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General: Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding: Delivery, Returns, Online Orders, Historical Orders, Product Variation and Discounts.

Delivery

Is there a delivery charge?

Paint orders are delivered free of charge anywhere in the UK.

Wallpaper orders incur a delivery charge of £3.95.

Deliveries to the Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, Scottish Isles may take longer than stated Standard Delivery times.

When will my order arrive?

Standard delivery orders are dispatched within 3-5 days.

Deliveries are made by courier within their standard operating hours: 8.00am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

If I order today, when can I expect delivery?

Currently we are dispatching orders within 3-5 days.

Can I track my order?

If you would like to track your order, a tracking link will be sent to you by the courier company.

Returns

Can I return a tin of paint?

We are not able to offer returns, as all Little Greene paint is tinted to order.

If you believe your paint is faulty, please contact our customer service team.

Can I return any unused wallpaper?

As long as the wallpaper roll is unopened and in a re-saleable condition we will accept returns.

Online orders

Why should I create an account?

The checkout process on this website gives you the option to create an account or check out as a guest.

Creating an account is worth doing if you are likely to order more than once as the website will remember your details and you can view previous transactions (very useful if you decide you want more of the same paint but can’t remember which colour or finish you had last time!)

Can I use any credit/debit card to pay for my order?

We accept all credit and debit cards, excluding American Express.

Historical orders

Can I trace a previous order to ensure I buy the same colour and finish?

If you can provide our team with your original order number, from a purchase made on this website, we should be able to access this information for you.

Product variation

Why do the online representations look different to the colour card/actual product?

The appearance of a colour online may differ depending on screen settings, such as brightness and resolution.

We always recommend ordering a colour card and sample pot before choosing a colour, as you cannot get an entirely true representation of a colour from a screen.

Our colour cards feature flying chips of real paint so you can compare the colour directly with wallpaper and fabrics.

Is the label colour on the tin indicative of the colour inside?

The label on the front of the tin features the colour name on a cream background. Each finish has a different coloured label, this is not indicative of the colour in the tin.

Discounts

Do you offer any discounts or price match deals?

We don't offer any discounts on Little Greene products.

Any voucher codes listed by third party sites have not been authorised by Little Greene and will not be valid for use on the website.

Paint: Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding: Colour Advice, Samples, Paint Finish, Undercoat, Paint Coverage, Application, Archived Colours and our Ethical Promise.

Colour advice

Can you recommend matching/complementary colours?

Each of Little Greene’s paints and wallpapers feature complementary colours so you can create a coordinated scheme.

On this website, each paint shade and wallpaper colourway features three coordinating colours. You can also find three complimentary colour swatches on each design in the Little Greene wallpaper books.

You can also find colour advice in the 'Little Book of Colour' a compact colour tool which allows you to combine and coordinate Little Greene colours with confidence. The book contains all 191 Little Greene colours with a breakdown of the pigments used to create them and provides related whites, neutrals, coordinating, accent & dark colour suggestions for each shade on the colour card making it easy to create a harmonious, beautiful colour scheme.

Can you provide a RAL code for your colours?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide either a RAL or BS reference, as we are unable to match our colours.

Viewing paints on the Little Greene website?

Depending on the device used and screen resolution, the paint colours depicted on the website can appear slightly different to the paint when applied to a surface. We do recommend testing a colour before purchase to ensure you are happy with the final result.

We are unable to accept returns as each can is freshly tinted to order.

Samples

Can I purchase sample pots in any finish?

Sample Pots are available in our most popular finish, Absolute Matt Emulsion - perfect for testing colour on your own walls.

We would advise painting the colour onto an A4 swatch and moving it around the room throughout the day. This will show you how the colour will appear in different lights.

Can I purchase sample pots in 250ml or just 60ml?

All of the paint sample pots are poured by hand and come in 60ml tester pots.

What's the difference between The Little Book of Colour and the Colour Album?

The Colour Album features A5 sheets painted with all 198 colours, to give a large, accurate colour sample. The Colour Album is ideal for professional use, for interior designers or in showrooms.

The Little Book of Colour is a comprehensive colour tool with suggestions for using colours together. The Little Book of Colour is designed to help you combine and coordinate Little Greene colours with confidence.

Do you have technical data sheets available?

Product data sheets are available for download here.

Paint finish

What's the difference between Absolute Matt and Intelligent Matt?

Absolute Matt Emulsion is Little Greene’s original classic flat paint for walls and has the most matt finish offered by any Little Greene paint.

Intelligent Matt Emulsion is the most popular of Little Greene’s ‘Intelligent Paints’ family and is more durable and completely washable – perfect for high traffic areas.

What's the difference between Intelligent Eggshell and Flat Oil Eggshell?

Both the eggshell finishes are suitable for interior use, particularly when painting woodwork and primed metals.

Intelligent Eggshell is a water-based paint, formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear. It has a tough yet subtle finish and is a superb paint for woodwork and kitchen & bathroom walls.

