Choosing the Right Paint for Your Project
The easiest and most affordable way to spruce up your home is by painting; however, you have several decisions to make in order to select the right paint for your project. This Home Depot video will help you with the selection process.
Latex paint cleans up with water, retains color well, and offers good adhesion on most surfaces. In contrast, oil paint will usually cover the surface with just one coat, it adheres better to plastic or metal, and you have more time to apply it before losing the wet edge.
The next thing to consider is the sheen or finish:
- Flat – the lowest sheen, provides muted appearance and hides imperfections
- Eggshell – similar to flat, but smoother, more reflective, easier to wash
- Satin – higher sheen, more washable, suitable for kitchens, baths, and kids rooms
- Semi-gloss – reflects 35-50% of all light, cleans well, a good choice for trim, cabinets and doors
- High-gloss – poor at hiding imperfections but a good option for high-traffic areas that require more cleaning
In choosing a color, remember that the lighter the color, the larger the room will appear, but you will probably need to apply several coats of paint. You can mix in a variety of tints and shades (e.g. match your furnishings. Since paint can change in appearance depending on the light, be sure to look at paint samples at different times of the day.
To determine how many gallons of paint you will need, calculate the total square footage of the walls and divide that number by 400 for smooth walls or by 250 for rough walls.
Finally, before starting you project, box the paint – that is, pour all gallon containers into a large bucket so that all of the paint blends to the same color. This will ensure that you will be applying the same shade to all surfaces.
