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How To Select Interior Paint For Your First Home

Posted by Riley Reich on

A first home needs a lot of love... so make it last the first time around with these durable paint recommendations; curated to help you avoid repainting, scuffing and over-shininess.

The Entrance

To ensure quality and lasting results, the first impression of any home requires proper planning. 

An entrance will be subjected to scuffing and damage over time. For high traffic areas like entrances and hallways, try a scuff resistant paint to keep your walls / trim looking brand new; with the help of just soap and water to remove any marks!

Durability:

The walls and trim of an entrance are the most vunerable to scuffing. Not only is a scuff resistant paint needed, but a sheen with a little more resin will make the paint easier to clean in the long-run.

Walls:

We recommend Eggshell for the walls because the sheen will protect the walls from more damages than a Matte, while being less shiny than any higher sheens.

Trim:

For the trim, stick with either a Satin or Semi-Gloss sheen. Since trim is closet to the floor, where shoes are being taken off and dogs are running around, the thicker sheen will protect the trim from harsher wear.

 

The Living Room

The living room is where guests, friends and family gather to socialize; and where you go to relax. Whether you want this space to stand-out for entertaining or for your enjoyment, choosing a paint made to give the boldest color will give it the "wow" factor it deserves.

Durability:

Since this space is less vulnerable to scuffing, choose a paint with less sheen to show-off the color, without the distraction of shine from a high sheen.

Walls: 

A Matte has no shine and is optimal for displaying color at its purest. However Eggshell will give a subtle soft glow that dissipates and has no harsh reflection, compared to higher sheens. Either of these options are great to make the color pop, but Eggshell will resist more scuffing because it has slightly more sheen that will protect better than a Matte.

Trim:

For consistency throughout your house, go with the same sheen you plan on using for all of the trim. Going with a Satin or Semi-Gloss will keep your trim protected, while having contrast with the wall's sheen.

If you plan on using a higher sheen for the walls, always go a step above that sheen for the trim. This way, you can keep the consistent contrast throughout the design of your house, while balancing the shine levels.

 

The Kitchen

The kitchen is meant for coming together and messes. When painting your kitchen it's important to note how much natural and artificial light is coming through the space. 

Durability:

The more light the space gets, the more imperfections will be reflected by higher sheen paint. Go with a lower sheen paint with enough durability for cleaning and with less shine.

Walls:

To clean any splats and spills off the walls, we recommend Eggshell because It has enough sheen to clean off easy, while brightening the area with a subtle glow. 

Trim:

Always go a step above the sheen used for the walls. Using either Satin or Semi-Gloss will keep the contrast and design of your house consistent.

 

The Master Bedroom

Get your beauty sleep with a paint that won't reflect direct sunlight. For a master bedroom, treat yourself with a low sheen paint that will focus on the color and keep your room nice and dark.

Durability:

Keeping your cave cozy and dark is the main objective for this room. To prevent harsh light from reflecting throughout your room, go with a low sheen to absorb the light.

Walls:

For no reflection of light and deep color, go with a Matte to ensure your goodnight's rest. For an easier time cleaning up wear and tear on the walls, go with Eggshell. Even though Eggshell does have more sheen, the ray of light will not directly reflect back like a high-gloss. Instead the light will softly dissipate in the area of sunlight. 

Trim:

Keep your trim at Satin or Semi-Gloss because even if you are the cleanest, bedroom trim is susceptible to scuffing. These sheens will help prevent permanent paint damage. 

 

The Bathroom

Your oasis for relaxing bubble baths and steamy showers requires a paint made to withstand high humidity. 

Durability:

Use a mildew resistant paint to prevent streaking from condensation. This keeps the walls looking fresh while preventing mold overtime.  

Walls:

In spaces with high humidity and condensation, water will build up and start to drip down your walls. Without the proper paint, this can leave permanent streaks down your walls and even ruin the finish. Go with a Matte or Eggshell! As long as the paint you select is mildew resistant, a Matte and Eggshell sheen will work the best without highlighting wall imperfections.

Trim:

The trim needs to be wipeable and have a thick sheen to protect it from absorbing any water. Going with a Satin or Semi-Gloss is optimal for making sure condensation rolls right off. This prevents water from entering the trim's seam and creating mold build-up overtime.