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Choosing the right paint

Once you have decided that you want to paint a wall, what type of paint should you pick?  There is a wide variety of paint available from gloss to matte.  Here’s what you need to keep in mind when making your decision.

What room is the paint for?

The best way to select the type of paint is according to which room it is for.  Hallways, stairs and living rooms will have higher foot traffic while the bathrooms and kitchen will have a higher moisture content and varying temperatures.  In general, there is much less wear and tear in bedrooms so you have more options there.

There’s a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine — and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be.

Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.

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There is a wide range of paint on the market to suit any room from Dulux Easycare, see more here, to luxury paint from Little Greene, see the range here, and a metallic range from Crown Paints, see here, or alternatively Herts Decorators offer an extensive range to choose from to achieve your desired look.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, paint needs to be durable and easy to clean so gloss and satin are both ideal to withstand all those cooking splatters and any mishaps.

High-gloss or semi-gloss paint is ideal for any spots that might get splattered, sprayed, or spilled on, like above (or in lieu of) your backsplash, behind your trash can, or everywhere if you love bringing spaghetti sauce to a rolling boil. Glossier finishes also protect your walls from water and grease.

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Gloss is great for kitchen baseboards too as it is easy to maintain.

There are specialty paints available that are easy clean with a matte finish but they are more expensive.  BioCote have a range of Antimicrobial paints are on the market too, for a higher level of hygiene.

Choose a paint that hardens for kitchen cabinets as they are in frequent use, oil based is recommended by many experts for this. For the kitchen ceiling, you can use flat paint as it helps to hide irregularities and cracks as it is less reflective, whereas glossy paint will highlight any dents.

Lounge & dining rooms

Flat, satin and eggshell paints are most suited to the living and dining rooms, as they give a pristine look and are relatively simple to maintain.  Which is most suitable will depend on how much these rooms are used.

The best paint finish for formal living rooms is often flat paint. It hides imperfections on the walls. The formal living room does not need frequent clean up as it is a low traffic area which is great for this type of paint finish.

For living rooms that also serve as high traffic family rooms, the best paint finish to use is often eggshell or satin. Eggshell can be easily cleaned so any spills and drips can be wiped with a wet rag. While satin finish is more durable than eggshell, it is ideal for active rooms like playrooms.

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Bedrooms

Bedrooms are usually low traffic areas, so in general you can use any paint you wish including flat paint. The exception to this is children’s bedrooms which have much more wear and tear from playtime and the inevitable spills.

In most cases, you’ll want to use a more durable sheen in a child’s room because the walls are more likely to be scuffed and scratched. Satin sheen is generally recommended for use in a child’s room, while flat or matte sheens are optimal for adult or spare bedrooms because the walls are less likely to be scuffed. Eggshell and pearl sheens also hold up well in a child’s room. Matte or eggshell sheen is generally recommended for an adult’s bedroom or a guest bedroom.

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Bathrooms

Like the kitchen area, bathrooms are often moist and humid so for the best results, use semi-gloss sheen. It’s not too shiny, you can easily wipe it down and the extra gloss will act as a barrier for drips and moisture, and resist mildew growth.   Use the same paint for the ceiling as it will also need to stand up to humidity and moisture.

Satin finishes are slightly glossy and are suitable for a low-moisture bathroom, like a powder room.

Semi-gloss finishes repel moisture well, and are easily wiped.

High-gloss is excellent at repelling moisture, and is easily wiped. But it doesn’t always look good when painted on large surfaces, like a wall. Using it on the trim or on your bathroom cabinets is a good idea, while semi-gloss is better reserved for the walls.

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Once you have chosen the right paint, put some thought into investing in good quality paint brushes too, see here for advice.

Herts Decorators provide high quality and professional decorating services to our clients across Hertfordshire, book a free estimate with our team today!

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George Ryland

Book a free estimate with our team today!