The summer holidays are fast approaching. For kids and teens, that means a few months of freedom, for parents it means a lot less peace, and teachers will get a well-earned break before they need to start planning for the new year in September.
This all means that, apart from the occasional open day or exam, schools will be empty until term starts again. For head teachers, this is a great opportunity to liven up the corridors and classrooms before hundreds of pairs of feet grace them again.
Today we’re going to talk about the best paint for classrooms, so you can give any tired surfaces a freshen up and ensure every room of your school is looking its best.
What is the Best Paint for Schools?
Even a small school or nursery has multiple different surfaces, all of which can be painted. If you’re just looking to freshen up the interior, painting walls and floors is more than enough, but if your building(s) are looking past their prime, you can paint the exterior walls, doors, windows, and more.
The amount you can do will depend on time and, more importantly, budget. Painting a large building isn’t cheap, especially if you want the paint to be high quality. But a few layers inside classrooms is much more affordable and will have a better impact on quality of learning, so it’s money well spent.
Another factor is why you’re painting your surfaces. If it’s just for aesthetics, your choices are almost endless, but if there is a specific reason it’ll help narrow down the search for the best paint. For example, you can invest in the best anti-mould paint for schools, which will hide any unpleasant patches of damp that have appeared, a common thing in older buildings, and prevent any from forming in the future.
The surfaces you’re painting will also determine what the best paint for the job will be. Exterior masonry paint is ideal for brick and stonework that your walls are made from, but the ones inside that have been plastered will benefit from other types such as acrylic and emulsion paint.
The Best Non-Toxic Paint for Classrooms
As a head teacher, or someone responsible for hundreds of young people, as well as dozens of staff, safety is paramount. This means that the paint your choose for your classrooms, or anywhere else for that matter, should be non-toxic so that there are no harmful effects.
Thankfully most paint sold these days is safer than ever, likely safer than what is already on your walls, so this isn’t much of a concern. But oil-based paints can still have VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and a strong odour before they dry, something potentially harmful for people with asthma or other breathing problems.
So water-based paints are the way to go, but which is best?
When painting a classroom, you have to keep in mind that your walls will suffer a lot of wear and tear. They can be scraped by bags, chairs, desks, and even elbows if space is at a premium. So that you won’t have to paint again next summer, you want a paint that is durable.
Emulsion paint is both durable and affordable, making it the best of both worlds. You also get a range of sheen options; our vinyl matt emulsion has a low-sheen finish that is easy on the eyes, whereas our vinyl silk has a medium-high sheen that will make your chosen colour stand out.
We pride ourselves on the toughness of our paint. It’ll look great for years, and the thicker compound makes it more resistant to scratches and dents. And if you give it the occasional clean with soap and water, it’ll last even longer.
The Best Colour Paint for Classrooms
Once again this depends on the type of school you run. The interior of a nursery should have a bright, welcoming colour scheme, whereas an academy might suit more muted shades or a stricter colour scheme that isn’t too overwhelming.
It also depends on the walls themselves. Many classrooms are covered in art, maps, posters, and more – if the background is too bold it could detract from the decorations, so a paler, neutral colour might be best.
In corridors you might want something neutral, like a pale grey, blue, green, or the classics like white or beige. This will make it easy to create a universal theme, and will make any bolder colours in classrooms, the canteen, or anywhere else, stand out.
Many schools like to paint classrooms different colours, to make them distinct from one another. If done right this can make the environment more engaging and is a subtle but fun way to make each room unique. This will add to the overall cost, as you won’t be buying a single colour in bulk, but the results speak for themselves.
No matter what colour you need, our emulsion paint is part of our Colour System. Enter a British Standard or RAL code and we’ll mix any colour you can imagine, even the official colours of your school!
The UK’s Most Trusted Paint Provider
No matter what colour or sheen you choose for your school’s interior, it’ll look bright and welcoming for staff, as well as new and returning students. A fresh coat of paint will not only improve how well young people learn, but it shows people that you’re willing to invest in making your school look its best.
We’ve only mentioned a few areas of a school that you can paint, so keep an eye out for part two, where we discuss painting sports halls, staff rooms, canteens, and more!
No matter what paint or painting accessories you need, trust Paintmaster to provide the best. With a wide range of products and fast shipping, we’re the no.1 choice for tradespeople and domestic painters.
If you have any questions about our products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.
