Tikkurila a leading Nordic paint brand

Tikkurila: The Nordic Leader in Sustainable, Premium Paints

When it comes to high-quality paint in the Nordic region, Tikkurila stands out as a symbol of innovation, sustainability, and heritage. Tikkurila has earned its reputation not just as a market leader, but as a trusted name for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts.

Tikkurila offers a range of high-quality paints tailored to different tasks – from ultra-matte ceiling coatings to durable floor enamels.

We compare five key products — Anti-Reflex White, Optiva Ceramic Super, Helmi 30, Betolux, and Everal Aqua — highlighting their features, applications, coverage, and drying time. This guide is aimed at both professional builders and DIY homeowners, focusing on practical, instructional details.

Anti-Reflex White (Ultra-Matte Ceiling Paint)

Anti-Reflex White is a waterborne, deep-matt latex paint specifically formulated for interior ceilings. It uses a special “MATT X-TREME TECHNOLOGY” to eliminate light reflections and mask surface imperfections, creating a smooth, glare-free appearance.
Anti-Reflex emits almost no odor and maintains a long-lasting bright white (UV/UVC resistant) finish – ideal for homes, offices, schools or hospitals where a clean, non-shiny ceiling is desired

Finish & Use: Full deep-matt finish for interior ceilings (also suitable on walls where an anti-glare finish is needed)
Coverage: Approximately 8–11 m² per liter (one coat)
Drying Time: Tack-free in about 0.5 h; repaintable after ~3 h

Key Features: 

• Anti-reflective technology removes streaks or flashes
  
• Resistant to yellowing and hygienic (suitable for high-standard interiors) with neutral smell
  

Optiva Ceramic Super Matt (Durable Deep-Matte Walls)

Tikkurila’s Optiva Ceramic Super Matt is a cutting-edge, full-matt wall and ceiling paint designed for high-traffic interiors. It contains a ceramic-based encapsulation technology that yields exceptional durability and stain resistance. Surfaces painted with Optiva can even be gently wiped to regenerate the ultra-matte finish and remove marks, without leaving glossy spots. This makes it ideal for homes, offices, schools, hospitals and other public buildings where walls need to stay clean and matte-looking over time.

Finish & Use: Full deep-matt latex-acrylic paint for interior walls and ceilings in homes, offices, hospitals, schools, etc.
Coverage: Approximately 8–16 m² per liter (one coat)
Drying Time: Tack-free in about 1 h; recoat after ~4 h

Key Features:

• Extreme Durability: Unique formula greatly enhances surface barrier properties.
• Paint is highly stain- and dirt-resistant and achieves Class 1 wet-scrub resistance (highest standard)
• Surfaces wash clean easily and stay pristine longer.
• Advanced Encapsulation: Very good hiding power and resistance to efflorescence, dirt and stains
• Maintains uniform deep-matte appearance even after cleaning.
• Healthy Choice: Water-based, zero VOC, EU Ecolabel and allergy-friendly (M1-certified)
• Easy to Apply: Smooth flow, fast-drying and available in thousands of tint shades.
  

Helmi (Semi-Matt Furniture & Trim Paint)

Helmi provides a durable semi-matt finish on furniture and trim. Tikkurila Helmi 30 is a premium waterborne acrylate paint for interior wood and metal surfaces. It yields an elegant semi-matt (satin) finish with exceptional durability. Use Helmi on furniture, cabinets, doors, windows, radiators, baseboards and similar items. It’s formulated to be impact-resistant and long-lasting. Importantly, Helmi is eco-certified (Nordic Swan, M1), low-odor and even toy-safe – making it suitable for homes with children. Choose Helmi 10 if you want a more subtle, modern-matte look with soft light diffusion. Choose Helmi 30 if you need greater durability and a slightly shinier finish that can better withstand cleaning and daily use.

