FAQs.

If you need assistance with choosing the right paint or have questions about paint types, colours, finishes, or application techniques, our team is here to help. We offer expert advice and guidance on selecting the best paint for your project, including recommendations on colour matching, understanding different finishes, and preparing surfaces. For delivery information, we provide details on shipping options, delivery times, and associated costs to ensure your paint products arrive promptly and in perfect condition. Additionally, we've compiled answers to common questions about paint coverage, storage, batch numbers, and handling any issues during your project. For further guidance or specific inquiries, please contact our support team, who are ready to assist you every step of the way.

Paint Information

Paint ingredients

+ Our ingredients are 99% UK sourced
+ 0% Added VOCs
+ 100% Made in Britain (Accredited)
+ 100% Water-based using pristine water from the Lake District catchment area
+ All paints exceed UK / EU safety regulations
+ No Microplastic or beads
+ 100% APE and NPE free
+ 100% Vegan and cruelty free
+ Child Toy Safety Certified (BS EN 71-3:2013 Certified)
+ EU Limit for this product: 2004/42 IIA WB (A) 30
+ This product contains less than 5g/L VOC
+ Contains 2 preservatives: 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one [EC No. 247-500-7] and 2-Methyl-2Hisothiazol-3-one [EC No. 220-239-6] (3:1)

Paint certifications

All our products are independently certified and comply with Regulation (EC) REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals). We are also proud to be B Corp certified, reflecting our commitment to social and environmental responsibility. You can find more information on REACH compliance here.

Paint samples

We want you to be confident your chosen colour is perfect. Since colours can look different on screen, we recommend ordering a sample pot or swatch before buying larger quantities.

Paint appearance can vary with lighting and décor, so samples help you see the true colour in your space.

If you notice any variation between the samples and the final painted colour, please get in touch with us on Hello@yescolours.com.

Check our our sample options below: Paint samples & Swatch colour cards

Take full advantage of our sample promotional offers
here.

Designer fandecks & keyrings

Check our Designer Fandeck & Swatch Keyring here.

Please note: Our Malagasy Coral, Mindful Green, Listening Blue, and Regenerative Yellow are limited edition colours and are not included on our fandeck or keyring.

From Screen to Wall: Colour Differences Explained

Screen colours can vary from the actual paint colour due to differences in device displays, resolution, and settings.

Paint may also appear different on walls depending on texture, lighting, and surroundings.

To ensure you love the colour, we always recommend testing sample pots or swatches in your space before making a final decision.

While we strive for accuracy, we cannot be responsible for any variations between screen images and the finished paint. Using screen colours means you understand and accept these natural differences.

Check our our sample options below:

Paint samples & Swatch colour cards

Paint finishes

Available finishes

We offer both matt emulsion and eggshell directly on our website.

If you find a colour on our website that isn’t available in your desired finish, we can create it as a bespoke order. To make a bespoke request, please contact us here.

Please note: Bespoke orders have a lead time of 5-6 working days.

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter and enjoy 10% off your first order! Sign up here.

Matt emulsion

Our matt emulsion is best suited for interior walls in low-traffic areas such as living rooms, bedrooms, and offices.

It can be used in bathrooms only if the space doesn’t experience frequent water splashes, heavy steam, or high humidity.

For kitchens and other humid areas, we recommend our eggshell finish for its greater durability and wipeability against splashes and water marks.

For interior use, coverage is approximately 14–15 sqm per litre (based on one coat).

Our matt emulsion has a sheen level below 5% and is water-based.

Eggshell

Our Eggshell finish is perfect for high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, children’s bedrooms, and pet rooms.

It’s also great for skirting boards, interior woodwork, doors, and furniture where durability and wipeability matter.

With a sheen level of 17-22%, it provides excellent resistance to wear and tear, making it ideal for busy spaces.

Since kitchens and bathrooms often have steam, moisture, and water splashes, we recommend eggshell over matt emulsion in these humid areas. Coverage is approximately 15-18 sqm per litre (based on one coat), and the paint is water-based with low VOCs, making it a safe choice for environments with children and pets.

Satin and Gloss

Our bespoke satin and gloss finishes are perfect for both interior and exterior projects, especially high-traffic areas like skirting boards in busy hallways and kitchen cupboards.

They provide decorative and protective qualities when applied over properly prepared joinery. Ideal for windows, doors, soffits, and fascias, these finishes are tough and durable.

They can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray, offer a sheen level of 72-80%, and are water-based for easy cleanup and a lower environmental impact.

