How to Choose the Right Paint for Your Home
A fresh lick of paint can breathe new life into your home but choosing the right paint to do it with can be somewhat perplexing. Creating a beautiful home should be simple not stressful, so luckily we’re here to help.
Type
The type of paint you use will depend upon what it is you are wanting to paint. For walls and ceilings a latex based paint is the ideal as it applies smoothly and once dry is durable and easy to clean. If your project involves painting wood then an oil based paint is another option to consider as these are more effective at sealing stains and folds on the wood due to their thick composition. It is worth noting that oil-based paints take much longer to dry and carry a strong odour, making latex based paints a more popular choice overall.
Sheen
The finish or sheen you choose is greatly down to personal preference, but it is worth noting that certain finishes are more suitable to particular areas of the home. Glossier paints are easier to clean and are therefore recommended for high traffic areas of the home such as bathrooms, kitchens and children’s bedrooms. Flat or matte paints also have their benefits and are ideal if the surface you are painting bears small cracks or imperfections as they hide flaws in the texture of the surface. Satin and eggshell finishes are often popular choices as they lay between the high gloss and the matte finishes therefore will clean easier than a matte finish but won’t overly accentuate surface imperfections as can be seen with gloss paints.
Colour
Choosing colours for your home is entirely personal and depends on your taste and style. You may want to create a bold statement by introducing vibrant shades. If this is something that interests you but you’re a little apprehensive, perhaps consider pairing bolder colours with complimenting neutral shades to bring life to a room without running the risk of the end result being too overpowering. If you’re looking for the décor of your home to flow harmoniously from room to room then consider using neutral shades, experimenting with cool and warm undertones to bring warmth or freshness whilst maintaining an element of uniformity.
