FAQs

Here at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, we believe in being truly transparent and we make paint which is eco-friendly, safe, and breathable but also rich in natural earth and mineral pigment. We remain firm believers in the virtues of the sample pot. A colour choice can be an expensive choice and so we want you to be confident before you buy – need some help? Click here.  You will also see how thick and creamy our paint is and with no smell.

To be sure that our sample pots do not have an environmental impact we have selected packaging and raw materials that are all recycled and/or biodegradable. For more information on how you can recycle and upcycle with our product packaging, please click here

Worry not, we also provide our 102 colours as a hand painted fan deck (note: excluding nursery colours) or, you can purchase our hand painted A5 colour box comprising of a full list of our colours on A5 colour card, our colour charts and postcards.

Sample Pots are available in our most popular finish, our Emulsion – perfect for testing colour on your walls. Not sure how to get the most out of your sample pot? Click here.

Yes, our sample pots are recyclable – head over to our blog post on upcycling, you would be surprised at how creative you can be with them! All of our products and packaging are fully recyclable – even the starch chips that our sample pots are packaged in are eco friendly, fully biodegradable on compost heap and safely dissolve in water.

Yes we do have technical sheets available in every product we sell, including a full declaration of our ingredients – please click here.

Yes we do have safety data sheets available – please click here.

The easiest way is to order online from our website; from ordering your first colour chart, to sample pots and then your actual paint. We also have a handy paint calculator to help you work out exactly how much paint you will need. Simply choose which finish you would like in our Shop Paint and next to ‘choose sizes’ on the right-hand size there is a prompt ‘How much will I need?’ – this is where the Paint Quantity Calculator will appear.

Please note you can only order online for delivery in the UK.  If you want us to send paint outside the UK then please ring on 01544 388535 or email us info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

Currently we do not have stockists or sell our paint outside of the UK.  If you would like us to deliver paint outside the UK then please call us on 01544 388535 and email your order to info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

Currently we do not have stockists or sell our paint outside of the UK. One day when we can bring our natural paint making expertise to other regions and make the paint in the actual market then we will, but for the moment it makes no eco sense to transport water based paints across the waters of the world.

Edward has taken the hard work out of choosing complementary colours for your scheme. Under each colour on our website Shop Paint you will find our recommended ceiling and woodwork colours along with an inspiring tonal palette.

You can also find colour advice in our Inspiration pages and on our Instagram.

If you would like a personalised Colour Consultancy with one of our experts either by phone or zoom or in the comfort of your home please click here.

When you select a colour within the SHOP of our website, scroll further down and on the left hand side of the page is a subheading ‘use with’ and below this is the ceiling colour it will go with. For example, Plain White‘s complementary ceiling colour is also Plain White.

If you have any further questions call us on 01544 388535 or email us on info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

When you select a colour within the SHOP of our website, scroll further down and on the left hand side of the page is a subheading ‘use with’ and below this is two options for woodwork colours, one being a light white and the other, a deep white. For example, Plain White‘s complementary woodwork colours are, Light – Pearl Colour Deep – Spanish White.

If you have any further questions call us on 01544 388535 or email us on info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Emulsion is a superior quality, water based, natural paint which creates a luxury, chalky matt finish which will bring your walls alive, with an unmatched depth of colour only achieved by natural pigments.

This natural paint finish is suitable for interior walls and ceilings, for more information on the natural qualities of our Emulsion, please click here.

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Water Based Eggshell is a solvent free, non-yellowing and quick drying paint, like our Emulsion this product is made with plant oils, minerals, natural pigments. Our Water Based Eggshell finish is bound with a novel, semi-natural binder called Decovery.

This natural paint finish is suitable for interior and exterior woodwork and metalwork including radiators. A durable, satin finish – 30% sheen. For more information on the natural qualities of our Water Based Eggshell, please click here.

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Water Based Gloss is an extension of our Water Based Eggshell, with a gloss finish. A quick drying paint, like all our finishes this product is made with plant oils, minerals and natural pigments. Our Water Based Gloss finish is bound with a novel, semi-natural binder called Decovery.

This natural paint finish is suitable for interior and exterior woodwork and metalwork including radiators. A durable, satin finish – 80% sheen. For more information on the natural qualities of our Water Based Gloss, please click here.

Due to high demand, occasionally some of our products do go out of stock. We are constantly monitoring our stock levels, and we usually expect to replenish any product line within a couple of weeks. However, this can sometimes take longer depending on the demands of our manufacturers.

If you have placed a pre-order for an item that is out of stock and it looks like it will take longer than expected to get it to you, we will let you know and offer you the option of a full refund. In the unlikely event where we do not contact you, please do contact us by email info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk 

We make our paints with gentle chemistry which is kind to nature, using natural plant based raw materials combined with natural earth and mineral pigments.

