How to Choose Paint

When it comes to painting the house, your primary choice is between water-based and oil-based paints. Beyond that, considerations such as sheen (which refers to the amount of light reflected by paint) depend largely on your tastes. Here are some guidelines.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oil-based Paints
• Water-based Paints
• Water-based paints

1. Select 100% acrylic latex (water-based) paints for exterior use. Latex provides a pliable finish that is reliable for exterior use.

2. Select either latex or oil-based paints for interior purposes.

3. Use a flat sheen for interior/exterior walls, excluding kitchens and bathrooms. A flat sheen provides a non-light-reflective, rich finish.

4. Use low-luster (eggshell) sheen for a flat finish in kitchens and bathrooms. This is a durable and washable paint good for areas that are in contact with water. (Semigloss also works well for kitchens and bathrooms.)

5. Use a semigloss, gloss or high-gloss paint for trim and woodwork. High-gloss is very light reflective (shiny), and is also easy to clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Latex paints are fast-drying and require only water for thinning and cleanup.
• Latex paints have fewer fumes and odors than oil-based paints.
• Oil-based paints are slow-drying and require mineral spirits for thinning and cleanup.
• Oil-based paints have strong, smelly fumes but are extremely durable.
• Oil-based paints are not generally used on exteriors because of the adverse effects of varying weather conditions.

on 11/22/2005 If you want to avoid toxic paint smells altogether, try a low-VOC or no-VOC paint like Safecoat.

on 11/22/2005 Consider using an eggshell or satin finish for kid's rooms for cleanability. It's a lot easier to get marker and pen marks off satin than flat.

on 11/22/2005 Add a few drops of vanilla to the paint to reduce the harsh smell. Doesn't affect the paint, just makes it a little more tolerable.

on 11/22/2005 Consider using acrylic paint on interior walls, especially in bathrooms and the kitchen, instead of oil-based paint. There is no reason to use oil-based paint on the interior, unless it's an oil-based primer.

on 11/22/2005 Consider using eggshell or satin on your walls for interior and exterior (latex of course) it will not mark or blemish like flat finishes and will give you a washable and more durable finish.