If we had to pick one piece of work that most reliably pays back when you sell, it would be fresh, even paintwork. It is cheap relative to its effect, and the buyer sees it in every photograph. But badly applied paint shows every bump and stain – so here we cover not only which colour, but how you get a good result.
Types of paint – which for what
- Emulsion (water-based dispersion, "latex") – the standard for walls and ceilings in Bulgaria. Low odour, quick-drying, thinned with water. Products differ in washability and hiding power.
- Silicate and lime paints – mineral and breathable, suited to old brick and limewashed walls and to rooms prone to damp. They should not go over old emulsion without proper preparation.
- Alkyd (solvent-based) paints and enamels – for wood and metal: doors, frames, radiators, railings. Hard-wearing, but with a stronger smell and longer drying time.
- Specialist paints – for bathrooms and kitchens (higher resistance to moisture and mould), for ceilings (less spatter), anti-mould.
How to read the label for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and how long to air rooms after painting, we explain in our guide to healthy indoor air.
The washability class – the most useful number on the tin
The European standard EN 13300 classifies interior paints by wet-scrub resistance, from class 1 (best) to class 5. As a guide: class 1 loses less than 5 µm of film in a 200-cycle test, class 2 less than 20 µm, and class 3 between 20 and 70 µm.
- Class 1–2 – hallway, kitchen, children's room, around switches and handles.
- Class 3 – bedrooms and living room.
- Class 4–5 – ceilings and surfaces that are never cleaned.
Matt, eggshell, satin
Matt paints hide imperfections in the wall but are harder to clean. Satin and eggshell reflect more light and wash more easily, but show every ripple in the plaster. For walls in living spaces, matt or deep matt is the safest choice; for bathrooms, kitchens and joinery, eggshell or satin.
Preparation decides the result
Paint is the last millimetre of a renovation. The result depends on what is underneath:
- The cause of stains – if there is damp or mould, fix the cause first (a leak, a cold bridge, poor ventilation). Painting over a damp patch only hides it for a few months.
- Cleaning – grease, soot and old flaking layers come off.
- Filling and sanding – cracks, plug holes, uneven corners.
- Primer – evens out absorbency; without it the wall takes the paint patchily.
- Two coats – with the drying time between them that the manufacturer specifies.
In panel blocks there are often cracks along the joints between panels – they move and reopen. Use reinforcing tape or a flexible filler, not just gypsum filler.
How orientation and light change colour
The same colour looks different in different rooms:
- North-facing rooms – cooler, even light; warm light shades (cream, warm white, sand) make them cosier.
- South- and west-facing rooms – strong, warm light; they can take cooler tones and stronger colours.
- Artificial light also shifts the tone – look at your samples in the evening.
So never choose a colour from the chart alone. Buy a tester, paint a patch of at least 50 × 50 cm on two walls and live with it for a few days, morning and evening. The principle that light comes before colour is developed in our guide to decorating your own home.
Light or bold colours
- Light shades reflect more light and make a room look larger – especially important in narrow hallways and small rooms.
- Bold colours work well on one feature wall, in a study or a bedroom, but make a small room feel smaller and are harder to paint over (they often need extra coats).
- The ceiling is usually white or a shade lighter than the walls – the room looks taller.
- It helps if one base tone runs through adjoining rooms – the home looks more coherent.
Which shades help when you sell
From our experience with viewings and photography:
- Warm white, off-white, light greige – the most widely accepted. The buyer can picture their own furniture, and the photographs look bright.
- Repaint strong colours – navy, red, dark green and children's "themes" draw attention away from the space.
- Freshness, not perfection – covering stains, furniture marks and yellowed ceilings does more than changing the shade.
- Paint early – at least a few days before the photographs and viewings, so that the smell has gone.
- Doors, frames and skirting – a fresh coat of enamel often does more than new paint on the walls.
How preparing the home fits into the overall sales strategy is covered in our guide to pricing and viewings.
In short
- Emulsion for walls, silicate paint for old mineral walls, alkyd for wood and metal.
- Check the EN 13300 washability class – 1–2 for high-traffic areas.
- Fix the damp first, then filler, primer and two coats.
- Choose the colour on the wall, in your own light.
- When selling – warm neutrals, a fresh white ceiling, no strong accents.
Talk to us
If you are preparing your home for sale and wondering whether to repaint and in what colour, call us or come into the office. We will tell you what we see working at viewings.
This is general information; follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific paint. Verified as of October 2026.