Protecting the planets’ finite resources is our top priority so we have found an innovative way to make wall paint, without plastic or pollution, which is also carbon neutral.

We provide you with an honest declaration of all our ingredients, we can even tell you precisely how they are produced and from what country they are sourced. Please click here for a full list of our ingredients.

We have created a Paint Quantity Calculator which informs you how much natural paint you will need to cover your space. Simply head over to our shop, choose your chosen colour and which finish you would like and next to ‘choose sizes’ on the right-hand size there is a prompt ‘How much will I need?’ – this is where the Paint Quantity Calculator will appear.

For those who want to use a lighter shade of a colour, we can mix 60%, 40% and 20% shades of the colours marked with an asterix (*) as illustrated on our concertina colour chart.

To order online, you can either use the dropdown menu on the product page, where you also select the size and finish. Alternatively, you can order the original colour and then put the shade % in the Order Notes box right at the bottom of the Checkout page.

e.g. 2.5 L Jonquil in 20%

Depending on the device used and screen resolution, the natural paint colours shown are merely our best attempt to represent our palette online. We therefore strongly recommend you try a sample pot.

Yes, we would be delighted to help with your colour schemes – whether it be an ultra modern, cottage or period home. Please click here and we will direct you to our colour consultancy services.

We always advise ordering our free concertina colour chart firstly, so you can get to know our colours.

All modern wall paint and most eggshells are now water based.  So all of our finishes which are available for sale on line – Emulsion, Water Based Eggshell and Water Based Gloss are water based and contain no harmful VOC >1 gm/L. We are honest, transparent and declare all our ingredients with our natural paints. Please click here for our product technical data sheets which show a full list of our ingredients.

We offer free colour advice by email. Please note this is a free but a very popular service which takes 3-5 days, so we regret we may not be able to help if your query is urgent.

For personalised colour advice, head over to our colour consultancy page with a selection of bespoke services available with our colour experts, both in home and virtual.

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Emulsion is perfectly suitable for a bathroom and kitchen so long as the room is well-ventilated with a fan extractor for example and/or has at least one window. If there is no/very little ventilation, we would recommend our Water Based Eggshell finish instead. Areas where condensation or water splashing occurs frequently should be painted with our Water Based Eggshell rather than Emulsion. For more information, please click here.

All our natural paints can be applied using an ‘Airless’ spray system. For advice on how to set the spray gun, please click here and choose the necessary technical data sheet.

Yes, Edward Bulmer Natural Paints are the safe and beautiful choice for decorating your children’s rooms. Part of our 102 natural paint colour range is our nursery collection. Drawing on years of experience as an interior designer, (being a Daddy!) and inspired by nature, he has also created twelve beautiful new colours for children.  The collection is fun yet classic and adaptable enough to last throughout childhood.  All the colours in our paint range are suitable for use in the nursery as they are free from toxic chemicals and so it is safe to sleep in the room the same day as painting.

A quote which is very close to us here at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint HQ – ‘Treat the earth well it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.’

Yes, our natural paint is made from naturally occurring ingredients. This means no petro-chemicals, no harmful VOCs and no toxins, which in turn means minimal smell (almost odourless) so paint that doesn’t cause headaches or allergic reactions and you can sleep in the room the same day as painting it. We are hugely passionate about making paints that do not cost the earth for us and our future generations!

Whether it be our nursery collection or natural paint collection – all our paints are suitable for our little people!

Our Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Emulsion is the suitable choice for painting ceilings and walls.   We give advice on ceiling whites in Choosing Colours.  For more specific colour advice, head over to our colour consultancy page where we will be delighted to assist you with your decorating project or alternatively, towards the bottom of each colour product page is our palette of colours and those we suggest you can use with a ceiling and your woodwork.

Pinks have undoubtedly been one of our hottest colours for some time now with best sellers; Jonquil, Lilac Pink and Cuisse de Nymphe Emue.  If we’d known they would become so popular we might have given them less risque and unpronounceble names, but it seems every one has wanted some of that aroused nymph’s thigh on their walls from studies to bathrooms, period to modern.

Have a read of our inspiration piece ‘The Colour of Love: Sophisticated Pinks’ full of imagery and words from Edward Bulmer on how they can work in different rooms.

And lastly, which whites go with our Pinks? Click here for your answer!

If you have any further questions call us on 01544 388535 or email us on info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

With correct preparation, our Water Based Eggshell and Gloss can be used to paint on metal including radiators. Make sure the radiator is switched off during painting and drying stages. For further information, please click here.

