FAQs

Here you will find our most frequently asked questions. If you can’t see the answer you’re looking for here, please get in touch at hello@atelierellis.co.uk or call 0203 931 6296.

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  • Our paints are naturally based and we are one of the few paint companies to publish a full list of our ingredients. You can see them in our application guides here. We use the highest quality natural pigments available, which are almost completely VOC free. Our True Matt Emulsion and Steadfast Matt Emulsion are bio-based and fully breathable.

    We believe it is a responsibility, not an option, to make the best quality paint possible while creating minimal waste and using the minimum of good science.

    We are always striving to improve - we’re not shouters, but know that for us people, product and the planet are always at the forefront of every decision we make.

  • We create deeply pigmented paint and enveloping colours that are quiet and painterly, but also very beautifully and carefully made.

    We believe responsible production, products and accountability are a duty not an option.

    Natural, unmodified ingredients
    Over 94% of our ingredients are totally natural and unmodified in our True Matt Emulsion. We believe the remaining materials and careful science are necessary to make paint that lasts and is beautiful to use. We choose only the best ingredients from trusted suppliers with proven track records.

    Exceptionally breathable
    It was incredibly important to us to make a breathable paint that can be used in any home. With an SD value of 0.004, our True Matt Emulsion can be used on lime plaster or other breathable interior surfaces, plus it helps every home breathe better. Our washable and scrubbable Steadfast Matt Emulsion is also breathable, with an SD value of 0.045.

    Virtually VOC free
    With VOCs of between 0.2 and 0.7g/litre, our paint is also free from dangerous heavy metals, glycols and microplastics. The VOC levels remain the same when we add our pigments, which are the safest available – VOC free and APE free.

    A minimal footprint
    We develop and make our paint in our own factory less than 100 miles from London to keep transport to a minimum. We use lean production values and simple, human methods, colouring every tin to order in our studio in Battersea to avoid unnecessary waste.

  • We believe in being completely transparent, so we are one of the few paint companies to share all the ingredients of our natural based paint - you can see them here.

  • There is almost a complete absence of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) both in our bases and the pigments we choose to colour them.

    Our True Matt Emulsion has 0.07 grams per litre and our Steadfast Matt Emulsion has 0.09 grams per litre, which means they are virtually VOC free. (Nothing can be totally VOC free as these compounds exist in water) 

    Being low VOC – which means under 30 grams per litre – is a legal requirement, not a business choice. The measurement is also based on the base paint before pigment is added. Many pigments have VOCs in them, so individual colours can be higher than others.

    But we choose to use VOC free pigments, so whatever colour you choose, the VOC level of our paint remains the same.

  • Our True Matt Emulsion is fully breathable (microporous) with an SD value of 0.004m, which means it can be used on lime plaster or other breathable interior surfaces.

    Our Steadfast Matt Emulsion is also fully breathable with an SD value of 0.0615m, and can be used on gypsum plaster.

  • Yes you can. Our True Matt Emulsion is microporous and very breathable with an SD value of 0.004. This means the paint allows the walls to breathe.

    Like all plaster, lime plaster needs to be fully cured before painting. If the plaster isn’t fully cured this will make the paint crack and result in a poor finish. Your lime provider can advise you on this. In poor drying conditions this drying period may be extended.

  • Our True Matt Emulsion is designed to be gently wiped/washed down with clean, warm water with no cleaning products or detergents. Any sponges or cloths used should be soft and clean, with no hard edges or seams. The painted areas should not be flooded with water. Grease and oil stains are unlikely to be removable from True Matt Emulsion surfaces, as these will soak through into the wall.

    Our Steadfast Matt Emulsion is scrubbable, but newly painted walls should not be wiped for 5-7 days. This gives the product time to fully cure and harden. To avoid damaging the finish, use a soft, clean sponge or cloth with no hard edges or seams. Use only lukewarm water and diluted domestic washing liquid. Wipe using light pressure – do not scrub or rub. Do not flood painted areas with water. Grease and oil stains are unlikely to come out – try a drop of white vinegar or mild detergent in warm water. Note: These methods are a last resort recommended for grease and oil stains so we cannot guarantee they will be successful.

    Our water-based True Matt, True Eggshell and Soft Gloss for Wood & Metal are very durable and easy to clean. For high contact areas such as kitchen cabinetry and front doors, we recommend True Eggshell or Soft Gloss for Wood & Metal.

  • All of our paint is perfectly safe to use in children’s rooms and nurseries. It carries the Safety of Toys Standard (EN71-3:2019).
    For more details, please see our ingredients list here.

