Choosing the right type of interior paint is as important as choosing the color you’re going to paint your walls. Selecting the right paint types will create a professional finish, bring out each room’s color, and add beauty and elegance to your home. Keep reading to learn about different paint types for painting your home’s interior.

Types of Interior Paint

As you plan your home interior painting project, consider the following types of interior paint:

• Eggshell finish paint, which contains a semi-gloss finish, is ideal for kitchens, ceilings and bathrooms. These paint types require little cleaning after application.
• Flat enamel, matte finish paint is a good choice for interior walls, and only requires minor maintenance from time to time.
• High gloss paints are best for special applications, as they tend to highlight the surface you paint. Professionals generally don’t recommend these types of paints for an entire room.
• Matte finish paint is also referred to as “flat” or “wall” paint. These types of interior paint are excellent for older walls with blemishes, as they cover imperfections and don’t reflect light.
• Satin paints have a glossy finish and are normally used for a home’s trim. Although sometimes used as regular wall paint, these types of interior paint are usually used on window and ceiling moldings, doors and baseboards. Satin paint is a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, or children’s rooms. The finish on these types of paints can be cleaned with moderate detergent and some scrubbing.
• Semi-Gloss paint types are best for walls you’d like to accent. Semi-Gloss paints have a brighter shine than satin finish paints, as well as more visible coating to trim, cabinets and doors. These paint types also clean up quickly and easily. Be careful when preparing surfaces for gloss paint types, as the gloss tends to highlight wall imperfections.

Paint Types and Costs

In general, a gallon of interior paint can cost from approximately $15 to upwards of $50. Paints may vary in cost depending on the manufacturer and notoriety of the brand. In general, matte finish painting supplies will cost less than enamel types of paints. The higher quality high gloss paints are typically the most expensive, partially due to the added cost of chemical compounds used in producing paints with better coverage.

Exterior vs. Interior Paint Types

Exterior paints are not recommended for interior use. Different types of paints are designed for specific jobs, with chemical components designed specifically for these intended uses. Types of interior paint are designed to cover up blemishes, while exterior paint is designed for color retention and weather resistance. Exterior paint also costs much more than interior paint.