking edges and sockets)
A decent playlist!
How to prep a wall?
It's well worth putting in a bit of effort up-front to make sure you get the best finish. In a nutshell, prepping is just about getting your walls or wood in the best condition to take your new paint colour.
If you're repainting a wall, cover up the furniture and floor first - you don't want paint everywhere! The pro's would also loosen electrical switches so you can paint behind them - but don't do this if you're not comfortable and safe doing so. You can then start by removing any lumps, bumps or flaking old paint by giving things a light sand - a 180grit sandpaper will do the job. Finally, lightly clean the walls and woodwork with warm water to remove any dirt that might get trapped in your new paint job.
If you're painting brand new plaster (you lucky thing), you'll need to apply a mist coat first. New plaster is porous, so it'll soak any paint right in and needs to be sealed first. A mist coat is usually a watered-down white emulsion or special mist coat product. It's important to do this before you apply your high-grade COAT paint, or it'll just soak in or peel off.
3 hacks to get the perfect finish…
1- The right paint
Choose a quality paint in the right finish for the job. COAT offers three finishes for General Walls, Kitchens & Bathrooms, and Wood & Metal. Choose the right one for the job - it's been designed especially for it, and the finish will be both flawless and long-lasting.
2 - The right prep
Don't skimp on the prep. Dirty walls or un-sanded old paint make it really hard for your new paint to stick properly, meaning you could end up with bubbling or peeling which nobody wants. Clean smooth walls mean your new flawless finish will last an age.
3 - The right tools
Use good quality rollers and brushes. Use rollers for walls, and brushes for edging and woodwork. Plastic brushes and rollers can leave nasty brush marks. COAT offers a range of eco-supplies for painting, using naturally sourced and recyclable materials to create tools that apply paint like a dream and leave the perfect finish.
Types of finish:
Flat Matt: durable wall paint with a dead matte finish
Soft Sheen: moisture-proof wall paint with a nice shine
Eggshell: hardy wood and metal paint with a very subtle shine
Easy mistakes to make?
There are a few small things you can do to make sure your paint finish is the best it can be. Avoid these common mistakes:
1 - Not cleaning or sanding surfaces properly
2 - Applying coats too thickly - two nice even coats is best
3 - Not leaving enough drying time between coats
Tell us about your eco-paints… All COAT paints are water-based, low VOC (toxin), low odour and entirely solvent-free. They're also vegan, and free of any animal testing. COAT uses entirely recycled or recyclable packaging materials, direct-to-door delivery to reduce lorries on the roads, and paint made fresh to order avoids any waste too. And above all the entire COAT business is Carbon Neutral, working with UN-certified sustainability projects to neutralise our footprint.
1 - What do you want to achieve?
Think about the end result and how you ideally want the room to feel from a repaint. That will help when it comes to choosing paint colours.
2 - Lighting in the room
Is it a huge room with loads of natural light, or a snug space with artificial light? Again, this will really help decide on what colour works best.
3 - Current furnishings
We're all about sustainability, and you probably aren't about to throw out all of your existing furniture when repainting. So try colour samples alongside existing furnishings and artwork before choosing a colour.
Advice to new homeowners when choosing a type of paint?
Choose a quality paint to get yourself a flawless finish. High-grade paint uses better ingredients, is richly coloured and more durable - meaning you'll get a paint that's a dream to apply with a flawless finish that lasts.
Choose the right paint for the job. You'll need a different paint finish for walls versus woodwork or radiators. It's not difficult but choosing the right one means your final finish will look the best and stand the test of time.
Look for eco-conscious Low VOC and Low Odour products. Eco-conscious paints are often vegan and free of animal testing. They're kinder to the planet and people as they minimise the amount of nasty toxins emitted as the paint dries. Water-based paints are best as they have no solvents which are harmful to humans. The entire COAT range is eco-conscious.
Picking a colour scheme...where to start?
Start by asking yourself what you want the finished room to feel like? Vibrant? Relaxing? Cosy? There's no right or wrong when it comes to colour, it's just about choosing the right shade to balance the light in the room.