We would not advise using any of our paints on any flooring. Whilst our natural Water Based Eggshell is suitable for indoor woodwork and metal it is not the right paint for floors.

Our natural paints are suitable for all property types and we are proud to have our paints in a real variety of properties, click here to find out more about the different period properties and which colours are particularly suitable.

Our wall paint does not contain any plastic and so they are not film forming and so they are perfect for use in old and historic buildings as they are breathable.

We do however pride our natural paints on being universally used for period buildings due to their physical and technical features – after all, that is how our Founder Edward Bulmer came to create a natural paint brand. Edward has spent the last 30 years working in some of Britain’s finest buildings. He is a leading interior designer, architectural historian and ‘colourman’, renowned for restoring our heritage buildings, bringing his expert knowledge to conservation and his design flair to the creation of new spaces for modern living. For more information, click here.

Our founder Edward Bulmer, leading interior designer, architectural historian and ‘colourman’ created all the colour names and descriptions for our 102 natural colours.  He has taken the names from old colour books and modern observations.  Sometimes they are a bit esoteric like Drab Green and Cuisse de Nymphe Emue, but still beautiful colours and very popular.

Edward is a master in both the art and science of colour, an expert with a mission to revive the world of natural colour. He also has that technical knowhow to translate historic reference into paint shades perfectly tuned for fashionable modern living. Unlike virtually all other paints on the market, our colours are designed, made and mixed by an expert in interiors. Click here to find out more.

Yes, our natural paint loves lime plaster! For more information, please click here.

We recommend using our emulsion on interior lime plaster and lime render because unlike most other paints, it does not reduce the breathability. Like all our finishes, our Emulsion allows the walls to breathe and offers a viable alternative to lime wash.

A few simple steps should be taken before applying Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Emulsion to any lime surface:

• Lime render or plaster needs to be fully cured before painting. The best person to advise you is your lime provider, however as a general guide allow at least 1 month curing for every 5mm of thickness. In poor drying conditions this time period may be extended.
• Before painting make sure the surface is stable (not flaky or powdery).
• When painting onto cured new interior lime plaster use our Natural Plaster Primer to prepare the walls for Natural Emulsion.  If you do not prime the plaster, the paint will be sucked into the room as there is no plastic in our emulsion and it is not film forming.

For more information, please click here.

Yes, technical data sheets are available to view and download here. For further information please email info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk

Our natural emulsion is a wipeable paint with class 2/3 abrasion rating.  This means it will withstand wiping with a soft cloth using warm, soapy water.  We do not recommend the use of bleached products, Cif or any abrasive products.  They may mark the paint.  Pencil and biro is very difficult to remove.  Some tough stains may be ingrained into the surface therefore more difficult to remove.

Our Water Based Eggshell and Water Based Gloss paints are very easy to wipe clean and will withstand quite a lot of pressure.

Modern acrylic paints boast about how wipeable they are.  There is a trade off.  If you want completely bomb proof paint then you have to stuff it full of plastic.  Paint is already made from plastic, scrubble paint contains even more.  So what price wipeability to our health and the continued depletion of the planet’s resources both to make the plastic and then to dispose of it!

All Edward Bulmer Natural Paints are water based and are absorbed into the surface of the wall rather than forming a cling film surface which is the case with modern acrylic paints.  So if the surface is uneven then the paint will be absorbed differently and then can cause patchiness.  We recommend that you use our Plaster Primer or Grip Coat Primer to ensure that the wall is correctly prepared.

If there is any damp in your walls or if the plaster is not dry then the paint will be sucked in and will look patchy.  In this way our paint is usefully diagnostic, it will not simply hide signs of damp.

Alternatively, it could be that you/your decorator is using an acrylic-based primer which does not always work well when our paints are applied on top – being a natural-based product. We personally recommend using our Plaster Primer/Grip Coat Primer depending on the finish.

Preparation is key – if existing painted surfaces have not been prepared properly by removing loose or flaking paint then this will not provide a stable background for the new paint. Alternatively, the problem could be associated with walls that have been covered by a filler to hide imperfections within the wall’s surface.

Some fillers can be very porous and can cause the paint to shrink as moisture is rapidly drawn away from the paint. Prior to applying the paint, ensure any fillers are completely dust free and dry. Spot prime the filler with a well diluted mix of the paint and water (up to 25% thinning). Do not apply thick layers of paint which are more likely to shrink.

Bleeding knots on bare woods should be pre-treated with our Water Based Eggshell Primer.

Bare wood may be primed, if desired, with a first coat diluted with 5% water. Before applying top coats, allow all primer to dry thoroughly, then sand lightly and remove any dust.

