'I ditched B&Q paint for an eco-friendly range and it's transformed my home'

Nobody told me when I bought my own house the amount of work it would involve. Painting, wallpapering, panelling, floor fitting, general joinery - you name it and I’ve probably done it.

One thing three years of DIY has taught me is how to spot a good paint from a bad one, which is why I was intrigued when offered the chance to test out paints in COAT Paints' striking new Millie Mackintosh range. I have to say I'm very impressed. I painted my hallway just over a year ago, opting for a dark green bottom half, while leaving the top a sort of cream colour and giving the doors a once over in black paint.

My motivation for decorating the area a bit darker had been to make the general muck and wear and tear from my dog coming in and out of the house a bit less obvious. And while it did achieve that aim, one thing I didn’t account for was how dark, so very dark it made the space feel.

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Thanks to a window on the landing, the upstairs was fine, but the entrance hallway had a really gloomy cave-like feel to it, which isn't what you want to feel when you enter a home. But, given the effort involved, I’ve just lived with it ever since, despite not being a big fan of the ambience.

So the opportunity to give it a refresh is one I grabbed with both hands. Picking from the new COAT range, I went for the "soft fresh green" Manifest to go on the bottom half, and the "Earthy Pale Beige" Centred for the top.

I have a dog and a young child, so the thought of using matt paint was troublesome given how it tends to mark easily, so instead I picked the soft sheen for a more durable finish that’s easy to wipe any mucky handprints off.

First impressions, this is excellent paint

The paint arrived quickly and securely packaged with tape on the lid and clips on the tin to ensure there aren't any disasters on its journey to you. The sticker telling you who's mixed the paint is a nice touch too, with COAT really valuing a sustainability ethos. The brand says each colour in this new palette is crafted with minimal environmental impact, using COAT’s made-to-order model to eliminate waste and ensure every can of paint has a purpose.

As I've already mentioned, I've used a fair few different paint brands in recent years and it was immediately apparent this is of very good quality. It's very easy to apply in that it doesn't drag, and it feels very smooth going on the wall. I also found it has hardly any smell so there wasn't that nasty odour lingering in the air you sometimes get - plus it dries quickly.

Centred, the "warm muted beige with soft grey undertones" reminds me a bit of Dulux's Egyptian Cotton (£36 for 5L at B&Q), which I've previously used in my living room. Centred is such a lovely relaxing colour that I'd say would work in almost any room where you want a neutral calming vibe. I liked it so much that I even chose to continue it onto the ceiling too, ditching the traditional white colour in the process.

While it's not for everyone, painting the ceiling the same colour is an interior design trend I'm fully on board with and have done a few times now.

But when I came to do the bottom half, I was thrilled with the choice of green in Manifest. It's so much lighter than the existing green on the wall and it felt like it was instantly bringing the hallway to life with every brush stroke. Coverage was excellent in the main, I always find painting a lighter colour over a darker one can be a bit of a pain, but after one coat it was broadly covered well, with a second coat to touch up the bits where the dark was still showing through to complete the job.

I'm pleased I opted for the soft sheen finish for that added durability. After I'd painted the wall I added some new glass doors and, despite scuffing the walls a couple of times while clumsily barging them into place (in my defence they were very heavy), I'm pleased to say the paint has held up well to initial bumps and scrapes.

I also picked up a 1L tin of Manifest in the eggshell finish (£38), largely because it can be used on metal, so I thought I'd give the hallway radiator a splash of colour too. It didn't take much time at all, and within a couple of coats it was all sorted, with the colour matching the wall perfectly.

There’s hardly anything to criticise, overall I’ve been very impressed with it, the only thing of note to mention is that it obviously isn’t the cheapest out there. I got 5L tins of both Manifest and Centred which are priced at £96 each, while 1L of eggshell paint was £38.

As I've mentioned this is really high quality paint, but it is at a higher price point than some other brands. If you are on more of a budget, I’ve used a variety of paint brands in recent years and have always found Dulux pretty reliable at the cheaper end of the spectrum. One colour I'm particularly fond of and have used in my son's bedroom is Overtly Olive, which can be bought in the brand's 'easycare' finish, which is said to be "washable and tough", something I've found to be true.

That's priced at £42 for 5L at B&Q. I’ve also used Lick previously, painting my main bedroom in a blue colour, and found it to be very nice paint to use, though again it’s pricey coming in at £39 for a 2.5L tin.

What else is in the Millie Mackintosh range?

The curated Millie Mackintosh collection offers an array of tones perfect for every area of the abode, from restful bedroom retreats to splash-prone bathrooms and beyond. The ex-Made in Chelsea icon, aged 35, said of the collaboration: "Creating a mindful home environment has been essential to me, especially as I've navigated motherhood and my personal wellness journey.”

"Every colour in this collection is a reflection of that - whether it’s the calming tones of 'Balance' or the warm embrace of 'Gratitude.' I wanted this palette to encourage people to slow down, reflect, and create spaces that feel comforting and rejuvenating."

The COAT x Millie Mackintosh range includes six colours. There's Presence, a Blush Plaster Pink; Poise, a Pale Blush Pink; Centred, an Earthy Pale Beige; Renew, a Teal Blue; Manifest, a Soft Fresh Green; and Nourish, a soothing, muted sage green.

All of the shades come in six finishes, too - Flat Matt, Soft Sheen, Interior Eggshell, Exterior Eggshell, Claypaint, and Floor Paint - so there's a formula for every surface.

Depending on how much paint is needed, the collection is available at a range of price points: from £30 for 1L, £56 for 2.5L, or £96 for 5L. Plus, it's easy to try before you buy, with peel-and-stick samples available in each shade which are fully recyclable and said to be 100% accurate to the real paint colour.