skip to main content
Photos
Photos
Advice
Stories From Houzz
Houzz Discussions
Houzz Research
Sign In
Houzz Logo Print
Explore Discussions
Design Dilemma
mishmashe

Laura Ashley paint quality?

mishmashe
9 years ago
I want to paint my lounge in Laura Ashley Pale Dove Grey, but have read poor reviews of L.A. paints before so went to get it colour matched in B&Q. Unfortunately even after 2 attempts of making up colour matched tester pots, I can still see the difference in colour from the original, even though they assure me it's over 99% accurate! :/ Could anyone let me know if they have used L.A. paints before, and how they found it? Reviews I have read online describe it as streaky, patchy, too thin, poor quality, and that it marks easily.
Featured Answer
  • Audrey Atkinson
    9 years ago
    I have Laura Ashley paint and it is lovely

    Comments (31)

    • User
      9 years ago
      I have Laura Ashley paint in the living room, hall, stairs, landing, main bedroom and en-suite, no problem at all, the decorator did the job and it looks excellent, I'm sure he would have said something if he didn't like it. It has been in the hall, stairs, landing and living room for two years now and still looks fresh. The bedroom and bathroom were done about a year ago and also look good, I used the bathroom paint in Dove Grey (from memory) and the bedroom has the same colour behind my bed, with white everywhere else, which was standard paint supplied by the decorator, all fine.
    • mishmashe
      Original Author
      9 years ago
      Thanks for your reply. I have read a few good reviews as well, just the majority were bad for some reason! I have till the end of January until their sale ends so I need to decide by then... any other opinions? :)

    • Related Discussions

      Laura Ashely paint

      Q

      Comments (7)
      When I asked this same question a few months ago I had lots of advice saying not to use it as it's terrible, but I went ahead and used it anyway in our bedroom, lounge, and family room. I have to say that I love it! The colours are great, it covers really well (some reviews say that it's patchy and takes lots of coats but this wasn't the case at all for us), and has been durable so far. I wouldn't hesistate to use it again. Love their wallpapers too.
      ...See More

      Need help to choose colour paint

      Q

      Comments (2)
      I know I recommend this color a lot, but it truly is beautiful BM rain washed... It truly will go with everything
      ...See More

      Light grey greige paint

      Q

      Comments (55)
      Thank you so much for all this info. Does anyone happen to have the colour mix code for a valsper sample tin. Took the codes today and they said they can’t scale the size down enough for a sample pot and obviously I want to try the colour in our lighting first?
      ...See More

      Advice on sitting room paint colour and curtains please

      Q

      Comments (5)
      First thing that makes the paper too busy is the stuffed room. So declutter. If nowhere else to put it, find a spacious cupboard/drawers. Paint it Yeabridge Green for example. Don't design around a sofa set you don't like. Find some pillows, rug and blankets that go well with the paper and floor. Make yourself a moodboard with curtains and such and then decide. Here are some F&B paint colors that could work well (I've tried them all, would not advise any other). Personally I like the first three on the left. But haven't seen your room (and taste), so no further suggestions..
      ...See More
    • PRO
      Andy Jobe Decorating Services
      9 years ago
      Yep LA is crap, fancy imaginative names don't make the paint fancy. Stick to a decorators merchant, dulux / Macphersons but nothing from B & Q
    • house mad
      9 years ago
      Polished pebble a great pale grey
    • minnie101
      9 years ago
      I've used it before in a couple of rooms and it was fine however my mum is currently painting her bedroom in LA and has found coverage to be poor. I didn't find that it marked more easily than any other paint. I would suggest getting a Dulux trade paint which is far superior to their normal range. My favourite paint is Little Greene but it isn't particularly cheap..
    • Matthew Decorator
      9 years ago
      1. Laura Ashley is the worst paint I have ever used and I have used everything from everyday emulsion to 2-pack paints.

      2. Colour matching is never 100 percent. I've had grey paint colour matched before and been given green.

      3. Have a room painted and write down the brand and name of paint.

      4. Dulux is the best brand of paint.
    • Joe Gibbs
      9 years ago
      I agree Matt. I'm a trading decorator as well. I've recently used Laura Ashley "fine quality paint" and found it to be very patchy. Randomly different shades maybe depending on the thickness or direction of bush strokes - I couldn't figure it out. The transition between cut in brushwork and roller edges stands out a mile off. Just plain weird and horrible paint to use. My client used Homebase own brand emulsion for the rest of her house and amazingly it looks much better.