Both our satin and gloss finishes are available as bespoke orders here.

Masonry

We currently offer just one colour in our masonry finish on the website.

This exterior masonry paint is specially formulated for stone and brick surfaces and comes in a thicker consistency.

It is available only in a 1 litre pouch of our best-selling Electric Blue shade.

Designed specifically for outdoor brick, stone and concrete surfaces, it provides excellent lightfastness and strong water resistance.

Our masonry paint is water-based for easier application and cleanup.

Please note: using this finish on surfaces outside of those recommended may result in a patchy appearance.

Application

Getting started

Tester - We want you to be completely confident that your chosen colour is perfect for your project. Because colours can appear differently on screen compared to in person, we recommend ordering a sample pot or swatch colour card before committing to a larger quantity.

Mix Thoroughly
 – Give your paint a good stir to ensure the colour and consistency are perfectly even.

Check Your Colour – Always check you're happy with the colour before you begin. A quick swatch can go a long way!

Pour – Pour the amount you need into a clean paint tray or container.

Sanding – If your surface has a sheen or glossy finish, lightly sand it down first. This helps your primer and paint stick better, giving you long-lasting, durable results.

Priming – Prime or white-wash first to create a clean base. This step prevents the old colour from affecting your new shade and helps avoid extra coats.

Apply Evenly – Use a good quality roller, brush, or spray tool for a smooth, even finish.

Tip: Yellows, greens, pinks, and peaches are beautiful but naturally less pigmented – they may need an extra coat or two for full coverage.

Trouble with air bubbles

Air bubbles on your surface when using a foam roller are completely normal, this happens because air trapped in the foam gets transferred onto the paint. Just let the bubbles dry naturally without any breeze or wind in the room, and they’ll disappear once dry.

If you didn’t have this issue with a brush, it might be down to the roller nap type or length.

A handy tip is to backfill by lightly rolling with a dry, unloaded roller a few minutes after applying paint. This helps create a smoother, more even finish and reduces any orange-peel texture.

Primers and preperation

Smooth It Out – If your walls feel a bit bumpy or uneven, a light sanding will help create a flawless surface for your paint to glide on beautifully.

Give It a Clean – If there’s any dirt, grease or general build-up, give your walls a good clean using a sugar soap solution.
Prefer something natural? Mix water with white vinegar and a few drops of your favourite essential oil – it works wonders and smells lovely too!

Fresh Plaster or Absorbent Surfaces? – Prime first! This helps seal the surface and ensures your colour applies evenly and stays looking gorgeous.
Both Zinsser 1-2-3 and B-I-N primers pair beautifully with YesColours paints.

Avoid High Sheen finishes for Prep – Stick with matt emulsion-style primers. Please don’t use gloss, satin or eggshell primers, as their shiny finish can prevent paint adhesion.

Painting Tiles

Our paints can be used on tiles, but proper preparation and priming are essential for a long-lasting finish.

First, sand the tiles with 220-grit sandpaper to remove the glaze and create a rough surface for adhesion. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and allow tiles and grout to dry for at least 5 hours.

Check out our eggshell collection here.

Please note: We do not recommend painting tiles around bathtubs, inside shower cubicles and around sink areas.

Painting radiators and metal

You can use our paints on metal with great results when the right finish is chosen. For radiators, our eggshell is ideal, durable, wipeable, and long-lasting.

Eggshell Collection

Just make sure the radiator is switched off, fully cool, primed, and allowed to dry for 24 hours before turning the heating back on. Please note: our paints aren’t suitable for oil-fired radiators.

For exterior metal surfaces, we recommend our bespoke satin or gloss finishes for the best durability outdoors.

For more information on bespoke orders, just drop us an email at Hello@yescolours.com

Electric Blue: All You Need to Know

Electric Blue eggshell

Not yet, but bear with us – we’re working on it!

In the meantime, if you’re hoping to use Electric Blue in a space that needs a more durable finish, we recommend applying Polyvine Decorator’s Varnish over the top once your matt emulsion is fully dry.

It’s a clear, protective varnish that enhances durability, making it possible to use this striking colour in more areas of your home while we work on expanding our finish options.

We recommend doing a patch test on a small area first to make sure you're completely happy with the result.

Please note that clear varnishes can slightly reduce the vibrancy of our Electric Blue, though Polyvine has received glowing reviews and is a popular choice for adding extra durability without significantly altering the finish.