Previously painted wood should be sanded thoroughly and cleaned off before applying at least 2 top coats.

Click here to view our video, with our founder Edward Bulmer demonstrating how to prep the walls, as well as painting the walls.

Click here to view our video, with our founder Edward Bulmer demonstrating how to prep the woodwork door frame, as well as painting the woodwork.

When you decide to use natural paint, you are making more than a colour choice, a paint choice, a fashion choice or even a lifestyle choice – you too are choosing to make a difference.  Thank you.

As we make the amazing transition towards a carbon free environment and take on the responsibility of protecting nature’s biodiversity there will be inevitable ‘Greenwashing’ in every industry and the paint industry is no exception. Every sensible company is getting onto the bandwagon of doing everything, making everything and selling everything that is ‘eco friendly’, ‘sustainable’ , ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘carbon neutral’, ‘vegan’, ‘organic’, ‘ethical’.   The paint industry has adopted all these prefixes and more, declaring that their paint is ‘water-based’, ‘low VOC’, ‘no VOC’, VOC free’.

Yet in many instances, nothing has changed except to make these claims louder and clearer and those with the biggest budgets are well heard and nobody questions their slogans.

We believe that is not about what you say that makes a company sustainable it is what you actually do and so for us it is all about how paint is made, what raw materials it contains and what impact it has on our buildings, our health, our nature and our planet.

For more information, please click here

Yes, our paints have no animal derived products in them. Neither we nor any of our suppliers perform animal testing. Our paints are completely natural and we declare all our ingredients, see more here. For more information, please click here for our product technical data sheets.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids that have a negative effect on our indoor air quality. They come from the chemicals in paint, which are a necessary part of the recipe to preserve and stabilise the paint.

There is no such thing as VOC free.  When you mow the grass, cook eggs and bacon you create a VOC.  However, they are not harmful unless you happen to have hay fever!

A label that reads “Zero-VOC,” does not mean that the paint does not contain VOCs, it just means that the level of VOCs in the paint falls below the government regulated amount permissible. Adding colour pigment to Zero VOC paint can increase the amount of volatile organic compounds as much as 10 grams per litre – some companies are very clever in doing this without anyone challenging them.

We are proud to declare our natural paint is virtually VOC free, containing less than 1g/l which is 0.07%. For further information on the technical and physical features of our paint, please click here to find the necessary technical data sheet.

There is no such thing as VOC free.  When you mow the grass, cook eggs and bacon you create a VOC.  However, they are not harmful unless you happen to have hay fever!

A label that reads “Zero-VOC,” does not mean that the paint does not contain VOCs, it just means that the level of VOCs in the paint falls below the government regulated amount permissible. Adding colour pigment to Zero VOC paint can increase the amount of volatile organic compounds as much as 10 grams per litre – some companies are very clever in doing this without anyone challenging them.

When we talk about paint breathability, we are referring to how much air and water vapour can easily flow through the surface. Using paint with a high level of breathability, coupled with breathable building materials means that moisture does not become ‘trapped’ beneath the surface of the paint. Our breathable paint will allow the natural moisture that is in the walls and atmosphere to flow through without damaging the building. Breathability is especially important in period properties and lime plastered properties. For more information, please click here.

Our natural paints have a SD (Steam Diffusion) value, which is a German method for measuring breathability. For a paint to be classes as breathable, it should have an SD value of 1 or lower, the lower the value the more breathable the paint.

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Emulsion SD value – 0.1m

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Water Based Eggshell SD value –  0.3m

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Water Based Gloss SD value –  0.3m

*Even if your property has not been built with breathable materials like lime, using a breathable paint can still provide to a healthier environment.

Yes – the term ‘microporous’ describes a coating that acts as a barrier to liquid water, but allows water vapour to pass through.

One way to avoid damp in a building is to use breathable building materials, such as lime render or plaster, followed by our breathable, natural paints containing microporous. Any paints that contain vinyl, acrylics, oils or plastics are not breathable and can trap moisture beneath the surface, causing mould build up or even blowing the paint off completely.

Hygroscopic refers to a substance’s ability to absorb moisture from its surroundings. Being highly breathable, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint is a hygroscopic paint that will ‘even out’ the humidity in a room by absorbing excess moisture. It is especially suitable for period properties and rooms that have suffered with damp, as it lets the walls breathe. Being hygroscopic, the surface of Edward Bulmer Natural Paints will change and the colour may deepen where it has absorbed moisture. When allowed to dry out naturally these marks should disappear, although in some cases, for example if there are salts in the walls, staining may occur.