If you want a vibrant space that stimulates the brain, choose bold and bright colours like neon blues or purples - great for home-working spaces. Relaxing spaces like bedrooms often suit more muted colours like soft sage greens or mellow pinks. Or for full-on cosy vibes either go with a warm neutral shade, or a very dark blue or black. It might sound odd but darker colours can actually absorb light reflection and blur the edges of the space, making it feel warm and cosy.
Also think about the lighting in the room as rooms that are naturally bright and filled with light can take most colours well, but for darker spaces you need to choose more carefully. It's a myth that light colours miraculously make dark rooms feel brighter though. On the contrary they might just draw attention to the fact there's limited light, so we say embrace the dark and choose bolder shades if you're brave enough!
How to create a colour balance:
We use a simple trick: the 60-30-10 method. You’ll be surprised how many interior design pro’s use it, but it’s super simple. Choose one colour for 60% of the space (the walls), a second 30% colour for the room (furniture and curtains) and a third at 10% to accent. You’ll love how well this plays out to create balance in all spaces.
Getting started – the tools you need are...
Dust sheets or something to cover the floor/furniture
Bucket of warm water (mild detergent) and sponge
180 grit sandpaper (check the pack of the sandpaper)
A stepladder
Paint roller and tray
1” or 2” paint brush (for painting the edges)
Decorating tape (for masking edges and sockets)
A decent playlist!
How to prep a wall?
It's well worth putting in a bit of effort up-front to make sure you get the best finish. In a nutshell, prepping is just about getting your walls or wood in the best condition to take your new paint colour.
If you're repainting a wall, cover up the furniture and floor first - you don't want paint everywhere! The pro's would also loosen electrical switches so you can paint behind them - but don't do this if you're not comfortable and safe doing so. You can then start by removing any lumps, bumps or flaking old paint by giving things a light sand - a 180grit sandpaper will do the job. Finally, lightly clean the walls and woodwork with warm water to remove any dirt that might get trapped in your new paint job.
If you're painting brand new plaster (you lucky thing), you'll need to apply a mist coat first. New plaster is porous, so it'll soak any paint right in and needs to be sealed first. A mist coat is usually a watered-down white emulsion or special mist coat product. It's important to do this before you apply your high-grade COAT paint, or it'll just soak in or peel off.
3 hacks to get the perfect finish…
1- The right paint
Choose a quality paint in the right finish for the job. COAT offers three finishes for General Walls, Kitchens & Bathrooms, and Wood & Metal. Choose the right one for the job - it's been designed especially for it, and the finish will be both flawless and long-lasting.
2 - The right prep
Don't skimp on the prep. Dirty walls or un-sanded old paint make it really hard for your new paint to stick properly, meaning you could end up with bubbling or peeling which nobody wants. Clean smooth walls mean your new flawless finish will last an age.
3 - The right tools
Use good quality rollers and brushes. Use rollers for walls, and brushes for edging and woodwork. Plastic brushes and rollers can leave nasty brush marks. COAT offers a range of eco-supplies for painting, using naturally sourced and recyclable materials to create tools that apply paint like a dream and leave the perfect finish.
Types of finish:
Flat Matt: durable wall paint with a dead matte finish
Soft Sheen: moisture-proof wall paint with a nice shine
Eggshell: hardy wood and metal paint with a very subtle shine
Easy mistakes to make?
There are a few small things you can do to make sure your paint finish is the best it can be. Avoid these common mistakes:
1 - Not cleaning or sanding surfaces properly
2 - Applying coats too thickly - two nice even coats is best
3 - Not leaving enough drying time between coats
Tell us about your eco-paints… All COAT paints are water-based, low VOC (toxin), low odour and entirely solvent-free. They're also vegan, and free of any animal testing. COAT uses entirely recycled or recyclable packaging materials, direct-to-door delivery to reduce lorries on the roads, and paint made fresh to order avoids any waste too. And above all the entire COAT business is Carbon Neutral, working with UN-certified sustainability projects to neutralise our footprint.