Flat Oil Eggshell is a more traditional, oil-based paint with a gloss level of 15-20% suitable for most surfaces including woodwork and primed metals. Please allow time for the finish to fully cure following application, the paint should be cured after 4 weeks.

Please note that specific preparation and priming information will be dependent upon the nature of the substrate and the presence of any existing finish or treatment.

Little Greene oil based finishes are formulated to the highest possible quality. However, due to current EU legislation on solvent levels, lack of exposure to UV light or exposure to heat may lead to yellowing over time.

What's the difference between water-based and oil-based paint?

Water-based paints are thinner and therefore dry quicker than oil-based alternatives, they also have a lower VOC (volatile organic compounds) content and are therefore more eco-friendly.

With a nine hundred year pedigree, oil-based paints have long been recognised as the classic finish for woodwork. By forming a deeper bond with the surface than is possible with a quick-drying paint, traditional oil-based recipes are renowned for their increased longevity, excellent flow and smooth finish.

What should I use to paint kitchen cupboards?

Little Greene's Intelligent Satin paint is the perfect choice for painting kitchen cabinets, as it is hard-wearing and washable.

Alternatively, for a lower sheen finish, choose Flat Oil Eggshell or Intelligent Eggshell.

Please note that specific preparation and priming information will be dependent upon the nature of the substrate and the presence of any existing finish or treatment.

Do you sell paint suitable for wood?

For painting wood, including skirting boards and kitchen cabinets, we would recommend the quick-drying, hard-wearing https://{{store_url}}/paint/finishes/interior-paint-finishes/intelligent-satin. For a lower sheen finish, Intelligent Eggshell makes a suitable alternative.

To paint wooden flooring, choose the water-based Intelligent Floor Paint. With a drying time of just two hours, life can continue virtually seamlessly.

Can I paint Melamine or plastic surfaces?

Melamine can be painted if thoroughly sanded and then primed with Little Greene's Intelligent All Surface Primer (ASP). You can then apply two coats of Intelligent Satin finish.

What type of paint can be used on radiators?

For painting radiators, we recommended using Little Greene Intelligent Satin or Intelligent Gloss. Unlike all modern day solvent-based paints, they are guaranteed not to yellow upon exposure to heat.

If you are applying paint directly to bare metal, or painting over a radically different colour beneath, use Intelligent ASP to build up coverage and maximise adhesion. This robust water-based primer is available in a wide range of colours with a drying time of just two hours.

Is your paint low odour, non-toxic and safe for children?

All Little Greene water-based paints are low odour. Little Green's most environmentally-friendly paints, Intelligent paints, have all been certified as Child Safe under EN 71-3:2019 (also known as the Toy Paint Regulations).

This certification includes: Intelligent Matt Emulsion, Intelligent Eggshell, Intelligent Gloss, Intelligent ASP (all surface primer), Intelligent Satin and Intelligent Floor Paint.

Please consult the product data sheets for further detail.

What paints is best for painting a bathroom?

Formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear, Intelligent Eggshell has a tough yet subtle finish. It is a superb paint for bathroom walls, especially for rooms which may have limited extraction or suffer from condensation.

Do you sell floor paint?

Little Greene offers two different paint finishes for flooring.

Their original oil-based Floor Paint has an attractive and extremely tough mid-sheen finish. Little Greene Floor Paint uses their eco-oil recipe, which has been formulated using naturally occurring vegetable oils.

Intelligent Floor Paint is a revolutionary water-based alternative, with a slightly lower sheen level. This durable, washable paint is low odour and dry within just two hours.

Painting the floor is an easy yet dramatic way to change the feel of a room and, with most of the Little Greene colour range at your fingertips, you can be as bold or as subtle as you like.

Does your external masonry paint have a minimum temperature for use?

Masonry Paint should not be applied to surfaces when the ambient temperature is below 5 degrees or if there is a risk of rain during application or drying. Avoid painting in full sun or on warm surfaces.

For best results, always attempt to time the painting of a given elevation prior to exposure to direct sunlight.

How do I paint a cast iron bath?

Ensure that the external cast iron bath surface is thoroughly clean and rust free. Apply one or two coats of Intelligent ASP - All Surface Primer.

Then apply your chosen colour using Flat Oil Eggshell, Traditional Oil Gloss, Intelligent Gloss or Intelligent Eggshell (highly recommended).

Please consult individual product data sheets for further information on surface preparation, application and drying times.

Undercoat

Which primer undercoat do I need?

Order an undercoat in the same colour as your chosen top coat to acheive the best finish possible.

We recommend Little Greene Intelligent ASP (water-based) for all interior and exterior priming, and for sealing wallboard, concrete, brick, woodwork, metals or plaster.

What is the benefit of undercoat? (Compared to another layer of paint)

Using an undercoat will ensure full depth of colour of your chosen paint colour. Undercoat is vital to seal unpainted surfaces or prepare the surface for painting.

If you are transitioning from a dark to a light colour, the undercoat has properties which will help obliterate the colour beneath before applying the top coat.

Paint coverage

What is the average coverage of a tin of paint?

Paint coverage varies according to the chosen finish and the texture and porosity of the surface being painted.