Our paint tins are made from stainless steel, which is infinitely recyclable. You can recycle empty tins at your local Household Waste Centre. Our wall paint is truly natural in all its forms so leftover paint may be composted when dry.

Liquid waste should not be washed down the drain and should be disposed of according to the liquid residues EWC Code 080120.

For more information, please click here.

Yes! Our wall paint is truly natural in all its forms so leftover paint may be composted when dry.

Liquid waste should not be washed down the drain and should be disposed of according to the liquid residues EWC Code 080120.

Our paint tins are made from stainless steel, which is infinitely recyclable. You can recycle empty tins at your local Household Waste Centre.

For more information, please click here.

The following day you will receive a text and email from APC confirming the delivery window with a tracking reference.  This is not an exact science, particularly in London.  However this text will signal that your parcel is out for delivery. 

Please locate your tracking reference and click here to submit it and track your parcel. 

Your parcel will be delivered between 8am and 6pm (unless time specified).

In the rare event in which our couriers are unable to deliver your parcel, we strongly advise you to contact us at your earliest convenience by email on info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk or call us on 01544 388535.

Please bear in mind, we have a dedicated team to track your parcel and we try to pre-empt any delivery issues, saving you having to call us.  However it does sometimes go wrong but you can be reassured that we are doing everything to make sure that your delivery gets to you so as not to keep yourself or the painter waiting!

Please note we are currently only delivering within the UK.

Please note: for orders in Scotland, Ireland and the outer Isles, please call us on 01544 388535 and we will be able to tell you your delivery times and costs specific to your area.

We have two delivery options available for you within the UK; we have a 2-4 day delivery service and a Next day delivery service.

Next Day delivery

For next day delivery, you need to order by 12 noon on a week day for the paint to arrive the next working day – e.g. an order placed on a Monday at 11am on a next day delivery will arrive Tuesday. Please note we cannot confirm an exact time, but you will receive some tracking information on the estimated time of arrival.

If you place an order after 12 noon on a week day for next day delivery, the paint will arrive on the second working day – e.g. an order placed on a Monday at 2pm on a next day delivery will arrive Wednesday. Please note we cannot confirm an exact time, but you will receive some tracking information on the estimated time of arrival.

Our Headquarters in Herefordshire are unfortunately not open on a weekend. Though, if you place an order on Saturday or Sunday, this will be delivered to you on Tuesday as we will need to make and dispatch the order on Monday.

All next day deliveries placed before 12 noon on a Friday, will be delivered on Monday. If the order is placed after 12 noon on a Friday, this will be delivered on Tuesday.

We do not deliver on Saturday or Sunday, however a Saturday delivery is possible with quite a substantial extra charge (usual timings apply) please find the below table.

For orders in Scotland, Ireland and the outer Isles, please call us on 01544 388535 and we will be able to tell you your delivery times and costs specific to your area.

We offer FREE delivery on sample pots, the Hand Painted Colour Chart and the Hand Painted A5 Colour Box.

If you would like to order sample pots on a next day delivery, there is a £5.00 next day delivery charge when checking your order on the basket page.

Standard delivery – our normal delivery time is 2-4 days.

Timed delivery – we can deliver parcels with precision, you can also order next day, for it to arrive the following working day before midday. 

Weekend delivery – we do not deliver on Saturday, Sunday or bank holidays.  It is possible to organise a Saturday delivery but the added cost starts at £40 and so we do not encourage it.

What time to expect your parcel – our normal delivery time is between  8am to 6pm every weekday

We are not able to offer returns, as all of our paint is mixed to order and therefore is a bespoke product.

NB: We will accept returns of non bespoke products which include preparatory products.

If you believe your paint is faulty, please contact our sales team via info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

In the rare event that any of your items reach you in a faulty condition, please notify us within 28 days in order for replacement goods to be re-sent. Proof of damage will be required before we are able to replace your items so best to contact us as soon as you can with details and photos to info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk

Because we’re working fast to get your order to you, we only allow changes to your order up to 15 minutes after it has been placed including cancellations and a change of delivery address. Sorry – we understand this is a short time frame but any later and we may have dispatched your order already! Once we have received an order, if the paint has been mixed, we can no longer cancel it.

If you would like to change your delivery address please contact info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk.

Please email info@edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk and a member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss your order. If this is of high urgency, please call us but please ensure you refer to our FAQs first as we may have answered your question.

We accept card payments from American Express, Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards.

We do not unfortunately accept PayPal.

Your credit or debit card will be charged the moment that we have accepted your order and processed your payment. You will receive a confirmation email from us, once you have placed your order.

Yes, our site is configured so that your payment is 100% secure, we do not save or store your payment details after puchasing.