Electric Blue on furniture

Electric Blue is the only colour in our palette that isn’t currently available in a wider variety of finishes suitable for furniture painting.

However, there is a possible workaround!

Applying a clear varnish like Polyvine over our Electric Blue matt emulsion can help improve its durability, making it more suitable for a wider range of surfaces in the meantime.

We recommend doing a patch test first to ensure you’re happy with the results, as clear varnishes can slightly reduce the colour’s vibrancy. That said, Polyvine has received glowing reviews from many of our customers.

Electric Blue exterior project

For brick, stone, and concrete surfaces, our Electric Blue masonry paint offers the ideal finish.

Our Electric Blue Matt Emulsion isn’t recommended for exterior use, as we can’t guarantee its durability outdoors.

However, if you’re willing to experiment, many customers have had success applying a clear Polyvine varnish as a protective layer to make this colour stand up to all for outdoor elements.

Colours

How Many Colours Are in Our Palette?

66 and counting.

sample pot alternative

As an alternative option of buying our sample pots to see our colours in person, we have swatch colour cards available to purchase which have been made with real paint!

We highly recommend purchasing a swatch colour card or sample pot to make sure the colour you’ve selected is absolutely perfect for your project!

Swatch Colour Cards

Most effective way to use our sample pots

It's always worth testing a colour out on a large piece of lining paper, moving it around the room (including the ceiling) and seeing what it's like in the morning, afternoon and at night with artificial lights on. It can make all the difference!

Measurements

How do I work out how much paint I need?

At YesColours, 1 litre of paint will cover 15 square metres of wall.

To know how much paint you need to cover, measure the length and height of the space.

Multiply those figures together and you now have the square metre total.
For the whole room, we suggest you measure each wall this way and then add them together.

A piece of furniture depends on the shape and surface area.

For guidance;
a dining table and chair would need approximately 1 litre of paint
a bedside table with drawers only requires 250ml of paint
and a simple stool could use as little as 100ml.

Do you have a paint calculator?
What is the best way to measure the paint I need for furniture?

An age old method would be to use a tape measure to measure along the length of the wall and then the height.

You can get measuring apps on your mobile device or a laser measure for those who need some extra help.

How much space does 5L (5 litres) of paint cover?

5 Litres of paint will cover appx. 75 square metres of surface. So, on average this includes two coats of paint on all 4 walls and ceiling on a room with a 3m x 3m dimension.

How many coats of paint shall I do?

This also depends on the coverage quality of the paint and whether the surface has been prepared accordingly.

We recommend 2 coats of paint for optimum coverage with most colours on our palette.

Please note: Yellows, Greens and peaches can be notoriously tricky due to the pigment being less opaque than other paint pigments universally. You may require an additional coat for this colour. Always ensure you paint a generous 1st coat in order to give your yellow walls the best start in life!

Preparation

Interior wall

Sanding is a must if your wall is uneven or has a previous paint layer with a sheen. This helps create a “key”, a slightly rough surface that gives your new paint something to grip onto.

If your wall needs a clean first, sugar soap is a great option for removing dirt and grime. For a natural alternative, mix water, white vinegar, and a few drops of essential oil for a DIY solution!

For freshly plastered walls or any porous surfaces, start with a white, matt finish primer, this gives your paint the perfect base. And if you're covering dark coloured walls, be sure to prime it back to white first. This will help your new colour pop and prevent needing for extra coats and colour distortion.

interior woodwork & furniture

Sanding is a must if the woodwork you are planning to paint has a previous paint layer of paint with a sheen finish. This helps create a “key”, a slightly rough surface that gives your new paint something to grip onto.

For raw wood that is often porous and has not been previous treated, a light sanding and primer is recommend.

If the area you plan to paint requires cleaning beforehand, sugar soap is a great option for removing dirt and grime. For a natural alternative, mix water, white vinegar, and a few drops of essential oil for a DIY solution!

We'd then recommend using white, matt finish primer, this gives your paint the perfect base. And if you're covering dark coloured surfaces, be sure to prime it back to white first. This will help your new colour pop and prevent needing for extra coats and colour distortion.

Recommended primers that work in harmony with our paints are Zinsser 1-2-3 (Water based) and B-I-N (Shellac).

Colour matching

Do you provide colour matching if I can't find the colour I need?

Yes, just send over an email to hello@yescolours.com or reach us on our social channels and we'll be glad to help.

How do I match a Pantone colour?

Pantones are great for print design but not so much in the paint world. For paint it's not possible to get a like-for-like, unfortunately.

