Choosing a white paint for your Tel Aviv apartment
Choose the finish first: matt hides small flaws, satin is easier to wipe clean. Then pick a paint made for the room: a washable acrylic for living areas, a mould-resistant one for the bathroom. Finally, try the white on your own wall with a sample pot, because the same white looks different in every light.
You'll be chatting with Daniel at Tel Aviv Renovations, who handles our English-speaking clients.
Step 1: the finish
- Matt (מט, mat). No shine, so small dents and uneven patches show less. The usual choice for living rooms, bedrooms and ceilings.
- Satin or silk (משי, meshi). A soft sheen. Tambour describes its Supercryl Satin as having “excellent scrub resistance and good washability” (Tambour). Useful in hallways, kitchens and children’s rooms.
Step 2: the paint for each room
The two big Israeli paint makers are Tambour (טמבור) and Nirlat (נירלט). These are the Tambour wall paints you are most likely to hear about, as Tambour describes them:
| Paint | Finish | What Tambour says it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Supercryl Matte+ | Matt | Water-based acrylic for interior and exterior walls, “excellent coverage and high durability”. |
| Supercryl 2000 | Eggshell (“elegant matte”) | Water-based acrylic, “excellent coverage and leveling”. |
| Supercryl Satin | Satin | Water-based acrylic with scrub resistance and good washability. |
| Supercryl Acrynol | Matt | Resistant to fungus and mould, designed for wet rooms such as bathrooms. |
| Polisid | Matt | Water-based synthetic lime paint for interior walls and ceilings. Its data sheet says not to wash the walls. |
| ECO2 | Matt | Described by Tambour as VOC-free and breathable. Final drying takes 30 days. |
A simple rule: a washable acrylic where people live and touch the walls, a wet-room paint in the bathroom, and matt on the ceilings. When a quote says “paint included”, ask which product it is. Our full repaints use two coats of premium acrylic paint.
Step 3: test the white on your wall
Paint a large patch on two walls and look at it in the morning and in the evening, before you decide.
Tambour sells 0.25-litre tinted samples in all the shades of its fan decks, made only to show the chosen shade (Tambour). Tambour also offers a free colour consultation on its website.
If you rent
Many rental contracts in Israel ask the tenant to return the apartment freshly painted, often in white. If yours does, ask your landlord which white and which finish they expect before you book a painter. See our end-of-lease painting guide.
Help choosing
Our colour consultation is free with any painting job: we bring samples, walk through the space and help you choose. A full repaint costs ₪2,500–₪3,500 for a 2-room apartment and ₪3,500–₪5,000 for a 3-room, including VAT, paint and clean-up. See the full price guide.
Common questions
Should I choose matt or satin white paint?
Matt hides small flaws better and is the usual choice for living rooms, bedrooms and ceilings. Satin has a soft sheen and is easier to wipe clean, which helps in hallways, kitchens and children’s rooms.
Which white paint should I use in a bathroom?
A paint made for wet rooms. Tambour’s Supercryl Acrynol is a matt acrylic that Tambour describes as resistant to fungus and mould and designed for bathrooms.
Is Polisid washable?
Tambour’s data sheet for Polisid says not to wash the walls. If you want walls you can wipe, choose a washable acrylic such as Supercryl.
How do I test a white before painting the whole apartment?
Paint a large patch on two walls and look at it in daylight and in the evening. Tambour sells 0.25-litre samples in all the shades of its fan decks.
Do you help choose colours?
Yes. Colour consultation is free with any painting job: we bring samples and help you choose for your space and light.
Sources
- Tambour, Supercryl Matte+ (product page)
- Tambour, Supercryl 2000 (product page)
- Tambour, Supercryl Satin (product page)
- Tambour, Supercryl Acrynol (product page)
- Tambour, Polisid (product page)
- Tambour, Polisid technical data sheet (PDF)
- Tambour, ECO2 technical data sheet (PDF)
- Tambour, Tinted Wall Paint Sample (product page)
Not sure which white?
Tell us about the rooms and the light, and we will bring samples to the free visit. Tel Aviv Painters is the English-language service of Lavanor.
You'll be chatting with Daniel at Tel Aviv Renovations, who handles our English-speaking clients.