Today I will doing a hub on interior paint selection for the DIY minded home owner. This information is designed to help home owners choose a paint product that is the most effective to suit their needs. There are many different types of paint sheen/finish and then 2 different types of base compounds (oil&latex) for making paint. The combination of this many variables leaves a lot of room for questions. Those questions are exactly why I am doing this hub. I will start this hub about choosing a paint by saying that oil based paint is becoming less and less popular, so for the purpose of this article, I will be referring to latex paint when I mention paint. The types and characteristics of paint that I will be focusing on in this article are flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. I intend to help you understand which paint applies to which rooms and what functions that they are designed to serve. Hopefully, armed with this knowledge, you will be able to chose your paint product well.
Types of Paint
- Flat paint is a very easy to use paint when you paint your home. The materials in it lay down on the wall well, however, this product has virtually no durability on the wall. It scuffs easily and really leaves a mark if you try to clean it. It is great for adult bedrooms(older children, too), living rooms, and hallways.
- Eggshell paint is slightly more durable than flat paint. It is really low luster paint, but it is supposed to add warmth to the look of a room. This paint dries hard, but it is a little testy to clean. It is also difficult to remove. Eggshell is also suitable for living room, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways.
- Satin paint is the other paint in the low luster category. It has a good deal more sheen than eggshell or flat paints, but it doesn't shine quite like the glossy paints. This material wipes clean well if you are dealing with grimy substances, but it doesn't take well to impact and scuff marks. The paint in question here is a good choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Satin dries much softer than most paints, so choose where it is used carefully.
- Semi-Gloss paint is one of my favorites. This paint really shines well, and it has terrific capabilities when it comes to durability. Semi can be wiped well, it is scuff resistant, and you'll find it is more manageable than high gloss paints. IT can also be used in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. It may be too glossy for some home owners walls, but it's durability definitely makes it something to consider for areas that may get damp. I have also seen homes where this was the paint of choice for the doors and trim. It is not the usual product for trim painting, but it is a viable option there as well.
- High-Gloss paint has the most shine of all of the latex paints. It dries super hard, and wipes clean the easiest. This is usually the door, window, and trim paint of choice. The durability of High-gloss paint is excellent, but this stuff is extremely difficult to remove.

This will get you ahead of the game when it comes time to paint your home. Making the right choices concerning your paint selection can allow it to last longer, look better, and be a better value to you as a home owner. Hopefully, sharing that information with you will improve the outcome of your next DIY painting project.