      Unfortunately, LA paint suffers from a kind of boutique brand snobbery the same as others like F&B or Little Green, which means it's twice the price for pretty average quality. And LA insist that you simply *must* have the specific tin of paint to compliment the wallpaper or sofa they just sold you, which is rubbish because the Dulux Decorator Centre will match any colour with a reliable quality product.

      I took time to comment here because I am so annoyed by the product, which smacks of the "I Saw You Coming" style of marketing. If you ever saw Harry Enfield's last series you'l know what I'm talking about!

      Oh and one final note. The Dulux paint I'm talking about is the TRADE range, which itself is a superior product to the "retail" tins you buy off the shelf at Homebase. Dulux are far from innocent in this respect, but the frequent BOGOF anf BOGOHP offers in the DIY stores often make these cans hard to resist.
    • cavgirl
      9 years ago
      I have LA pale dove grey in my bathroom. The painter said it was lovely paint to use. In my other rooms I've got craig and rose pale mortlake cream which is only a bit dearer than standard dulux/crown (but similar price wise to their heritage ranges) and find it streets ahead quality wise. Especially their eggshell which is a dream to paint with.
    • traceyoll123
      8 years ago
      It's rubbish!! My decorator says it's the worst paint he's ever used. Pale French grey has very poor coverage. It's streaky where it has been cut in and has been painted over four times. I have had to paint match in B&Q with Valspars equivalent to go over it and it's covered it perfectly. Im in the process of trying to get a refund for 3 tins of Laura Ashley paint.
    • honorgoodall13
      8 years ago

      Yes Laura Ashley paint rubbish my decorator has used 3 tins of pale charcoal and it still hasn't covered . It's streaky and a different colour cutting in to the roller so I'm now having to try and find a similar colour in a different brand . I'm out of pocket as I will have to pay the decorator for another days work .

    • house mad
      8 years ago
      About to use it tomorrow. Think I'll take it back. I got farrow and Ball colour mixed in Leyland paint. It's fab colour and coverage.
    • house mad
      8 years ago
      Clutch. Colour c
    • traceyoll123
      8 years ago
      Utter rubbish paint from Laura Ashley. I was given a gift card as a goodwill gesture but they wouldn't admit the paint was inferior quality! Do not buy, if you like a particular shade get it matched in B&Q or Leyland paints.
      Hope this helps people not to waste time and money.
    • lynnpeck789
      8 years ago

      I purchased 2 x tins dove grey emulsion recently to paint my bedroom. It was very patchy especially where I had cut in. Laura Ashley shop referred me to Customer Service. This has got to be the worst customer service I have ever experienced. They just don't listen. I sent photographs and asked for a refund on just the one tin. After several weeks, and more phone calls, eventually was told there was nothing they could do. So annoyed. This paint is not cheap! I was told I had probably over painted or not checked the batch numbers matched on the tins (although had only used 1 tin at the time). the fact no-one was in touch until I rang them was annoying. They made me feel like a liar. I have bought a lot of items from Laura Ashley over the years - they should take lessons from John Lewis!

    • cocolori
      8 years ago

      It's weird but I've (touch wood) had no problems with LA dove grey in the bedroom. Of course I got mine free as leftovers from mum and dad's kitchen and also had the advantage of a similar wall colour beneath.

      On another note - b & Q own brand is rubbish. Find a dulux trade place near you - they do colour matching and the staff at ours were so helpful about which we shoild go for (not exact match to wallpaper) and painted sample cards for us for free. Paint was good quality too

    • User
      8 years ago

      Glad I'm not the only person who has had no problems with Laura Ashley paint! Mind you, I would have been very annoyed about the customer service if there had been a problem. I know many years ago (over 35 years I should think) a friend had a problem with LA wallpaper and the company at that time replaced it and paid towards a professional decorator to put it up, as it had been a diy job previously, excellent service, so they haven't always been poor at responding to problems.