  • Our True Matt Emulsion and Steadfast Matt Emulsion for walls are designed to be gently wiped/washed down with clean, warm water with no cleaning products or detergents. Any sponges or cloths used should be soft and clean, with no hard edges or seams. The painted areas should not be flooded with water. Grease and oil stains are unlikely to be removable from painted surfaces, as these will soak through into the wall.

    Ensuring they are applied correctly on wood and metal surfaces, our water-based True Matt, True Eggshell and Soft Gloss for Wood & Metal are very durable and easy to clean. For hardworking areas such as kitchens and utility room wood and metal work, we recommend True Eggshell or Soft Gloss for Wood & Metal.

  • Our True Matt Emulsion and our Steadfast Matt Emulsion do not require a primer or undercoat. For fresh plaster we do recommend applying a mist coat using the same finish and colour as your topcoat.

    Our wood and metal finishes — True Matt, True Eggshell and Soft Gloss — require a water-based primer and undercoat for painting onto wooden and metal surfaces. We offer our own Primer & Undercoat for Wood & Metal which is perfect for using under our finishes, and particularly recommended for using with mid to deep tones. This is available to order in all of our colours and white — select Primer & Undercoat in the ‘finish’ dropdown menu on the relevant colour product page.

    We always recommend following our application guides to achieve the best possible finish.

  • You can apply all of our paint finishes with a spray gun. Make sure you apply thin, even coats, as all our paints have a high viscosity. You can add up to 20% water to loosen it if required. Ensure that you leave the correct drying time between coats.
    For more details, please see our Product and Application guides here.

  • We’ve put together detailed Product & Application guides to help you get the best possible finish with our paint. Here you’ll find out all about our coverage, drying times and application method, as well as our list of ingredients. We always recommend reading these before you begin – there is a card with a QR code link to the guides on the lid of every tin for easy access on site.

About our paint

Choosing the right finish

  • True Matt Emulsion – For interior walls and ceilings only. Wipeable and gently washable. Perfect for use on lime plaster, new gypsum plaster and previously painted water-based paint (glossy or high sheen paint must be sanded back). Fully breathable, virtually VOC free and certified child safe. Sheen level: 3%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide.

    Steadfast Matt Emulsion – For interior walls and ceilings only. Scrubbable. Perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and high traffic areas, and certified child safe. Suitable for new gypsum plaster and previously painted water-based paint (for lime plaster, use our True Matt Emulsion). Sheen level 5%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide.

    True Matt for Wood, Metal & Floors – For interior and exterior use. Suitable for skirting boards, interior and exterior doors, stairs and floors, wooden furniture, metal radiators, any other interior or exterior wood or metal surfaces. Very low VOC. Sheen level: 5-8%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide.

    True Eggshell for Wood, Metal & Floors – For interior and exterior surfaces. Use on kitchen and other cabinetry, skirting boards, interior and exterior doors, stairs and floors, wooden furniture, metal radiators, any other interior or exterior wood or metal surfaces. Very low VOC. Sheen level: 20-25%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide.

    Soft Gloss for Wood, Metal & Floors – interior and exterior surfaces. Use on kitchen and other cabinetry, skirting boards, interior and exterior doors, stairs and floors, wooden furniture, metal radiators, any other interior or exterior wood or metal surfaces. Very low VOC. Sheen level: 60-70%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide.

    Primer & Undercoat – Perfect for preparing the surface for True Matt, True Eggshell or Soft Gloss. For interior and exterior use. Suitable for any interior or exterior wood or metal surfaces. Very low VOC. Sheen level: 5-8%. For more details including ingredients and application guidance see our Product & Application Guide. Available to order in any of our colours or white.

    All of our finishes are available in all Atelier Ellis colours.

  • Our Wood & Metal finishes – True Matt, True Eggshell, Soft Gloss – are all suitable for interior or exterior wood and metal. For wooden floors we’d recommend our mid and high sheen finishes, True Eggshell and Soft Gloss, to give you that extra durability. These finishes can be used with our Primer & Undercoat, following the same application guide.

    All products are available in the full collection of Atelier Ellis colours.

    For more details about our Wood & Metal paints, please see our Product and Application guides here.

  • For exposed exterior wood and metal surfaces, such as front doors, windows and panelling, we would suggest our mid sheen or high sheen finishes — True Eggshell for Wood & Metal or Soft Gloss for Wood & Metal. If you’re unsure of which to choose, please do get in touch and we’d be delighted to advise.

  • You can use our True Matt, True Eggshell or Soft Gloss for Wood, Metal and Floors on all internal and external metal - including radiators and cast iron baths.

    Make sure the surfaces are prepared correctly and that you are painting when the surface is at a normal temperature. The paint will take 5-7 days to fully harden so please limit contact with surfaces until this time has passed.

    All finishes can be sprayed to achieve a flawless finish.

