Which Paint Should You Use In Each Room Of Your House?
If only conditions in the basement were the same as the bedroom, the kitchen the same as the bathroom, then we'd have one universal paint for everywhere. Besides the fact that paint companies would go broke this way, it remains that areas of the house have different micro-climates, and thus need different types of paint.
See: List of Paint Manufacturers
Paint companies have responded by creating niche paints for several rooms and surfaces of the house: basement, ceiling, bathroom, trim/cabinets.
In kitchens, you're looking in the general category of interior wall paints, but avoiding flat or other types of matte paints, as they can be difficult to wipe down.
Because of bathrooms' moisture, the need for wipeability is even greater than in the kitchen.
While you can use water-soluble latex enamel, oil-based paints--only available in quart sizes--provide smoother surfaces. Two downsides: strong fumes and long drying times.
Not a true "paint" of the type that you find in the paint aisle of your home improvement store, this is a coating usually found as part of a DIY refinishing kit.
Drywall's porous outer paper covering soaks up liquids like crazy. Primer helps you lay down a more even color coat.
These low-impact areas can use any kind of paint you wish. Most homeowners, though, go for flat latex paints.
Basement masonry walls famously weep water. If yours doesn't, consider yourself lucky. If yours does, consider yourself part of the crowd. Basement masonry paint seals cracks up to 1/16" wide with elastomeric action (elastomeric means that it expands, and then resumes its previous shape when the pressure is gone).
See: List of Paint Manufacturers
Paint companies have responded by creating niche paints for several rooms and surfaces of the house: basement, ceiling, bathroom, trim/cabinets.
•Kitchen Walls
In kitchens, you're looking in the general category of interior wall paints, but avoiding flat or other types of matte paints, as they can be difficult to wipe down.
- Type: Interior wall paint.
- Composition: Latex enamel.
- Sheen: Satin or greater.
- Try This Brand: Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel.
•Bathroom Walls
Because of bathrooms' moisture, the need for wipeability is even greater than in the kitchen.
- Type: Interior wall paint. Usually premium paints or those labelled as "bathroom paint" are appropriate.
- Composition: Latex enamel.
- Sheen: Satin or greater. If you don't mind paints with higher gloss, these will perform better over the long run.
- Try This Brand: Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel.
•Ceiling
- Type: Anything labelled "Ceiling Paint" or any flat white interior latex paint.
- Composition: Latex.
- Sheen: Flat.
- Try This Brand: Glidden EZ Track Ceiling Paint.
•Trim, Cabinets, Windows, Doors
While you can use water-soluble latex enamel, oil-based paints--only available in quart sizes--provide smoother surfaces. Two downsides: strong fumes and long drying times.
- Type: Paint labelled Cabinet & Trim Paint. Or any oil-based paint or acrylic latex paint.
- Composition: Alkyd (oil) or acrylic latex (the acrylic additive prevents white-tinted trim paints from yellowing).
- Sheen: Semi-Gloss or greater
- Try This Brand: Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel
•Bathtub or Shower
Not a true "paint" of the type that you find in the paint aisle of your home improvement store, this is a coating usually found as part of a DIY refinishing kit.
- Type: Coating specially designed for bathtubs, sinks, tile, surrounds.
- Composition: Acrylic resin consisting of two parts, base color and base hardener.
- Sheen: Gloss
- Try This Brand: Munro Products' Bathworks
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•Drywall (Unpainted)
Drywall's porous outer paper covering soaks up liquids like crazy. Primer helps you lay down a more even color coat.
- Type: Primer specially labelled as appropriate for drywall. Usually will incorporate the word "drywall" or "wallboard" within the name.
- Composition: 100% acrylic latex.
- Sheen: N/A. You have no finish choice with drywall primer; only one finish--flat--is available.
- Try This Brand: Behr Premium Plus Drywall Primer & Sealer
•Living Room and Bedroom Walls
These low-impact areas can use any kind of paint you wish. Most homeowners, though, go for flat latex paints.
- Type: Interior wall paint.
- Composition: 100% acrylic.
- Sheen: Flat or greater, though most homeowners stop at eggshell.
- Try This Brand: All paint manufacturers offer this type of paint. Try Ralph Lauren 100% Acrylic Latex.
•Basement Masonry Walls
Basement masonry walls famously weep water. If yours doesn't, consider yourself lucky. If yours does, consider yourself part of the crowd. Basement masonry paint seals cracks up to 1/16" wide with elastomeric action (elastomeric means that it expands, and then resumes its previous shape when the pressure is gone).
- Type: Basement flexible primer and finish.
- Composition: Latex acrylic.
- Sheen: Glossy.
- Try This Brand: Zinsser's Watertite Flexible Primer and Finish.
Footnotes
This guide provides some of the best suggestions for paint to use in various parts of your house, but it's not an exhaustive guide--not every single type of option is listed.Under Glossiness, "Greater" means more glossy.For example, "Satin or Greater" would include Satin, as well as Semi-Gloss, Gloss, and High-Gloss.
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