Budget Interior Paint

Reviews are mixed for cheap paint

When it comes to less expensive paints, there's an almost jarring disagreement between professional reviewers and professional painters and contractors. Paints like Behr Premium Plus (*Est. $23 per gallon) and Kilz Casual Colors (*Est. $20 per gallon) land at or near the top with review sites. For example, Jim Evans of Jim's Home Repair Stuff names Behr Premium Plus, which is available only at Home Depot, as the best overall brand in all finishes. Other professional reviewers also give it good grades.

Ask painters and contractors, however, and you get a very different -- and usually very pointed -- response. Most say they will either refuse the job altogether, or charge a higher rate if that's the paint a homeowner insists on. Painters' reactions to the other "highly rated" budget brands are similar. The reason is ease of use. Contractors say that it takes more effort -- and more time -- to get great results with interior paints like Behr Premium Plus than with premium paints such as Benjamin Moore Aura or Pratt & Lambert Accolade.

But while contractors turn up their noses, homeowners are largely more forgiving. Many report getting good results. The Behr Premium Plus comes in eight varieties, including semi-gloss, satin and flat enamel. Most are 100 percent acrylic paints that stand up extremely well to cleaning -- even scrubbing -- according to reports.