Interior Paint Options
When it comes to painting the walls inside your home or business, you want to make the best choice possible. But with all the options, how are you supposed to know?
The good news is that the more you know about paintable surfaces and the effects different paints can have, the easier it is to make the right choice. Here, we go over the different types of interior paint available and what you need to know.
Matte Paint
With no shine or sheen to its finish, matte paints are ideal for walls and ceilings where you don’t want any visual distractions. While it may take more than one coat, matte paint is simple to apply—usually with just a brush or roller. It’s also handy for covering up slight imperfections in your wall.
One downside with matte paint is it marks up easily and may need regular retouching.
Matte Enamel
Similar to matte paint in many ways, matte enamel is also more durable. Markups are simple to clean, and it needs less retouching than regular matte paint. It’s a popular choice for kitchens where wiping walls clean may be a more common task.
Visually, matte enamel is similar to plain matte pain with its ease of application and the possible need for more than one coat to achieve a good, solid color.
Satin
Falling somewhere between matte and gloss finishes sits satin—popular but not always understood. While it’s another one of those paint textures that respond well to cleaning, satin’s low, soft sheen also tends to make minor imperfections in a wall more apparent.
Eggshell
An eggshell finish on a paint color has a subtle shine but doesn’t have the same smoothness you’d find in a satin finish. Because of this, it won’t show off wall imperfections quite as much, making it a popular choice for interior wall paint. It covers surfaces well with a single coat and can take less paint to cover an area than matte paints.
Gloss
After matte paints, gloss paints are the most popular type of interior wall paint. While you can use it on nearly all walls, it’s often used on wood surfaces due to its high shine. In addition, because it can show imperfections easily, multiple coats may be needed to reach the desired effect.
It’s important to point out that while gloss paints are popular, they also take longer to dry than matte finishes. You’ll need to take that extra time into account.
Semi-gloss
Popular more for trim than walls, semi-gloss offers a hard finish suitable for heavy traffic areas. It also cleans up nicely with soap and water. Semi-gloss’s shine is less than a full gloss paint but covers well with a single coat.
Remember that more shiny paints will make imperfections more visible, so be careful which surfaces you choose to cover with semi-gloss, or look into how to handle wall touch-ups specifically for more glossy paints.
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Considering a significant painting project soon? Then, don’t hesitate to call Pro Paint & Finish for professional, stress-free painting services. We’ll help you get your house looking its best quickly and professionally!
