Basic Guide To Picking Paint Types For Interior Painting

When planning a project like interior painting, you'll want to choose the best type of paint for the job. Going through the different options, you will find choices in flat, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss paints.

Picking the right paint type is crucial to the outcome of your interior painting project. You don't want to deal with peeling or blistering later. Also, the sheen of the paint you apply to the various surfaces makes a difference in the design you achieve.

As a professional Charleston painting contractor, Paragon Painting helps customers to choose colors and understand the differences between the various paint types. Here are a few pointers on how they are best used for interior painting.

The Best Uses For Interior Flat Paint

Flat paint is most often used just for drywall. Some use it to paint wood paneling or for cabinet painting. It works best for rooms that get a minimal amount of wear because it's difficult to clean and can easily get damaged.

Flat paint is the wrong choice for a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room walls because it will absorb humidity more readily. The wall texture underneath can start to peel, and the problem just snowballs from there.

• No sheen for a stylish look
• Best for rooms with minimal wear
• No shimmer or shine
• Does not resist moisture
• Hard to clean

Satin, Semi-Gloss Or Gloss Paint

A satin or semi-gloss paint is best for the bathroom walls and trim work because of all the humidity. Satin finishes are great for any room with humidity.

Glossy finishes, if used at all, are most often applied to trim, doors, and baseboards. The sheen is a nice contrast to flat wall paint, and the surface is easy to keep clean of all the dirty smudges and fingerprints.

Satin and semi-gloss paint are both suitable for interior painting because they are:

• Easier to clean
• Resistant to moisture and humidity
• Resistant to grime
• Easier to apply than oil-based

Oil-based paint vs. Acrylic Latex

Oil-based paint isn't used as often today because the formula of acrylic latex has improved so much. Latex paint is easier to apply than oil paint and dries much quicker, which is why it's most often used for both exterior and interior painting.

Many professional house painters still prefer to use oil-based paint because it's the most durable. Oil-based paint is best for doors and trim.

• Highest sheen (gloss)
• Very durable
• Easiest to clean
• Color tends to yellow