Pantone is printed in lots of dots onto the substrate, which leaves gaps of white showing through (which then in turn affects the colour and vibrancy). But with paint it's a block of colour that has been painted on (ie. not in thousands of tiny dots), and nothing showing from underneath.

Matching by eye is the last resort - but we're here if you need any help.

Deliveries & Returns

What are your delivery options?

Please see our deliveries page

How can I return or exchange items?

Returns

To initiate a return, please contact us at hello@yescolours.com. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused, in its original packaging, and accompanied by the order number.

Return Process

1. Contact Us: Email us at hello@yescolours.com to request a return authorisation. Include your order number and reason for return in the email.

2. Receive Instructions: Once your return request is approved, we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to proceed. Please do not send items back without authorisation, as they will not be accepted.

3. Send Your Return: Securely package the item back into the protective cardboard pulps provided upon delivery and ship it to us within 14 working days from the date of delivery. Make sure the item arrives in the same condition as it was sent to you.

4. Receive Your Refund: After we receive and inspect your returned item, we will process your refund within 3 working days. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used at the time of purchase. Please note that items must be in a resalable condition to qualify for a refund.

If the returned item arrives in an unsuitable, unsellable condition, we reserve the right to withhold the refund and may block you from placing future orders with YesColours.

Return Address:

YesColours
Goods In
Julias Way
Kirkby in Ashfield
Sutton-in-Ashfield
Nottingham NG17 7RB


- Returns must be made within 14 days of delivery for orders placed through Yescolours.com.
- Items purchased from our online partners must be returned via their returns process.
- Bundled items, such as multi-litre paints, must be returned as a complete set.
- A £3.00 return & restocking fee applies to all returns.
- Sale items, sample pots, swatches, and custom paint orders are non-returnable.

This returns policy does not affect your statutory rights. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out..

Exchanges

We are happy to exchange unused paint purchased on Yescolours.com within 14 days of delivery however return postal charges will be applicable to customer.

Please contact us at hello@yescolours.com to verify your exchange options.

What are your Holiday shipping times?

During the holiday season, shipping time may vary.

We recommend placing your orders well in advance during seasonal periods to avoid any delays.

Pre-Orders

A pre-order is a feature we enable on our website when a product temporarily goes out of stock. It allows customers who are eager to secure a specific item to place their order in advance, ensuring they are prioritised as soon as the restock arrives.

This guarantees your order will be fulfilled from the next available batch before the item goes live again for general sale.

Packaging info

What are the key benefits of our pouches?

Resource efficient.
Flexible packaging uses 16% less fossil fuel, 26% less water, and generates 21% less greenhouse gas emissions throughout production vs. traditional packaging

Easy-open and close.
Airtight to protect paint from moisture, mould and dust.

Reducing carbon.

Up to 52 times more space and weight efficient for transportation and storage.

Easily recyclable.
Via local supermarket recycling points or at home (where accepted).

Easy to check your colour.
Our clear circle window allows you to check your colour before opening

Keeps paint better, for longer.
Fully tested for strength and compatibility.


Find out more on our sustainability page

How do I get paint back into the pouch?

Just like ketchup, pour out just what you think you need rather than the whole pouch.

Plus (side note!) even with tins, you should avoid pouring paint back in as any dust or debris will contaminate the rest of your paint. It’s pretty special stuff and we don’t want you throwing it away if that happens.

Another benefit is that our pouches are airtight so no rusty crusty mess and gone off paint. Our pouches store paint better over time vs. traditional tins.

What are your pouches made from?

The pouch is single material PE (type 4) but we will be moving to a 30-40% recycled material next year and we are looking at many options for improving this even further into the future.

The pouches are widely accepted at large stores, recycling drop offs and supermarket recycling points.

Check your local services for household recylcing pick-ups.

Are pouches better than tins?

Our focus is the entire customer journey, not just the materials we use in our products but how they are made, trasported, disposed of and/or recycled.

Our pouches save on fossil fuel, water consumptions, carbon, greenhouse gas emissions vs traditional tins and avoid over-ordering and waste going to landfill.

It’s by far better than the status quo of 98% of tins going to landfill (14,000 tonnes per year) as well as 55 million litres of paint going to waste because of over ordering and poor recycling options.

Every little helps, there's no silver bullet.

Giftcards

Redemption and Use of Online Gift Cards

YesColours Online Gift Cards ("Online Gift Cards") can only be redeemed for merchandise on the official YesColours website.

