What’s the Difference Between Non-Vinyl and Vinyl Matt Paints?

Decorating your home isn’t as simple as dunking a brush and getting straight to it. Knowing which paint to dunk into is important, especially when some surfaces need specialist paint to look their best.  

One decision you have to make is choosing between vinyl and non-vinyl paints. So to make that easier, today we’re going to explain the differences between the two, so you can choose wisely for your next project.  

What is Vinyl Paint? 

Vinyl matt paint is a water-based emulsion paint that contains a resin known as vinyl. This compound makes the paint more hardwearing – meaning it will look better for longer. A similar kind of resin is often added to acrylic paints to add toughness without reducing the colour quality. 

Vinyl matt is a great paint for beginners and professionals alike thanks to this durability paired with an easy-to-apply nature that suits any paint brushes, paint rollers, and paint pads.  

Most paint manufacturers offer both retail and trade versions of their paints. Trade paints are often vinyl-based compounds because of their extra durability, making them more suitable for bigger projects that won’t be painted as often as our homes. All of our paint is trade-tough but available for all, so everyone can benefit from an extra-hardwearing paint product. 

So, is vinyl matt paint better? Well although durability is very important for interior and exterior painting, vinyl matt might not be the best paint for the job.  

The Difference Between Vinyl Matt Emulsion and Non-Vinyl Paint 

We can’t deny that vinyl matt emulsion is fantastic for your interior walls – but not necessarily all of them. 

As the name suggests, vinyl matt is only available in one sheen level. Whilst the matt finish can look amazing, it can appear very flat on a large surface. Even a slight sheen like satin or eggshell paint adds a little flair to your walls, making them stand out.  

If you choose a neutral colour like beige, white, grey, or others, the matt finish may be perfect. We always recommend testing a few types to see which you like the most.  

You should definitely use vinyl matt paint on areas that will suffer a lot of wear and tear. Some walls in your home will be bumped, scraped, and scratched by pets and people every day. This can wear out an inferior paint quickly, but vinyl emulsion is designed to withstand anything life can throw at it.  

They’re also easy to clean with soap and water, keeping them at their best for even longer.  

Non-vinyl points give you more options in sheen, and sometimes more colour choices, but if durability is your main concern vinyl paint is a great choice if you don’t mind the matt finish.  

Just keep in mind that all our non-vinyl paints will last for years no matter what thanks to the tough compounds we pride ourselves on using.  

Where to Use Vinyl Paint 

Vinyl matt emulsion paint is easy to apply to almost any surface. However, they aren’t always going to be able to dry correctly or adhere to the surface as you might intend.  

Matt vinyl solutions are often used on ceilings and high walls. They are perfect for hiding imperfections and can help to make any space feel closer and more natural.  

These paints are best used in areas with low levels of moisture. Some surfaces you should avoid include:  

• Kitchen Walls 

• Kitchen Ceilings 

• Bathroom Walls 

• Bathroom Ceilings  

• Tiles 

• Floors 

Kitchens and bathrooms are humid environments, meaning that water-based paints will wear away sooner than you’d like. The walls and tiles of these rooms should be painted with oil-based paints or specialist tile paint that can handle the humidity. Don’t worry, we have plenty of both!  

You should also be aware that vinyl emulsion paint is not designed for exterior surfaces. They are not designed for weather-resistance or high-intensity environments.  

Best Colour for Vinyl Matt Paint 

We already mentioned that neutral colours are great for matt emulsion paint, but it’s far from the only option!  

The best part about painting interior walls is that you can use any colour you can imagine. Your walls are a blank canvas for you to paint your personality onto, so don’t hold back if you want to do something bold!  

Bright, warm colours like yellows and oranges can brighten up even the gloomiest of rooms. And rooms that do have a lot of natural light can make the most of it with a colour that makes it feel warm and cosy.  

For the ultimate cosiness, a darker shade of a warm colour looks fantastic. Deep reds, pinks, and browns are a classic choice and look fabulous alongside wooden furniture. Colder colours like blues and purples make a room feel slightly smaller, which add to the cosiness too.  

Bedrooms are the best rooms for bold colours. We understand that keeping things neutral in your hallway, front room, and kitchen gives you more decorating options, but for the bedrooms of children and adults who like a splash of colour, the options are endless.  

And when we say endless, we mean it. Our matt emulsion paint is part of our colour system. Simply enter a RAL or British Standard code at checkout and we’ll mix any colour, in any quantity you need.  

No sheen section this week, as vinyl emulsion is only available in a matt finish. If you prefer satin, eggshell, or even gloss, a non-vinyl paint is best!  

The UK’s Most Trusted Paint Supplier 

We hope we’ve cleared up the differences between vinyl and non-vinyl paint, and you now know which is best for your project. They’re both incredibly satisfying paints to work with, so you’ll enjoy the process no matter what! And with so many colours to choose from, your walls will become a lot more ‘you’ very soon.  

We’re the no.1 choice for tradespeople, with large quantities of paint available at competitive prices, and we’re loved by domestic painters too!  

Check out our blog for more information, advice and guides about all things painting. If you have any questions about any of our products, please get in touch.  

We look forward to hearing from you.