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Acrylic vs Emulsion: Which Paint Should You Choose?
Choosing the right paint can completely transform your home. But with so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when faced with similar-sounding categories like acrylic and emulsion paints.
Both are water-based, widely used, and promise smooth finishes. Yet, they differ in composition, performance, durability, and the kind of spaces they're best suited for.
In this guide, we’ll break down what acrylic paint is, where it works best, and how it compares to emulsion paints - so you can make the right choice for your home.
Table of Contents
- What Is Acrylic Paint?
- What Is Acrylic Paint Used for on Walls?
- What Is Emulsion Paint?
- Acrylic Paint vs Emulsion Paint: Key Differences
- How to Choose Between Acrylic and Emulsion Paint for Your Home
- Making the Right Choice For Your Walls
- Explore the Next Steps
- FAQs
What Is Acrylic Paint?
Acrylic paint is a water-based paint made using acrylic resin as its primary binder. Its formulation allows it to be used on a wide range of surfaces, from interior walls and outdoor facades to wood, metal, and even canvas. The core components include:
- Pigments: Provide colour and opacity.
- Acrylic polymer: Acts as a binder that forms a protective layer.
- Water base: Makes the paint easy to apply and quick to dry.
Acrylic paint is loved for its high performance and adaptability. These features make acrylic paint suitable for both interior and exterior surfaces. Whether it’s a bathroom, a living room, or an outdoor wall facing harsh sunlight, acrylic paint holds up incredibly well.
What Is Acrylic Paint Used for on Walls?
For wall applications, acrylic paint stands out because of its versatility and exceptional durability. If you’re wondering what acrylic paint is used for on walls, here’s how it performs across various spaces.
Interior Walls
Acrylics offer a smooth, durable, and easy-to-clean finish, making them ideal for living rooms, hallways, kids' rooms, and kitchens.
They withstand scrubbing better than many other wall paints and keep colours vibrant for longer. Their quick drying time also makes repainting faster and more efficient.
Exterior Walls
On exterior surfaces, acrylic paints truly shine. The paint film expands and contracts with temperature changes, reducing the risk of cracks.
Their weather resistance, UV protection, and long-lasting colour retention make them a top choice for homes that face heavy sun exposure, pollution, or moisture.
Decorative Use
Acrylic paints are also widely used for:
- Accent walls
- Textured finishes
- Wall murals and artistic designs
Their bold pigmentation and smooth flow make them ideal for adding character to any indoor or outdoor space.
| Our Recommendation: For exterior walls that need dependable brightness and lasting protection, Style Super Bright can deliver a smooth, vibrant finish suitable for all weather conditions. |
What Is Emulsion Paint?
Emulsion paint is another popular water-based paint, made using polymer binders such as vinyl or acrylic. It is widely used for interior walls due to its soft finish, low odour, and ease of application.
While both acrylic and emulsion paints share water-based compositions, emulsions are formulated for lighter indoor environments, offering finishes like matte or satin that create an elegant appearance.
Key Features of Emulsion Paint:
- Smooth, non-reflective texture ideal for interior decor
- Has low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it safer for indoor air quality
- Easy washability for everyday dust and mild stains
- Low odour, suitable for quick indoor renovations
Emulsion paints work best in living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and other areas with minimal exposure to moisture or sunlight.
| Our Recommendations: One Pure Elegance Matt and Calista Ever Stay are some of our best emulsion paints for interiors. |
Acrylic Paint vs Emulsion Paint: Key Differences
To help you understand the difference between acrylic and emulsion paint, here’s a clear comparison:
Feature | Acrylic Paint | Emulsion Paint |
Base | Water-based with acrylic resin | Water-based with polymer (vinyl/acrylic) |
Use | Interior & exterior | Mainly interior |
Finish | Glossy or semi-gloss | Matte or satin |
Durability | More durable & weather-resistant | Good for mild conditions |
Drying Time | Quick | Moderate |
Washability | High | Medium |
Read more: Learn about the different types of wall paints to understand how each performs in various home environments |
How to Choose Between Acrylic and Emulsion Paint for Your Home
Choosing between these two paints depends on your home’s unique requirements. The areas you’re painting, the look you want to achieve, and the level of durability you expect all play a role.
Here’s how to decide:
1. Consider the Area of Application
The first and most important filter is where you’re painting.
Exterior Walls:
If the surface is exposed to rain, dust, pollution, or harsh sunlight, acrylic paint is the superior choice. Its strong acrylic resin binder provides excellent UV protection, prevents fading, and resists cracking from temperature changes.
Interior Walls:
For bedrooms, living rooms, study areas, and other low-moisture spaces, emulsion paint performs beautifully. It gives a soft, modern look while keeping interiors breathable and odour-free.
2. Look at Your Finish Preference
The type of finish you want plays a decisive role in choosing between acrylic and emulsion paint.
- Acrylic paints naturally lean towards a glossy or semi-gloss sheen, giving your walls a richer, more vibrant appearance that reflects light and instantly adds a premium touch to any room.
- Emulsion paints offer a softer look with matte, velvet, or satin finishes that create a contemporary mood. They help walls appear smoother by gently concealing minor imperfections, making them ideal for interiors where you prefer subtlety over shine.