Based on a single coat, you can expect an average coverage of 14 square metres per litre for Intelligent ASP, Absolute Matt Emulsion, Intelligent Matt Emulsion, Intelligent Eggshell, Intelligent Gloss.

For use on wood and floorboards, Intelligent Satin and Intelligent Floor Paint should both cover 12 square meters per litre.

Our oil-based paints, including Traditional Oil Gloss and Flat Oil Eggshell, cover around 16 square metres per litre.

More specialist paints have a wider variance in coverage: Masonry Paint covers around 13 square metres per litre, Distemper covers 15 square metres per litre and Limewash covers an average area of 6 square metres per litre as is soaks into the porous stone.

How many coats of paint should I use?

There are conditions specific to your project that can affect this, but we would always recommend a minimum of two coats.

Little Greene paints have excellent coverage; they are formulated on a high-opacity base and contain up to 40% more pigment than many ordinary paints. Using a tinted Primer Undercoat will significantly help you achieve a full and accurate depth of colour, whilst also priming the surface underneath.

How long should I leave paint to dry between coats?

Please refer to the technical data sheet for your chosen paint finish for drying time.

Application

Is your paint suitable to apply by roller?

Little Greene paint can be applied using traditional brushes or rollers, depending on the desired final appearance.

Rollers provide a smooth uniform finish on well-prepared walls; whereas paint brushes can be useful for edging and uneven surfaces.

For further information about application of each paint type, see the detailed product data sheets.

Can your paint be applied with a spray canister?

Some Little Greene paint finishes can be thinned (with the addition of 5-25% clean water) suitable for application using a spray canister.

For further information about each specific paint finish, please see the detailed product data sheets.

How long must I wait before painting over new plaster?

We recommend leaving a fresh plaster skim for at least four weeks, as the plaster needs to be completely dry before applying paint.

For new, fully plastered walls, allow at least six months for the plaster to dry thoroughly.

What paint should I use on lime plaster walls?

For painting internal lime plaster walls or walls that require a breathable finish, we would advise using Distemper.

For exterior walls that are old and damp, Limewash is a very traditional finish, used to decorate and protect porous stone and lime-rendered surfaces. Like Distemper, Limewash is a breathable finish. Unlike paint, limewash penetrates the surface and the colour is built up by applying successive coats.

What should I use to clean my paint brushes?

For water based paints, use water and for oil based paints, use white spirit or a specific solvent-based cleaner.

Archived colours

Can I still order colours that are not on the colour card?

Little Greene never discontinues a colour, however they will remove colours from the current colour card to make way for new shade. They keep all these colours archived.

You can order Archive Colours in a 250ml sample pot.

I can't find the Traditional Oil Eggshell finish, do you still make it?

Traditional Oil Eggshell has been discontinued; the new oil-based eggshell is Flat Oil Eggshell.

Designed specifically for interior use, the formula has been developed to give superior, glide-on application characteristics with extended workability and open time, making brushing out a real pleasure, even for the least confident of painters.

Ethics

Are your paints cruelty free?

Little Greene has not, and never will commission or support animal testing.

All of their paint finishes are free from any animal derived products. They always source the highest quality materials with their environmental and ethical values in mind.

What is a VOC?

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound and these contribute to atmospheric pollution when they evaporate (while you're painting). There are chemicals used in all industries that are classified as VOCs, from paints and building materials to soaps and cleaning products.

As a rule of thumb, water based paints generally very little VOCs, whilst traditional oil based paints contain some, but in very insignificant levels. If you suffer with asthma it’s definitely worth choosing a zero VOC paint, otherwise the decision is usually just a preference for one type of paint over another.

Wallpaper: Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions regarding: Quantity, Type, Samples and Wallpaper Paste.

Wallpaper quantity

How much walllpaper do I need?

Each of the wallpaper product pages includes a wallpaper calculator, to help you calculate the amount of wallpaper you need. We recommend allowing an additional 10% for trimming excess and pattern matching. The wallpaper calculator should be used as a guide only.

How big is a roll of wallpaper?

Most wallpaper rolls are a standard size: 21” or 52.5cm across by 11 yards or 10m long. The only exception to this is Sackville Street, printed in a wider format, 31.5” / 80cm.

Wallpaper type

What is non woven wallpaper?

A non woven base paper is not actually a conventional paper. It does not expand when wet and is perhaps easier for the novice decorator to hang, as you can paste the wall rather than paste (and soak) the wallpaper.

Wallpaper samples

Can I order free wallpaper samples?

A4 wallpaper samples are available on the website for all designs. You can order up to six different patterns free of charge.

Wallpaper paste

What wallpaper paste should I use?

Little Greene Ready Mixed Wallpaper Paste must be used with Little Greene wallpapers to ensure the best results.

Is there a wallpaper paste datasheet?

Yes. The wallpaper paste datasheet is available here.

How much wallpaper paste do I need?

For up to 3 rolls of wallpaper, we would advise 2.5kg of paste. For larger projects of up to 6 rolls, 5kg of wallpaper paste.