WHAT IS GLOSS PAINT AND WHERE DO I USE IT?
Gloss paint has been used traditionally as the ‘go to’ paint for woodwork, doors and trims. But what is the difference between gloss paint and eggshell or satin? And what surfaces can gloss be used on?
Sep '18
Gloss paint has been used traditionally as the ‘go to’ paint for woodwork, doors and trims. In the past gloss paint was oil based, was prone to yellowing and could even contain harmful lead. Thankfully this is no longer the case as modern gloss paints are waterbased, with minimal VOC content and provide the benefits of a hardwearing paint without the drawback of yellowing over time.
WHAT DOES ‘GLOSS’ MEAN AND WHAT ARE ITS PROPERTIES?
The word gloss refers to the sheen level of the paint. The higher the sheen level, the more reflective the paint will be. A gloss finish reflects the most light, so is the most ‘shiny’. Our 1829 gloss paint is a hardwearing, durable and washable finish so is ideal for use in areas of high wear such as interior doors and skirting boards. 1829 gloss can also be used outside, so feel free to protect your front door or garden furniture in one of our vintage colours. Gloss can also be used on suitably prepared metal, so you can match your radiators to your doors and trim.
HOW DO I APPLY GLOSS PAINT?
Gloss paint can be applied using a brush, roller or spray, once the surface has been suitable prepared. Craig & Rose have a range of high quality detail paint brushes that can be used with gloss paint. When applying to previously painted surfaces you may need to rub down the surface and remove loose flaking paint or fill holes with filler. You may need to use an undercoat to seal bare or new surfaces, or prepare metal with a metal primer.
WHAT COLOUR SHOULD I USE?
Our 1829 gloss paints are available in all 110 colours in the 1829 vintage colour collection. Our most popular colour groups in gloss paints range from the ever enduring whites, to the ‘of the now’ greens, the ‘new neutral’ greys and the deep, inky blues which have been on trend for the last few years.
For a traditional and fresh look, whites and light grey are ideal. For a dramatic take on colour, match your deep toned walls and trim for a colour block look. Or go for contrast with a deep dark trim and a light, airy wall. There are no wrong answers! For extra inspiration, view our suggested colour schemes underneath each colour on site.
There is a particular kind of joy in taking a room you see every day and making it feel entirely new. It is a feeling that sits at the heart of our Colour Forecast 2026, and one we wanted to explore through a real transformation.
For this bathroom project, we partnered with Matt Hatt, whose playful, hands-on approach captures the pleasure of decorating from first idea to final reveal. Known for his theatrical touch and his instinct for pairings that are daring yet considered, Matt brings real warmth and personality to everything he touches.
His brief was one many will recognise: to bring personality and cohesion to a main bathroom that, while structurally sound with its subway tiles, black grout and classic fittings, felt out of step with the rest of his Victorian home. The space called for a palette that could honour its period character while introducing something confident and true to himself.
From the four curated palettes within Colour Forecast 2026, Matt was drawn to Timeless, a collection that pairs the elegance of heritage tones with the boldness to reinvent a room, grounded throughout by warm, enveloping neutrals
A Lifelong Love of Transformation
Ever since I was young I've enjoyed transforming the environment around me. I was one of those kids that would go up to my room, and spend all day, on my own, listening to music trying out new combinations before inviting my mum in for a 'Changing Room' style reveal. Always had a flair for the dramatics.
That feeling of making something you see everyday feel completely new has stayed with me, through the many flats I've rented over the years, to my first home that I bought 3 years ago with my boyfriend. Playing with colour and pattern and leaning into the joy of decorating.
Expert Knowledge, Distilled
As a self-taught interior 'creator', I'm always looking for tricks or expert knowledge that I can use in my transformations. Craig and Rose's Colour Forecast is just that, the brand's expert knowledge distilled down into 4 feelings you want and need your room to be in 2026.
The Room That Needed Warmth
Our main bathroom had been on my to do list for a while, the core of it was good, subway style tiles with black grout, a giant fitted bathroom cupboard, a classic white sink, but it lacked warmth, felt out of kilter with the rest of the house.
Why Timeless Stood Out
The Timeless immediately stood out, as they felt to me like they combined the elegance of colours that would suit my Victorian home with the boldness to create a whole new look, and the warmth through the neutrals I was craving.
Knowing that Craig and Rose had done all the hard work for me, and that any combination of beautiful colours from the palette would work helped me to be so decisive when choosing my colours.
Making It My Own
It left me more time to add some creativity into application, and use of colour. Paint is a hugely powerful way to change a space entirely, and by using some decorating tape and following the steps of the useful guide on painting the perfect stripes I now have the bathroom my Victorian home deserves. (Painting Perfect Stripes: A Step-by-Step Guide by Craig & Rose) I have achieved a real stand out space that makes me smile everyday. I adore the warmth of Mallord on the walls and ceiling, Papyrus and Oriental Red on the bath and cabinets, and pops of the energising Smalt on skirtings.
Looking Back
I think 12-year old Matt would be quite chuffed with how far we've come in our transformation skills.
Matt Hatt
The Bathroom a Victorian Home Deserves
With the hard work of colour selection already done, Matt was free to focus on the details that make a space personal, using decorating tape and a steady hand to bring striking painted stripes to life. The result is a bathroom that feels warm, characterful and entirely his own, from the depth of Mallord on the walls and ceiling to the pops of energising Smalt along the skirtings. It is a fitting reminder that, with the right palette to guide the way, a considered transformation can be as enjoyable to create as it is to live with.
His brief was one many will recognise: to bring personality and cohesion to a main bathroom that, while structurally sound with its subway tiles, black grout and classic fittings, felt out of step with the rest of his Victorian home. The space called for a palette that could honour its period character while introducing something confident and true to himself.
From the four curated palettes within Colour Forecast 2026, Matt was drawn to Timeless, a collection that pairs the elegance of heritage tones with the boldness to reinvent a room, grounded throughout by warm, enveloping neutrals
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