3. Evaluate Durability and Budget
Different rooms face different challenges.
- High-use or high-moisture areas (kitchens, balconies, bathrooms, exterior facades) demand acrylic paint because it forms a stronger, more water-resistant film.
- Regular indoor walls (bedrooms, offices, dining rooms) do perfectly well with emulsion, which offers gentle washability and lower maintenance.
| Read more: Learn how to choose the right wall paint for your space with our detailed, easy-to-follow guide. |
Making the Right Choice for Your Walls
Choosing the right paint becomes much simpler once you understand what each type is designed to do. Homeowners often wonder, “What is acrylic paint for?”, and the answer is straightforward: it’s meant for spaces that demand strength, resilience, and long-lasting colour.
Emulsion paint, by contrast, is the subtler option, perfect for interiors where you want a soft, refined finish rather than heavy-duty protection.
What truly matters is matching the paint to your home's needs. Once you understand how each formulation behaves, it becomes easy to choose a finish that looks beautiful and holds up well over time.
Explore The Next Steps
Pick Your Colours – Explore the Birla Opus Colour Catalogue and find the perfect shade for your space.
Visualise Your Walls – Try the Birla Opus Visualiser and see how different paints look in real time.
Browse Paint Products – From interiors to exteriors, textures to wood and metal, discover our complete range.
Book Painting Services – Get expert end-to-end painting solutions from Birla Opus professionals.
Opus Assurance – Enjoy superior painting backed by our commitment to quality with easy registration, hassle-free claims, free repainting (product + labour), and the freedom to choose your preferred contractor.
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August 2023
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GRASIM INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Birla Paints division
9th floor, Birla Centurion, Century Mills Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai– 400030, Maharashtra, India.
Registered Office:
Birlagram, Nagda- 456 331 (M.P.) Tel: (07366) 246760-66, Fax: (07366) 244114, 246024, CIN: L17124MP1947PLC000410
Allwood Contractor App Helpdesk
Call: 1800 120 1234, Monday to Saturday, 09:30 am – 6:30 pm (Except Public Holidays).
Product Warranty
Terms and Conditions for product warranty registration of Birla Opus products
The Warranty shall be effective from the date of purchase of the Product as per the tax invoice (“Warranty Start Date”), provided that painting work is fully complete, and the Consumer registers the Product for warranty.
The Product must be registered within 15 days from the date of purchase by calling customer care at 18001201234 or registering on www.birlaopus.com and furnishing purchase details as required during the Warranty registration.
The Warranty shall be valid for parameters and period as defined in the respective product warranty document (‘Warranty Period’) from the Warranty Start Date.
Upon settlement of any claim, Warranty of replaced Product will not start afresh, and will continue for the remainder of the Warranty Period from the Warranty Start Date.
If there is a break/ lag in completing the painting work, the registration of the Warranty and Warranty Start Date will be determined by the Company at its sole discretion.
The Company may appoint a person to examine and confirm the application of the Product as per the directions specified prior to registering the Warranty.
For registering of Warranty, where quantity of Product purchase is equal to or more than 200 litres, please call our Helpline on 1800 120 1234 with requisite details. The registration of Warranty in such cases is subject to a satisfactory pre‐inspection at site by Company’s representative.
- For the warranty to be applicable:
- Minimum volume of the product required to be purchased needs to be met
- Birla Opus recommended system needs to be used
- Product coverage and application guidelines need to be adhered
For more details, please refer to respective product specific warranty document and product information sheet.
Consumer may raise a claim within 30 days of discovering issue(s) noticed on the affected areas based on Warranty Parameters/ scope
The Consumer is required to notify the Company of the issue(s) noticed along with the invoice details, sample pictures and basis for Warranty invocation by contacting the customer care at 1800 120 1234. The Consumer shall provide such additional details as required by the Company and/or allow the Company to visit/inspect the painting site either in portion or entirety at the Company’s discretion.
In case where the Company decides that the Warranty is applicable on the issue(s) noticed on the affected areas, the Company shall bear the Replacements Costs as detailed in respective product warranty document to repair/ repaint the affected areas.
Replacement Costs shall mean the cost of material and labour required to correct the affected portions, as determined by the Company.
In case where the Company decides that Warranty is not applicable, the same shall be communicated to the Consumer.
Warranty is applicable only to the affected area where the Product is used in accordance with application guidelines and not to the rest of the areas.
In case the Consumer carries out repair works on the areas covered under the Warranty, the same shall be at their own risk and the Company’s Warranty on the Product shall not be valid on such repaired areas.
The Warranty will cover only manufacturing defects of the Product and will not cover any defects arising out of factors not in control of the Company. For more details of exclusions, please refer to the warranty document of respective product.
Except expressly stated, the Company disclaims any liabilities whether in contract, tort or otherwise. The Company makes no warranty regarding merchantability or fitness of products for any particular purpose.
The Company shall not be held liable towards loss or damages of incidental, indirect or consequential nature or for any value more than the tax invoice value.
In case of any disputes, exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Mumbai shall apply. Governing laws shall be Laws of India.
The facts and all matters concerning any Warranty/ claim/ dispute will always be kept confidential by both the Consumer and the Company.