    • Nettie Moss
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Laura Ashley was good when the lady herself was alive - they have gone down hill since then. . often the way sadly.

    • debskidd
      8 years ago

      I too am really pleased with my Laura Ashley paint. Whilst I'm not a professional decorator , I have always done all my own decorating and tried all brands over the years. I think their paint coverage is as good as Dulux trade, the finish is really flat. I used pale Twine for a large living room , looks perfect!Always buy when on offer though, would never pay full rrp for their paints!

    • Jessica Davies
      8 years ago
      last modified: 8 years ago

      Just finished painting my room in Dove Grey... Perfect if you like the streaky look!

      Worst paint I've ever used, pleased to know after reading here it's not my amateur DIY skills so off to B&Q tomorrow to get a paint match!

    • Jessica Davies
      8 years ago

    • debskidd
      8 years ago

      That's terrible - take it up with LA and get your money back -it seems from the comments here that its the grey paints that seem to be the problem ... no paint should ever leave a wall looking like that - assuming the wall has been primed and prepped properly then they have to compensate you. Good luck!


    • Rachel PARROTT
      7 years ago

      Just painted a feature wall with laura Ashley paint bad choice as the paint is so streaky. when using a roller its a totally different colour to the edges that have been painted with a brush. Very disappointed would never use this again.

    • PRO
      AL PAINTING
      7 years ago

      i would give it a 3/10 from painters view, from client view 8/10

    • PRO
      Andy Jobe Decorating Services
      7 years ago
      I'd like to add that grey emulsions do seem to present problems with the cutting in drying a different shade to the rolled area. This can simply be the difference in texture which catches the light in different ways. The best way to avoid or minimise this is to "keep a wet edge" so you would cut in a meter or so and then roll it and continue in this way across the wall rolling as close to the edge as possible. If the paint is quite a thick consistency thin it a little to help the flow and minimise brush marks and roller stipple.
    • User
      7 years ago

      I am amazed so many people seem to have problems with Laura Ashley paint, I am wondering if I have just been lucky with mine. I asked my decorator if he had found any problems with it and he confirmed he hadn't, but he did say he always stirs his paint well before he uses it, so, perhaps this is something to remember when starting to use any paint, but perhaps, as I have said, I have just been lucky, anyway, I am shortly going to buy 30+litres of the pale twine and freshen up my hall, stairs and landing, so, fingers crossed all will be well again.

    • cavgirl
      7 years ago
      I used Pale Dove Grey before and it was lovely. Now wanting a stronger colour and tried LA's Dark Duck Egg and it was AWFUL. That's just the sample pot. Liked the colour, though. Tried Crown's Heritage Classic Duck Egg and it proved a perfect match AND covered better.
    • carl_r
      7 years ago

      Seems to depend on the colour, Berry is terrible, 2.5 litres to do 2 average walls and a very clear shade difference between where it was rollered and cut in with a brush, 1 out of 10. Sapphire is better but it still it is very hard to get total coverage even with 2 coats, the cutting in does not look as obvious so I was happy with that. Just tried the Colourcourage range at B&Q, great colours, nice to work with and an entire bedroom done with 2.5 litres and some to spare, 10 out of 10. Used F&B as well, some colours are great, others are shocking, Card Room Red to three Coates to get full coverage, not acceptable.

    • HU-418493250
      5 years ago

      Have used LA paints a few time never had a problem, love the quality and thickness of the paint have used a couple of grey shades and a few others.

    • Andy Freeman
      3 years ago

      have found Laura Ashley paint gives a lovely chalky matt finish to its emulsion and a lovely very low sheen eggshell that other brands do not do,,,, we used to use Farrow and Ball but their once lovely matt emulsion seems to have changed and now has a sheen to it and their eggshell now is more like a silk or nearly gloss....

    • Kiwi Bird
      2 years ago

      I have used LA duck egg blue and it was perfectly fine to use and I think looks very nice too.

    Sponsored
    More Discussions
    Proposed floor plan help please
    35
    How could be best layout our kitchen/diner/hallway?
    12
    How can I fit an induction hob in place of a range cooker?
    5
    Above garage extension to create primary suite
    1
    Inserting a bathroom downstairs and adding a separate toilet
    0
    United Kingdom
    Tailor my experience with cookies

    Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.