Johnstone's Trade Reviews 

Steel smoke matt, 1st coat patchy as expected, 2nd coat still patchy, 3rd coat (2nd pot) and it's like I've used a different colour grey. Not impressed at all and I've used Johnstones paint several times. Really put me off and now in the predicament of either putting on more coats or changing brand/colour, either way more time/expense! avoid avoid avoid

Worst paint I’ve ever used. It is watery and if you go over what you just did it takes that paint off. Using a roller took off my cutting in paint. Goes super patchy. Needs about 3 or 4 coats so might as well save your money and buy a better brand and only need 1 or 2 coats

Raw Linen Emulsion:Paint was like treacle even after adding water and stirring well, couldn't use a roller as it was so thick so had to apply with brush , it looked so patchy and the smell was awful, would not recommend this paint at all.

Shed & fence
Took 5 coats to get near the desired affect, should have done my homework before buying… check other reviews else where. Looks good when you open tin, once you apply goes on like it’s been watered down. I applied to two different wood surfaces sanded and painted fence, both with same result… very frustrating
Just done a comparison on a new piece of wood against some used fence paint (2 different brands) from previous years and these come out much better than the Johnstone product. Would get away with 2 coats with other brands against 5 with Johnstone.

My wife just bought a tin of Johnstone's press leaf.
The paint is by far the worst I've used and looks and feels like very lumpy cement.
There's lumps and strings of paint, some of which falls off the brush in clumps.
One star is flattering it

After 4 testers of this in various shades of green, I have used Trade colour "Olive it" vinyl matt. Over the years I have used all the usual store paints and most brands, but the coverage and finish on this is just blowing me away. I am covering a pale plumb colour and its hapenning in one coat ....which is just amazing. I am going to use their 10L white (which is on offer at mo) for 2 ceilings and large wall and Im betting its going to be just as good.... wait for my next review to find out.

Horrible! I bought the Johnstone’s wall & ceiling paint in ‘toasted beige’ hoping for a nice warm tone to my room. Not only did the paint come out super patchy needing 3 coats to look somewhat even, but the colour is also nothing like the one shown in the tin. It’s much darker and a cool grey colour instead of the neutral beige I was expecting

This is the WORST paint I've ever used. A customer had already paid for it a while ago. I've put 4 coats on and it still looks terrible. Avoid at all costs. There's a reason you can get it cheap. It's appalling

Bought one for bathroom from Amazon last week and used it yesterday. In the evening, the room has a very bad smell and lasted more than 12 hours now even with the window open.

Very dispointed!

I have spent 3 days applying 4 coats of Hemlock kitchen emulsion. What a disaster. Cutting in always a different shade to main wall. Patches everywhere. I thought I was doing something wrong but I’m fairly experienced. Never, never again. Be warned. It’s rubbish.

When I opened the tub and poured I was really hopeful the viscosity of the paint was like that of more expensive brands, but the results were bad. When I first applied it on the wall it seemed good until I rolled over it to even the coat, as you do, (this isn’t my first rodeo !)
It pulled off again. So I’m thinking I must have over worked it, (not as experienced as I’d like to think) but trying again with minimal over roll same thing happened, not as bad but ended up with a very uneven patchy coat. So I put less paint on roller initially and did a single roll on wall thinking it will even out with a second coat ! However 3 coats later and it’s still patchy. Looks very thin on walls and under colour is still showing through. I’m out of paint so off to buy some Dulux. The Johnstones wasn’t that cheap in comparison but I liked the colour,
Won’t be swayed again. Waste of money and more importantly time !!

Really dissatisfied with the emulsion bought steel smoke to cover an already grey wall! I’m into my third coat the coverage is awful the cutting in goes a completely different colour to the roller , it’s all streaky & patchy , going to have to do it again with a different brand 😭

This paint offers a cheap alternative, especially from B&M, but it really is a case of 'buy cheap buy twice' as this paint is awful, I should have learnt from the first time I used it for a ceiling which took about 4 coats to cover. This time I tried some wood & Metal satin for £16 for some skirting may as well as used some whole milk instead would have the same effect.

Bought Johnstons wood and metal gloss brilliant white from b and m.
Thought I was getting a bargain only 16 pounds for a 2.5lt tin.
On opening the paint it had an inch thick skin which couldn't be mixed back in so skimmed this off and then gave it a through mix and blended it up as much as I could.
Nothing but small sticky lumps you would have had to put it through a fine sieve to make it useable.
Paint also didn't stay on brush, I bought decent brushes and tried to apply small amounts at a time.
Wasn't expensive but an utter waste of money but I do think the cheaper paint from the likes b and m etc is definitely a lower quality than you would get from a Johnstons dealer.
Used a can of Johnstons gloss before and it was excellent so this is why I grabbed a can from b and m when I saw it at a great price. Big mistake!

If I could leave no stars I would, doent go in the wall properly, it's water thin, rediculas done 2 coats of grey into of cream and it is a right mess..Will never buy again!

Just did my bedroom in midnight sapphire and it's a disaster, when you cut in it leaves a different colour or shading, also if you brush off the walls it leaves a liger shaded scuff mark, impossible to use, very disappointing...

Bought Jonstones matt white and its very thin, does not cover well, I normally buy dulux which was the same price but shop didn't have any and I was desperate, my advice is not to get it as it needs lots of coats

Bought jobnstones 10L white paint. Painted over a light grey wall the wall has took 7 coats and still not covered it! Definitely won't be buying again. Wasted my money will have to go buy another kind room is in a mess! Have read a good few reviews where people have said the same about having to do loads of coats and have gave up like myself.

Have just had our hall and landing professionally painted with Johnstone's Covaplus trade matt. Utter disaster. The slightest touch or brushIng against the walls leaves a scuff or a shiny mark. So disappointed, as previously have had good results with this paint. The formulation must have changed; it is no longer fit for purpose in our view. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

I got professional painters in to do my one-bedroom apartment and it was so good. However, the paint doesn't stay on the walls I only have to scrape my finger nail on the wall and off it comes. My painters did their best to rectify this but, it's an ongoing problem. The paint just peels off. After spending just under £800 on this little apartment, I am not impressed with Johnstone paint. Have to say very happy with my painters.....so attentive and concerned. Johnstone's were and are no help at all. It's an ongoing issue but, I now can't be bothered. See