EXCLUSIVITY

Online Gift Cards cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, promotions, or special offers unless otherwise specified by YesColours.

EXPIRY DATES

Online Gift Cards must be used within 13 months from the date of purchase. After this period, the Online Gift Card will expire, and the remaining balance will be forfeited.

BALANCE

To check the remaining balance on an Online Gift Card, please email hello@yescolours.com

NON-TRANSFERABLE

Online Gift Cards are non-transferable and may not be resold.

LOST OR STOLEN CARDS AND CODES

YesColours is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged Online Gift Cards or Codes. Treat the Online Gift Card and Codes like cash.

NO CASH REDEMPTION

Online Gift Cards cannot be exchanged for cash or used to purchase other gift cards.

REFUNDS

Online Gift Card purchases are non-refundable.

LIMITATIONS

YesColours reserves the right to refuse the use of any Online Gift Card and to void any Online Gift Card transaction if it believes the Online Gift Card was obtained or used fraudulently, unlawfully, or otherwise in violation of these terms and conditions.

MODIFICATION OF TERMS

YesColours reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice, in its sole discretion.

GIFTCARD CONSUMER RIGHTS

These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with consumer law within the United Kingdom.

By purchasing, using, or accepting a YesColours Online Gift Card, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Discounts and Promotions

Promotional Discounts

Promotional Discounts

Discount Applicability: Customers are eligible for discounts on all products except colour consultations on purchase of certain amounts.

Shipping Fees: Shipping fees will be determined based on the delivery location and chosen shipping method during checkout. YesColours reserves the right to adjust shipping costs as necessary.

Limited Quantities: This promotion is available while supplies last.

One Promotion Per Order: Each customer can avail of this promotion once per order, unless specified.

Cancellation and Returns: Promotions cannot be used on previous orders and discounts codes cannot be added to pre-existing orders.

Modification of Terms: YesColours reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions or terminate the promotion without prior notice. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the website.

Governing Law: These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

The current sale offers 20% off all paint products, excluding Electric Blue Matt and Electric Blue Masonry. The discount is valid for purchases made between 22.NOV.2024 and 2 DEC 2024 while stocks last. This promotion cannot be combined with any other discounts, offers, or promotions, and the discount will be applied at checkout on qualifying items. Returns or exchanges will be processed according to our standard return policy, with refunds reflecting the discounted price paid. We reserve the right to amend or withdraw this promotion at any time without prior notice.

Referral Program

Referral Program Terms and Conditions

Eligibility: This referral programme is open to all customers, except those referring themselves. Self-referrals are strictly prohibited and will not qualify for the reward. The referred friend must be a new customer who has not previously made a purchase.

Referral Reward: For every successful referral, the referrer will receive a 15% discount on their next order.

Referral Process: To refer a friend, share your unique referral link or code with them. Your friend must use the referral code at checkout for the referral to be considered valid.

Reward Redemption: Once your friend successfully completes a purchase using your referral code, you will receive a 15% discount code for your next order.

Referral Code Validity: The referral discount code must be used within 6 months of issuance and is valid for one-time use only.

Non-Transferable: Referral codes are non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash, and can only be used by the individual to whom they were issued.

Multiple Referrals: There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make. However, the 15% discount is limited to one per qualifying order.

Changes to the Program: We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the referral program at any time, with or without notice.

Amendments to Terms: We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time without prior notification.

Fraud Prevention: Any abuse of the referral program, including self-referrals or fraudulent referrals, will result in the immediate disqualification of the participant from the program and may lead to the cancellation of issued discounts.

Acceptance of Terms: By participating in the referral program, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions.

Bank Holiday Sale - Terms & Conditions

Valid from 19th May 2025 – 25th May 2025, 11:59pm BST

We're offering 20% off our entire paint range as part of our Bank Holiday Sale.
Here’s everything you need to know:

The Offer
Get 20% off all full-priced paints when you use code HOLIDAY20 at checkout.
This offer applies to paint products only (including sample pots and full-size pouches).
The discount is not any other product or colour consultations. We reserve the right to update or cancel this promotion at any time.

Timing
The offer runs from 19th May 2025 to 25th May 2025 at 11:59pm BST. Orders must be placed within this window to qualify for the discount.

Important Details
One use per order.

Cannot be combined with any other discount, offer or promotional code.

No price adjustments will be made for orders placed outside of the promotional period.

Offer is valid while stocks last.

Free delivery is available on all UK orders over £100.00

Shipping
24-hour shipping available on eligible items and locations.