    For more details about our Wood & Metal paints, please see our Product and Application guides here.

  • For wooden floors we’d recommend our mid and high sheen finishes, True Eggshell and Soft Gloss, to give you extra durability. These finishes can be used with our Primer & Undercoat, following the same application guide.

    Make sure they are prepared correctly and that you leave the full drying time between coats. The paint will take 5-7 days to fully harden so please limit contact with hard shoes or surfaces until this time has passed.

    For more details about our Wood & Metal paints, please see our Product and Application guides here.

  • Coated MDF can be painted if you are willing to take extra steps for proper preparation. The reason is that coated MDF features an outer layer of plastic that will act as a barrier between the paint and the wood, preventing proper adhesion of the paint and the surface, if applied directly. Being that our Wood & Metal finishes are not designed for plastic surfaces, a grip primer will be needed for preparing the surfaces for paint. Please get in touch if you’d like to use our paint on coated MDF, and we’ll be happy to do our best to guide you.

    If you have a problematic surface, or a material that isn’t listed in our paint uses, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise you.

  • For well ventilated bathrooms, kitchens and hardworking spaces we recommend our Steadfast Matt Emulsion for walls.

    Steadfast Matt Emulsion is our robust, scrubbable and breathable alternative to our True Matt Emulsion. It contains a touch more of our bio-based resin for added scrub resistance, giving it a 5% sheen.

    When painting a bathroom, ensure bathroom walls are fully dry and free from residual water vapour before painting. Then wait until after curing period of 5-7 days for the paint to harden before having baths/showers that result in high condensation.

  • Our colours are all made from scratch by our founder and colourist, Cassandra Ellis. They are mixed in our natural based paint and our colours are en terre and pigment rich. We craft our colours like an artist, using up to 10 pigments to create the perfect complex and nuanced shade. Every colour is both familiar and comforting, imagined from timeless human, nature and art-based ideas.

  • We offer a bespoke service to trade customers and for special projects that commit to using significant volumes of our paints. To find out more, please drop us an email at hello@atelierellis.co.uk and we will get back to you.

  • We take great care to match our colours to our website images. But, because every device and screen are calibrated differently, the colours will look different on your computer screen or phone.

    So you should think of them as an indicator rather than an 100% accurate match. The paint will appear slightly different when applied too, depending on the surface, the light in the room and the finish you choose.

    So we always recommend purchasing a sample to make sure you are happy with the colour before you order paint.

  • We're happy to offer colour advice by phone or in person, based on the information you share with us. We offer three types of colour consultancy services:

    • Free 15-Minute Introductory Phone Call

    • Free 30-Minute Independent Browsing Session at our studio

    • In-depth Colour Consultation (£100 per hour)

    Read more about our colour consultancy services here.

    We recommend ordering a paint chart so you have an idea of what the colours look like before speaking to us. (The pictures on our website are indicative as everyone’s screen displays colours differently but they are a good start point.) Once you've settled on some colours, we recommend ordering samples so you can see them in your space.

    You'll find our Maps of Colour here, which shows how different colours work together across the range.

  • We have created our Maps of Colour as an incredibly useful tool to guide you in crafting your own personal palette.

    For every colour in our collection, we have arranged a family of eight that we know will work together beautifully: two whites, two neutrals, two mid-tones, a deep and a surprise.

    To use, simply order a paint chart and download a pdf of our maps of colour. Then choose the lead colour from our paint chart and select as few or as many shades from the eight we have curated to build a palette for an individual room or as a palette for your home.

  • We are an independent business, so we hope you will support us by buying our unique colours and natural–based paint from us.

    We don't have RAL numbers or BS references for our colours as they don't exist.

    Our colourist creates each of our unique colours with a combination of our natural-based paint and the highest quality natural pigments.

    We also use a lot of pigment in each colour (much more than is usual in commercial paints) so each colour is rich and alive.

    We've seen attempts to match our colours are disappointing. They tend to lack the life and depth of the originals due to the differences in base, quality and quantities of pigment we use.

Our colours and colour advice

  • We are an independent, family-owned company, so you can currently only buy directly from us through our website or from our studio in London.

  • We accept all major credit and debit cards and Apple Pay online and at our studio. We don’t currently have the facilities to process cash payments at our studio.

  • We took the decision to discontinue our sample pots after assessing the environmental impact and recycling burden that these added to the decorating process.

    Our samples are available in A4 hand painted colour cards in our True Matt Emulsion, available in all colours, so that you can create the perfect colour story for your projects. We recommend placing these around the room and in different lights to get a sense of how a colour may interact with the space.