Finish & Use: Semi-matt acrylate enamel for interior furniture and trim (wood, MDF, metal, etc.) Excellent for doors, skirting, windows, cabinets, radiators and more.
Coverage: About 8–10 m² per liter
Drying Time: Tack-free in about 1 h; repaintable after ~16 h (Helmi 30 dries relatively slowly before recoating)

Key Features:

• Long-lasting Finish: Semi-matt finish resists wear and impact; retains color without yellowing
  
• Color Range: Can be tinted into thousands of shades (Symphony Color System)
  
• Eco-Friendly: Certified low-emission (M1, Nordic Swan), neutral smell, quick drying, and meets strict toy-safe standards
  

Safe & Versatile: Suitable even on previously painted surfaces (over alkyd paints)


Betolux (Gloss Floor Enamel)

Betolux is Tikkurila’s classic high-gloss floor paint ( solvent-based) for interior concrete or wooden floors and stairs. It forms a tough, shiny surface that resists heavy wear: impact, abrasion and chemicals. This makes Betolux ideal for garages, workshops, basements or storage areas.
Finish & Use: Gloss enamel for interior floors (new or refurbished concrete/wood). Also for stairways and heavy-duty surfaces
Coverage: Roughly 7–11 m² per liter (about 7–9 on concrete; 9–11 on wood)
Drying Time: Tack-free in ~3 h; fully recoat-ready after ~24 h. (Drying is slower due to solvent formula.)

Key Features:

• Durability: Creates a hard, glossy finish extremely resistant to wear, oil and chemicals
• Wide Color Range: Available in many standard floor paint colors
  
• Ready for Recoating: Can be applied over existing alkyd or epoxy floor coatings if properly prepared

 

Betolux Akva (Waterborne Alternative): For an eco-friendlier, faster-drying option, Betolux Akva is a semi-gloss, water-based polyurethane-acrylic floor paint. It dries in only 0.5 h (recoat ~1 h) and covers 5–7 m²/L
Betolux Akva still delivers excellent durability and comes in a wide range of colors, making it convenient for quick-turnaround projects.

Everal Aqua Semi-Matt (Universal Wood/Metal Enamel)
Everal Aqua (Semi-Matt 40) is a universal waterborne acrylic enamel for both interior and exterior wood and primed metal. It produces a semi-matt, non-yellowing finish with outstanding weather and UV resistance. Recommended uses include garden furniture, doors, windows, radiators and other items exposed to temperature changes or sunlight. Everal Aqua adheres well to prepared surfaces like wood, MDF, galvanized steel and even plastics or ceramic tiles (with proper primer)

Finish & Use: Semi-matt enamel; for interior/exterior wood and metal (doors, cabinets, fences, garden chairs, etc.). Not recommended for roofs or heavy exterior walls.
Coverage: About 9.8–14 m² per liter per coat
Drying Time: Tack-free in ~1 h; recoat after ~4 h

Key Features:

• High Durability: Resists mechanical damage, variable weather and heat (even suitable for radiators)
  
• Large Color Selection: Tintable in 13,000+ colors, excellent hiding power
  
• Maintains stable gloss and resists yellowing over time
  
• Healthy & Eco-Friendly: Water-based, low odor, recommended by allergy associations; meets strict environmental standards
  
• Versatile Enamel: Great adhesion on many substrates and suitable for both indoor furniture and outdoor wood/metal after priming.

Each of these Tikkurila paints is engineered for its specific purpose. By matching the right product to the job—anti-glare matt for ceilings, ultra-durable matt for walls, semi-matt for furniture/trim, or tough enamel for floors and exteriors—builders and DIYers can achieve professional-quality results. Always prepare surfaces properly (clean, sand, prime if required) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on coats and drying times. These paints combine ease of use (many are water-based, quick-drying and low-odor) with certified performance and coverage, making them suitable for both professional and home projects.

Find Tikkurila Paints at Decor Express

If you're ready to get started with Tikkurila paints, visit Decor Express at our Clapham or Richmond branches. We proudly stock the full Tikkurila range, including Anti Reflex White, Optiva Ceramic Super, Helmi 30, Betolux, and Everal Aqua — all trusted by professionals and DIYers alike.

Need the perfect colour? We can match an infinite number of shades from a small sample.Our advanced tinting system allows us to colour match nearly any paint brand across Tikkurila’s interior and exterior ranges, in virtually any finish.

So whatever your next project is, from ceilings and walls to floors and furniture, you’ll find everything you need at Decor Express — expert advice, premium paint, and a perfect colour match every time.

Sources: Official Tikkurila product datasheets and guides (tikkurila.com), which detail specifications such as coverage, drying times and unique product features.