Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Paint for Your Home

An essential part of designing or remodeling a home is paint. We spend so much time deciding on a colour palette and not enough on selecting the right kind of paint.

Since it can get pretty confusing, we’ll break down the important considerations for you:

Paint is generally the mixture of pigments, resins, solvents, and additives. The colour of paint is derived from the pigments added while the resin acts as a binder. The solvents retain paints’ liquid form and aid in the drying process. Additives are credited for performance-enhancing characteristics like finish, stain-cleaning, and mould-prevention.

There are two types of paint in the market: water-based and oil-based.

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The majority of wall paint in stores are water-based. This type of paint is easier to work with and is frequently used in interiors. Its features include:

• Lower levels of fumes, odour, and volatile organic compounds (VOC)
• Easy clean-up
• Wide range of colours
• Faster-drying
• Less prone to cracking and yellowing
• Durable in damp environments
• Higher UV resistance
• Less smooth finish

Mostly used in areas that require high durability like doors, windows, and decorative features, oil-based paints leave a sleek glossy finish.

• More odorous, fumes, and volatile organic compounds (VOC)
• Turpentine required for clean up
• Limited colour range
• Longer drying time
• More prone to cracking and yellowing
• Better resistance to wear and tear
• Lower UV resistance
• Glossier, smooth finish

Paint Finishes and Where to Use Them

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Paints with a matte finish are harder to clean but are used in spaces that prefer a rustic finish. They are a popular option with darker colours as they offer a great depth of colour. It is also frequently used to on ceilings and higher surfaces (away from close-up view) as matte paint tends to reveal certain flaws like holes and bumps.

This type of paint is the most durable and easy to clean. It also has the highest level of sheen and reflectivity. Gloss finishes are popularly used on home features and materials that require emphasis like doors and architraves.

If you want the best of both worlds, this type of finish is perfect. A satin finish is not too matte, nor too glossy, suitable for high traffic and high impact walls. Kids bedrooms and playrooms frequently use this paint finish as it is more durable.