Ordering

  • We can deliver to addresses in the UK and some countries in Europe. We aim to keep our CO2 emissions to a minimum, shipping our products by land only, which means unfortunately we are unable to deliver to the USA and countries outside of Europe. For more information see delivery and returns.

  • You can choose to have your paint and samples delivered, select collect from our London studio, or have same day delivery in London zone 1-2 in the checkout.

    Paint orders received before 12pm Monday-Friday will be dispatched the same day for delivery on the next working day. Paint orders received after 12pm will be dispatched the following working day.

    Samples and paint charts are sent Royal Mail 2nd Class Tracked as standard, so you will get a notification from Royal Mail when it is on its way.

    All paint orders are delivered to your doorstep with next day delivery by DPD with tracking, so you know ahead of time when it will arrive.

    You can also choose pre-12pm and Saturday or Sunday deliveries and for this DPD charges a fee of £28, applied at checkout. You will need to place your order before 11am Monday-Friday to guarantee weekend delivery.



  • We are transparent about our handling and delivery costs.

    Samples and paint charts are sent by Royal Mail 48 Hours – £3.50 or free for orders over £9. You can choose to upgrade to Royal Mail 48 Hours – £6.

    Paint orders (for any size order in the UK) – £8. Orders over £125 enjoy complimentary shipping.

    Pre-12pm or week-end deliveries (for any size order in the UK) – £28.00 


    For orders non-mainland UK or to European countries, please get in touch.

  • For DPD (default for paint), we aim for next day tracked delivery – orders placed before 12pm will go out on the same day for delivery on the following day. Orders received after 12pm will be shipped the following working day.

    For Royal Mail (default for samples and paint charts), we post using 2nd Class Tracked delivery, which takes up to 48 hours.

  • Yes, you can. Our paint charts and samples are posted Royal Mail 2nd Class Tracked – you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number and you can track it here: https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#

    All paint orders are shipped by DPD for next day delivery (if ordered before 12am) with automatic tracking sent to you upon dispatch.

    You will also get a message or email with a time slot on the day of delivery.

If you do not have your tracking details, get in touch on hello@atelierellis.co.uk and we will resupply them.

  • All orders are sent with tracking, so you will get notifications from DPD to tell you when your order will be delivered.

    Royal Mail orders can be tracked with your tracking number on their website at:
    https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#

    If you believe your order has been lost then please get in touch by email or phone (0203 9316296).

  • Yes – you can collect from our London Studio – The Bottle Factory, Unit 3, 12 Ossory Road, SE1 5AN.

    When you place your order online, please select ‘Pick up’ instead of delivery at the second step of the check-out process. Once your order is ready collect, we will send you an email.

    Pick up orders are usually ready on the same day – we just need a little time as we mix every tin to order.

    You can come to the studio yourself or send a taxi or courier to collect and deliver to your home.

    If you are on a tight deadline please just get in touch or call us on 0203 931 6296.

Shipping, delivery, tracking and collection

  • Unfortunately, we do not accept returns or exchanges as all our paint is tinted to order. We recommend you order a sample before committing to a colour so you can see how it looks in your home.

  • We are so sorry your tin is damaged – we know how distressing it can be. But don’t panic, we’re here to help.

    Please send us an email to hello@atelierellis.co.uk with photos of the damaged packaging and tin. If you can include your order number and the particular tin that that has been damaged, we will get back to you ASAP.

Returns and damaged deliveries

A collage of various images, including a woman in a black dress, classical statues and architecture, a horse, a woman reading, a girl outdoors, watercolor floral artwork, color swatches, and a woman holding a white pillow, suggesting a creative or interior design project.

  • You can contact us by email or phone.

    Email: hello@atelierellis.co.uk

    Phone: 0203 931 6296

  • Our London studio is open Monday - Friday from 830am til 5pm.

  • If you set up an account, log in and you will find all your previous orders in one place.

    If not, drop us an email with your original order number or name and we will find your order history.

    To set up an account and keep track of your orders, click on the Account link on the top right hand side of our website.

Contact, help & support


  • We offer trade accounts for trade customers – including decorators, contractors, architects and interior designers. You can apply for a trade account here.

  • No problem, drop us an email to hello@atelierellis.co.uk with your order number and we will send it to you.

  • We offer trade accounts to professionals in the design industry, including interior designers, architects, contractors and decorators.

Trade accounts

  • We are careful to price our high quality natural based paint competitively, so we do not offer vouchers or discount codes.

    If you are a trade customer, you can apply for a trade account here. Trade benefits are shared once your account is approved.

  • We don’t offer free product for brand or content creator collaborations. If you are a business that would like to explore working with us, please get in touch at hello@atelierellis.co.uk or you can apply for a trade account here.

Discounts & collaborations

  • For press related enquiries please contact alex@atelierellis.co.uk.

Press information