If you’re getting ready to paint a part of your house, it is crucial to know what your paint options are to pick the best product for your project. Selecting the wrong paint for a job can lead to disappointing results and more work for you in the future! Delving into the world of paint can seem like a daunting task, but this article will get you started on the essentials of understanding the differences between the many paint types available to consumers. Here’s the first step to picking your paint:
What Do I Need to Know First?
There are many different paint finishes, colors, and properties that can be more suitable for different applications depending on the type of surface you’re using the paint for. Choosing the correct paint type can give your surfaces a better look as well as provide lasting coverage that would be otherwise unachievable with a different paint type.
The color of a room can also greatly influence the ambiance and sense of space. Choosing the wrong color can cause a small room feel even smaller and cramped, while picking a color that compliments a room can make it feel more open and spacious. As you can see, picking the correct paint can make a world of a difference!
The Types of Paint
There are two primary types of paint: Water based and oil based. Both have their own benefits and downfalls. Water based paints are faster drying and are easier to clean up after, making them more simple to deal with if you make a mistake. Water based paints are the most popular paints for interior walls for their quick drying times and ease of cleanup.
On the other hand, oil based pants are slower drying and require a harsh compound such as paint thinner to remove. However, oil based paint is more durable and comes in shinier finishes. These paints start at eight hours for drying time and offer better coverage, allowing for less coats.
While taking more time to initially dry, oil paints take less time to cure when compared to water based. Paint primer can also be oil or water based. It is important to match the primer to the paint, so if you get water based paint, be sure to use water based primer. If your paint and primer do not match, they will not bind to each other.
Paints will be labeled for either interior or exterior use and can come in either oil or water based varieties. However, it is recommended that exterior paints be oil based, as oil based paints are more durable and cure faster.
Under the oil paint category is enamel paint. It’s called enamel due to its hardness and durability. Enamel will come in either gloss or semi gloss finishes and is used primarily around windows, doors, and trim. Despite being physically tough, enamel paints can discolor over time. Acrylic paints are a water based paint with acrylic as a binding agent. It comes in several varieties including, acrylic latex, acrylic enamel, and acrylic latex enamel. They are all purely water based, but share the enamel name due to their extra durability.
Paint Finishes
Glossy paints are best used for messy, high traffic areas. They are especially practical for kitchens where grease can get on the walls. Glossy paint surfaces make for easier to clean surfaces once they have cured. However, glossy paints will show wall imperfections more clearly and might give a room with lots of light an awkward shine. Semi-gloss finishes are also a great choice for kitchens as well as bathrooms. These paints have a less shiny appearance while still having a satiny sheen. They’re slightly cheaper than gloss while still being super easy to clean.
Matte or flat paints are fantastic for walls with lots of imperfections. Matte finishes can hide these blemishes with less coats of paint, but are difficult to clean. These paints show dirt and grime more clearly and are prone fingerprint smudges. Eggshell is the most popular choice for interior walls as it share the best of both glossy and flat worlds. Not only is great for hiding imperfections, but it is also easy to clean. It also has a smooth finish and is very durable.
Choosing Paint Colors
Color is just as important as paint type if you want to bring your rooms into their fullest aesthetic potential. If you’re in the midst of selling your house white or off-white colors are recommended so that new homeowners can easily repaint the walls to their liking. White paint also gives rooms a bright and clean appearance, especially when new and fresh! Other colors will also do very well if you take the time to pick them out carefully. You can change the feel of a room drastically with a new color scheme. Using warmer, contrasting, and bright colors give a sociable atmosphere while blues, greens, and neutral colors evoke a more formal feel.
Bright and saturated colors can leave a person feeling excited and active, while more muted schemes will have a more restful appearance. Things can get more complicated if you decide to paint your walls different colors, but using the color wheel can make things a little more streamlined. If you’re going for something subtle, stay within the same hue of the color you’re using and keep things monochromatic.
Light colors such as “powdery blue” are great for a romantic and tranquil ambiance. Warm colors such as “buttery yellow” and “neutral beige” will add to the calm feel. You can achieve an elegant look by using neutral colors such as red-toned browns and almond. Adding little bits of color can really make things pop while maintaining that elegant look. Vibrant colors will give a room a bright and exciting character. Oranges, golds, reds, and dark purples will give off a vibrant glow for an exciting and fresh look!
What to Watch Out for When Applying Paint
There are many things to be mindful of when painting a room. If you aren’t careful or don’t work quickly enough, your paint may end up uneven, leaving unappealing stripes on your walls. You can avoid this by maintaining a wet edge while you’re painting. Maintain a wet edge by always overlapping your previous stroke with the new one to prevent it from drying out. Even if you’re careful with keeping a wet edge, you could run out of paint before you finish painting the whole room, which can lead to some color variation. You can avoid this by mixing several cans of the paint color you’re using in a large bucket to ensure you don’t run out of it prematurely.
If you want to avoid the blotchiness that can happen when you use glossier paints: use paint primer before applying the paint to eliminate texture difference on your wall. This will smooth out the surface to that your paint will sit on consistent texture. This eliminates any chances of inconsistent sheen. Cleaning the surface you plant to paint is crucial to ensuring your paint forms a strong and durable bond between itself and your wall. Neglecting to do so can lead to chipping and peeling paint. Always clean your painting surfacing with a deglosser or cleaning agent made specifically for prepping painting areas.
And lastly, be patient with drying paint! Never apply a new coat of paint before the previous one has fully dried out. Otherwise you will have blotchy spots and textural inconsistencies. And keep the curing time in mind. A painted surface won’t be ready for wiping down or having things set on it until it is cured.
And That’s It For Now!
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