COAT Paint Review and Guide

I’m a professional decorator, and like most other decorators, I tend to stick to trade paint rather than designer products. Some designer paints perform well, but others do not warrant the large price tag. It sometimes feels as though you are paying extra for sophisticated marketing tactics rather than a premium-quality paint.

With that in mind, I’m going to approach this COAT paint review as a decorator and talk about each product in turn, discussing its performance honestly.

But before we get into all that, let’s briefly look at COAT as a business. Feel free to skip ahead to the products section of this review if you prefer.

COAT is a designer brand and, as such, everything associated with it has an “expensive feel”. From its website to social media presence to the products themselves. Heck, it even smells expensive. All the branding you would expect an interior designer to lap up. I love the Pop Art-style labelling that comes on the tins. This helps it stand out from other paint brands on the market.

If, like me, you are a professional, you can open a trade account with COAT. This gives you access to an extended colour range, trade discounts, quicker ordering facilities, and even colour matching. I may be biased, but I think more designer paint brands should look after trade customers in this way.

You do not even need to be a decorator to get a discount. At the time of writing this review, COAT is running a “refer a friend” scheme, which entitles both you and your friend to a 10% discount. Anyway, that is enough about the business; let’s get down to the products.

COAT Flat Matt Review

This is a low-sheen, durable emulsion for interior ceilings and walls. The opacity is fantastic, and you can prime bare plaster with a diluted coat of Flat Matt, removing the need for a separate product.

I have used low-sheen emulsions before, and there are plenty of good products of this type on the market. One thing that sets COAT Flat Matt apart from the rest is its ease of use. You would normally expect products like this to drag, resulting in brush marks. COAT Flat Matt does not drag at all, meaning it is a joy to use and brush marks are non-existent.

COAT Flat Matt leaves a very desirable, contemporary “chalky” finish. The depth of colour and subtle tones are gorgeous. You seem to be able to pick up hints of different shades in different lighting conditions. This is easily one of the best emulsion products I have used.

I have tested this product thoroughly, trying my best to make it fail. For instance, I tried applying it with a low-quality roller to make it flash, but it did not. I used a strong colour and then tried to touch it up, which it handled perfectly. I tried applying it to an old alkyd coating and testing it for adhesion; it adhered beautifully. The list goes on! I am struggling to find words to describe this paint, so all I am going to say is that this emulsion is genuinely perfect in every way.

COAT Soft Sheen Review

This is another durable emulsion for interior walls and ceilings. As the name suggests, it does have a little sheen to its finish. I used to use soft sheen all the time as a decorator, but it seems to be less popular now, with most people opting for matt finishes. That said, soft sheen does have its place. It is the perfect product for bathrooms and kitchens due to its waterproof nature.

COAT Soft Sheen is a great emulsion. The opacity and ease of use are fantastic, but, like any other COAT product, it is the finish that makes it stand out.

Most trade soft sheen emulsion products look cheap. I’m sorry, but they do. You can see roller marks, brush marks, and the overall appearance looks plasticky. Not with COAT. There are none of the defects normally associated with soft sheen. Plus, you still get the depth of colour and subtle tones that you would expect from a luxuriously rich matt finish.

Moreover, this is the only soft sheen emulsion I have used in a long time that can cover a solid colour in two coats when applied in white.

I do have one little gripe with this paint. It pulls on itself, meaning that when you cut a wall in and then try to roll it, the roller pulls on the paint you applied with a brush. This is quite common with paints like this, and there is a simple solution. All you need to do is cut in your wall, leave it long enough for the cutting-in to dry, and then roll the wall afterwards. It may take longer, but the finish will look fantastic.

COAT Eggshell Review

COAT eggshell is a fully water-based paint for interior trim such as skirting boards, doors, and windows. Being fully water-based, it will never discolour over time. This paint is described as “self-priming”, which basically means it will adhere to old alkyd coatings (such as oil-based gloss) without the need for a separate primer.

I’m used to reviewing water-based trim paints on the Decorators Forum UK because of the shift away from oil-based coatings. The whole industry is changing, and water-based technology is developing rapidly.

COAT Eggshell is one of the best products of its type. The ease of use is fantastic, the opacity is, quite frankly, amazing, and brush marks just melt back into the painted surface. The overall finish is different from any other trade eggshell I have ever used; it is softer and more subtle. I know it is more expensive than any of the trade alternatives, but you can genuinely see the difference. There is a gulf in quality, with COAT coming out on top.

Brand Summary

Final Thoughts

I was genuinely sceptical before I used COAT products for the first time. As a decorator, I know retail paints are made to a tight budget. Trade paints are made to a higher budget but need to perform well. Designer paints such as Farrow and Ball, or Little Greene are developed to target the higher end of the market, but they are often lower quality than some trade alternatives.

I have been completely honest in my COAT paint review. I know it is expensive, but I think the overall quality of these products makes them stand out from other paint brands on the market.