Interior Paint Review: Best Interior Paint

Best-coverage interior paint

*Est. $55 per gallon Compare Prices

Aura's price certainly gives pause, but it has earned good grades in professional reviews and raves from professional painters who use it on a day-in, day-out basis. Compliments stem from its great covering ability,… low-VOC formula and fast drying times. Reports say that it's also user friendly for do-it-yourselfers. Benjamin Moore justifies the cost by noting that the paint is self-priming and that most projects -- even turning darker hues into lighter ones -- will require only one coat. That may be marketing hyperbole, but most pros who have used Aura say that you'll never need more than two coats for even difficult jobs.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests 57 interior paints in three finishes -- low-luster, flat and semi-gloss -- in its most recent update. Top ...

Popular Science: Popular Science picks Benjamin Moore Aura as one of the best new innovations for 2007. Nicole Dyer likes that the paint releases ...

DoItYourself.com: This discussion site has lots of advice and information regarding paints and painting. There's enough discussion about most major ...

Contractor Talk: You can find many recent and lively discussions here about Benjamin Moore Aura. Most contractors posting here seemed pleased, but ...

PaintTalk.com: This is another site with lots of useful painting-centric discussions. Feedback on Benjamin Moore Aura is mostly positive, but ...

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eBay

for $18.99

General-purpose interior paint

Pratt & Lambert Accolade

*Est. $40 per gallon Compare Prices

According to reports, Pratt & Lambert Accolade strikes a good balance between performance and value. It bridges the gap price-wise between top-of-the-line interior paints and budget brands. Professional painters say that… it's relatively easy to work with and produces good, long-lasting results. Color selection is also excellent. One criticism we've heard is about availability, but Pratt & Lambert paints are now available in many Ace Hardware stores.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Three varieties of Pratt & Lambert Accolade are among the 57 low-luster, flat and semi-gloss interior paints tested most recently ...

DoItYourself.com: Painting contractors and others with long experience with virtually any brand of paint are frequent contributors here. While ...

PaintTalk.com: PaintTalk.com is another site where you can get the straight scoop on paint right from those who use it most -- professional ...

Jim's Home Repair Stuff: Jim Evans offers his picks for the best and worst brands across paint types. Though these are superseded by more recent ...

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Amazon Marketplace

for $139.99

Budget interior paint

Behr Premium Plus

*Est. $23 per gallon Compare Prices

Though not a favorite among contractors, Behr interior paints score relatively well in reviews for their durability and stain resistance. Coverage is good for a budget interior paint, especially when placing a darker… color over a lighter one, but falls short in that area compared to more expensive brands. Though it takes more time and effort to apply properly, homeowners report that the finished results generally look fine.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Three finishes of Behr Premium Plus are tested in Consumer Reports' most recent evaluation of interior paints. Paints are rated ...

DIY Chatroom: Professional painters and contractors, retailers, and homeowners trade ideas here about paint and the task of painting. Most ...

DoItYourself.com: This is another site where professional painters, contractors and homeowners can meet to exchange views on paints and painting. ...

Jim's Home Repair Stuff: Jim Evans names his top picks for the best and worst brands of interior paint. Behr Premium Plus is said to be the best in all ...

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Zero-VOC, low-odor interior paint

Sherwin-Williams Harmony

*Est. $40 per gallon Compare Prices

If you are sensitive to paint fumes (which can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea), consider a paint that contains fewer or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can also cause eye and throat irritation.… Low-odor, zero-VOC Sherwin-Williams Harmony paint earns kudos in reviews. It handles just like a regular latex paint and can be custom tinted (be aware that the tints may contain a small amount of VOCs). Some say fading over time can be a problem, but in DIY forums and green-living websites, Harmony paints get high scores as an alternative to standard latex paint.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Sherwin-Williams Harmony is the only no-VOC paint evaluated in the most recent update of Consumer Reports' test of interior ...

TheGreenGuide.com: Kate Harris evaluates low-odor and low-VOC paints, commenting on odor, color choices, and ease and quality of application. Harris ...

DoItYourself.com: Painters, contractors and homeowners freely exchange tips on paint and painting at this user forum. Sherwin-Williams Harmony and ...

PaintTalk.com: PaintTalk.com is another site where professional painters and ambitious homeowners gather to discuss everything related to ...

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Interior Paint: Reviews

Best-coverage interior paint

General-purpose interior paint

Budget interior paint

Zero-VOC, low-odor interior paint

Interior Paint by Price Range