Different Types Of House Paint: Which Should You Choose?

Ready to start painting that room and get the renovation process underway? While you want to buy that paint and get started right away, there’s still one more thing you need to think about. There are several types of house paint on the market, so you’ll want to check that you’re picking the right one for you.

Here are the different types available and why you may want to pick them for your renovation project. 

Types Of House Paint

Once you have a color in mind, you’ll need to pick the type of paint that will work for you. Typically, a house paint will be categorized by the amount of reflectiveness it has when applied to the wall. What should you choose? Here’s what’s available:

• Flat/matte paint: This paint, which you will see either called matte or flat paint, has the least amount of shine to it. If you want paint that has a matte look to it, then this will be the one that you’ll want to choose. It’s also got the most coverage out of all the paints out there, so it will be easier to paint over imperfections with it. On the flip side though, a matte paint will be the easiest to scuff or damage. It will also come off the wall if you treat it with any type of cleaner. As such, it’s a good paint for low-traffic areas or places where it won’t be touched much. 
• Eggshell paint: This house paint is the next step up from flat paints. They have a low sheen to them, which is very akin to an eggshell, hence the name. As a paint they have slightly more durability than flat paints, as well as adding a small amount of shine. Because of this, they’re one of the most popular paint types out there. Eggshell house paint has a good amount of coverage, so you’ll still get a lot of color out of that pot. However, it is also susceptible to damage, so it’s another paint you’ll want in low traffic areas. 
• Satin: Sitting squarely in the middle, satin house paint is the one you’re most often going to find on the walls of people’s homes. These paints have a velvety sheen to them, which makes them look really good on the wall. It also makes it hardier too, so you can put it in high-traffic areas such as your kitchen or a playroom. That makes it easier to clean, too. The downside to this paint is that you’ll see that brushstrokes do show up quite easily in it, so if you want to make touch-ups later it can be quite obvious. 
• Semi-gloss: Next, we have semi-gloss house paint, which is shiny and reflective. You’ll often see it being used in areas where there’s a lot of moisture, such as the bathroom, or in areas with a lot of wear and tear, like kid’s bedrooms. They can also be used to paint trim. As this house paint is on the shinier end of the scale, it’s more likely to show up imperfections. As such, it’s one that you may want to get an expert painter to handle for you. 
• High gloss: Finally, there’s high gloss house paint, which is the shiniest paint available. You’ll most commonly see this being used on doors, trims, base boards, cabinetry, and so on. It’s easily cleaned, so you can wash it every day if needs be. You’ll also be able to use it outdoors too if you want to. 

The only drawback is that high gloss house paint will show up every imperfection unless you prepare before you start painting. Again, it’s often a good idea to have a professional handle this for you if needs be. 

Choosing The Right House Paint For You

These are the different types of house paint that you can use in your home renovation, so which one should you choose? The answer will always depend on you and what you need from the paint in your home. Here’s what you need to consider first. 

• How busy is the room you’re renovating? This is potentially the most important thing you need to think about when you’re painting a room. The amount of traffic it sees on a day-to-day basis will affect how much wear and tear the paint gets. If you’re renovating a room that’s very busy, then you’ll want something that can stand up to the traffic. Think of satin or semi-gloss house paint for your kitchen, bathroom, or kid’s bedrooms. If it’s a calmer room or isn’t used as often, a matte or eggshell will work well. That would be best in a dining room, for example. 
• How much sheen do you want? The higher luster the house paint, the shinier it will be. That’s something you want to keep in mind when picking out paint. If you have a room that’s quite dark and you want to reflect more light into it, then a higher luster paint will be the best bet for you. 
• Do you want to hide imperfections? Depending on the wall you’re covering, you may have nail holes, rough spots, or other imperfections that you’d quite like to hide. Depending on the house paint you choose, you can do just that. 

Matte and eggshell paints have great coverage, so they’ll hide many imperfections. However, semi and high-gloss paints will show up imperfections, so if you want to use them, you’ll need to properly prepare the area being painted first. 

There are lots of things you need to consider when it comes to picking the right house paint. It’s not just the color but the luster of the paint that you need to think about. Each paint type is perfect for a certain use, so keep all this in mind when you’re deciding which house paint to use or find a house painting company to help!