How to Choose Paint for a Room

Although color is the most difficult choice when painting a room, it is not the only factor that needs to be considered. You also need to choose the sheen, or gloss, of the paint.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. For your trim and windowsills, consider gloss or semigloss paint. The gloss is the most shiny and most durable. Both are easy to clean. Keep in mind that if your trim has many imperfections, gloss will show them more than semigloss paint will.

2. If you are painting the ceiling of the room, choose flat paint. Flat paint is not shiny and hides imperfections. It can also be a good choice for halls, bedrooms, and family or living rooms. However, if you have little ones running around the house, I do not recommend flat paint for the walls (unless it states washable flat). It is not easy to clean. Choose eggshell or satin instead.

3. Kitchens and bathrooms need washable paint. Semigloss is a good choice for these areas unless the walls are imperfect. If they are, choose eggshell or satin. These have less luster but are still washable.

[veryirie]

on 8/15/2009 Practical advice to take out a lot of the guesswork. Now all we have to figure out is the actual color. :)

[kaytay]

on 4/11/2009 great tips for choosing paint for a room

[dzagotti]

on 3/11/2009 Thanks for the info...I am right in the middle of re-painting everything!