Picking the Best Interior Paint for Your Project
Finding the best interior paint for your project can be challenging with so many brands and colors to choose from. It can become even more confusing when trying to decipher between the many different labels, everything from ultra to premium to ultra premium.
How to Choose the Best Interior Paint
Whether you just want a change in scenery, prepping a home for resale or replacing peeling or toxic paint, selecting the right interior paint is an important job! Before making any hasty decisions about color, you must also decide on the paint’s composition and sheen.
There are two main types of paints: oil-based paint and water-thinned paint, also known as latex paint. The difference between these two types of paints is the solvent used. Deciding between oil and water-based paints is based on the surfaces you plan on painting. Water-based paints are safer and are more commonly used for walls. If you’re simply repainting the walls in your home, water-thinned paints are the way to go. But, if you’re planning to refurbish or repaint wood surfaces or trim, oil-based paint may provide the best results.
After determining the paint composition you will use, the next choice is what type of sheen you want. A paint’s sheen is the patient’s level of glossiness and reflectiveness. Paint is available in the following sheens: flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy.
Flat and matte paints are the least reflective with the highest level of pigment. This means they are great for hiding imperfections but, on the other hand, they can damage easily and are difficult to clean. Flat and matte paints are idea for home areas with minimal foot traffic, best for ceilings and hallways.
Eggshell sheen is a very common paint sheen used in moderately-trafficked areas in the home. It has a low level of shine and susceptible to scuffs. Eggshell is considered the best interior paint for dining rooms, living rooms, and other areas where the painted surface isn’t very susceptible to damage.
Satin paint gives a pearl-like appearance and is more durable than eggshell. Satin paint is also easier to wash with soap and water and used more often in kitchens and bathrooms.
Semi-gloss and glossy paint are highly-reflective, and also the most durable. They are great for areas that are prone to scuffs and scratches like handrails and children’s bedrooms. The downside to semi-gloss and glossy paint is that it will highlight any flaws so be sure to properly sand and smooth the surface before applying the paint.
The Best Interior Paint Colors
In this section we have selected five of our favorite color shades of interior paint:
- Light Grey : A classic shade of grey complements accent colors and can be extremely appealing for a home’s interior. A light grey is classic and, depending on the tone, it’s versatile enough to make a space feel calm and elegant or take on a more dramatic nature.
- Warm White : You can never go wrong with a lovely creamy white paint color, no matter the room! Warm white will invite guests into your home while being subtle and allowing for creative accent colors.
- Dark Blue : A blue-ish, gray color gives a serene, comforting feeling to a room and works very well in bedrooms.
- Ochres coloring ranges from yellow to a deep orange. This color allows for the warmth and the intensity of a yellow without the glaring side effects. Ochres coloring also compliments a dark wood stain.
- Light Blue : Looks great with white and other neutral colors, and to avoid giving off too much of a beachy theme, pair it with pale aqua or purple!
The Best Interior Paint Brands
- Shermin Williams is one of the most well-known names in the painting industry and the largest producer of paint in the United States. Shermin Williams makes fantastic interior paint as well as primers, wood stains, wallpaper and faux finishes.
- Benjamin Moore : There are 4,000 independent dealers that currently carry the brand as well as 1,200 Benjamin Moore stores in the country. They even have a color-matching application that allows you to match the colors of everyday objects to the closest Benjamin Moore paint shade.
- Farrow & Ball is another great brand for interior paint. They offer a large variety of beautiful, dark and sophisticated colors.
- Valspar is one of the largest paint companies in the world and is offered in over 25 different countries. This company is known for its consistent quality and guarantee. If your paint isn’t colored properly, take a picture and send it in and they will replace the paint for free. Valspar also introduced their “high definition paint” in 2011 which is both a primer and paint in one, cutting your painting time in half!
- The final brand we will share with you today is Behr. Behir offers outstanding, high-quality interior paints and primers in a variety of colors. Their paints use premium quality fillers which results in a more durable, long lasting coat of paint.
Wrapping Up the Best Interior Paint
As you can see, there are countless options for interior paint which can be overwhelming but is actually great for the consumer. You’re able to choose the solvent, type of sheen, color and brand with so many ways to make your home’s interior, you! We hope this article has helped start the planning and research phase. When deciding on a paint color, think about the room you’re painting, the desired aesthetic and most importantly, make it a room where you want to spend time in and enjoy! If you would like to learn more about paint selection, feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to help!
