Interior Paint

Types of interior paint

Interior paint falls into two basic formulation categories: water-based latex and oil-based alkyd. The majority of paint sold today is latex, because it adheres well to most surfaces and has better elasticity than oil paints. Latex paints with 100% acrylic binders are known for superior resistance to cracking, chipping, peeling, blistering, chalking and fading. Be aware that latex paint doesn't actually contain any latex, and therefore it isn't a problem for those with latex sensitivities or allergies. This non-combustible paint type goes on smoothly and evenly, with less brush drag and less odor than oil paint. It dries quickly (in one to six hours), which permits quick recoating. Water and a little soap are all you need for clean-up. Prices range from about $15 to $40 per gallon.

Top-quality alkyd (oil-based) paints have excellent adhesion characteristics and are a good choice for heavily chalked surfaces and areas with several layers of old oil-based paint. However, oil-based paints can fade, chip, chalk and crack over time. Oil-based paint is more difficult to apply, and it has a stronger odor than latex paint. It also takes longer to dry (24 hours or more), leaving your newly painted room out of service for some time. Clean-up requires the use of solvents, which means that extra care must be taken in the handling and disposing of rags. Prices range from about $15 to $35 a gallon. Experts recommend regular latex interior paint for nearly all situations.

Interior paints come in a variety of finishes. Reviews say you should choose based on the type of room and your decorating style (formal, informal, rustic).

Gloss: This type of paint finish is shiny, with an almost reflective quality that looks similar to enamel or plastic. Gloss finish is typically used on cabinets, banisters, railings, shelves and trims, because it gives a dramatic look to formal and contemporary rooms, while being easy to clean. Be aware that a gloss finish will magnify any surface imperfections, so sanding will be required prior to painting for the best results.

Semi-gloss: A semi-gloss paint finish has a subtle shine and is used to accentuate cabinets, banisters and trims without being too glitzy. As with gloss finishes, semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and will magnify surface imperfections.

Satin: This finish has a velvety, smooth look with just a hint of gloss. Satin-finish paint can be used as wall paint, although professional painters say it is better used for windows, doors, and trim in high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms. Satin paint easily withstands cleaning and light scrubbing.

Eggshell: Another easy to clean paint, eggshell has a very low sheen with just a hint of gloss. Eggshell is mostly used for walls in high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, baths and children's rooms.

Matte or Flat: A matte (or flat) finish offers muted, low reflection and is best suited for ceilings, walls and areas with surface imperfections. Matte paint is a good choice for uneven walls. This paint works best in low-traffic areas because it's not very easy to clean. Washable flat paints now on the market do make clean-up easier. However, a matte finish will show scratches and scuff marks, so keep some extra paint on hand for touch-ups.

Best interior paint

Paint contractors, interior decorators, designers and consumers give Benjamin Moore interior paint high marks. Benjamin Moore Waterborne Satin Impervo (*est. $40 per gallon) and Benjamin Moore Regal Eggshell (*est. $28 per gallon) are well rated. These paints are durable and washable, go on smoothly and have less odor than most other paints. The eggshell interior paint is recommended for new or previously painted wallboard, plaster and masonry, as well as primed or previously painted wood or metal. However, these Benjamin Moore paints are more expensive than some others that do as well or better in reviews.

Valspar American Tradition is one of Lowe's house brands, and this paint performs somewhat better than Lowe's other house brand, Olympic. American Tradition comes in flat (*est. $22 per gallon), eggshell (*est. $23 per gallon) and satin (*est. $24) in addition to gloss (*est. $26) and semi-gloss (*est. $29). In tests, these paints are highly mildew resistant -- mildew can be a problem for paint. American Tradition is easy to clean, and the semi-gloss and satin finishes hold up to frequent washing and scrubbing. Soap and water are all that's required for clean-up. Valspar makes this paint exclusively for Lowe's, but it also makes a very similar paint, called Valspar Lifetime, which is sold in hardware stores.

Lowe's has a wider color selection available in its American Traditions Signature Colors line, which comes in matte (*est. $25), eggshell (*est. $25), satin (*est. $29) and semi-gloss (*est. $27). Although Lowe's says this is its higher quality paint, the Signature Color interior paints score about the same as the less expensive American Traditions paints.

Home Depot's premium brand, Behr Premium Plus, receives high ratings in reviews. Behr Premium Plus comes in eight varieties, including semi-gloss (*est. $22), satin (*est. $24) and flat enamel (*est. $20), and it gets excellent scores for coverage and smooth application. These paints stand up extremely well to cleaning -- even scrubbing -- but all three interior paints had trouble with fading, so they aren't the best choice for a sunny room. If you are worried about fading, the American Tradition paints are a better choice.

Some less expensive paints do a fine job, but not quite as well as American Tradition and Behr paints. Dutch Boy Home (*est. $14 to $16 per gallon) comes in flat, satin and semi-gloss. Consumers give this paint high marks for thick coverage. In fact, one homeowner says that it goes on like mustard, thick and creamy. Although reviews say Dutch Boy interior paint goes on nearly as well as higher priced Behr and American Tradition paint, it's prone to fading, so it's not the best choice for a sunny room.

Martha Stewart sells paint through K-Mart. Martha Stewart Everyday Colors paints come in flat (*est. $15), satin (*est. $16), semi-gloss (*est. $17) and high-gloss (*est. $18). In tests, these paints don't do any better than Dutch Boy paint, however, which is less expensive.

If you are painting over a darker color, or if your walls have a lot of imperfections, a new Benjamin Moore paint (*est. $55 per gallon) is generating a good deal of buzz. In an article for Popular Science magazine, Nicole Dyer investigates the chemistry behind this new paint, which promises (in most cases) to cover even dark walls with a single coat. The paint is low-VOC and low-odor, and it's also quick drying. The paint is thicker than other paints, and even the flat paint can be scrubbed. (Scrubbing a wall painted with flat paint is usually a no-no.) So far, user reviews are mixed on the Aura paint. It's much more expensive that others, though some say the price can be justified because in most cases you won't need a primer and can get by with one coat. Others, however, aren't sure it's worth such a high premium over other paint.

Alternative interior paint

Paint is composed of three components. The pigment represents the color. A binding agent ensures that the pigment sticks to the wall, and a solvent keeps it all liquid until exposed to air. The solvent then evaporates, leaving the pigment behind on the wall. The solvents are the main source in paint of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Most conventional paints contain high levels of VOCs, which emit a breathable gas when applied. VOCs are known to diminish air quality and may be a health hazard. Fumes can cause eye and throat irritation, as well as headaches, nausea and dizziness. Some people with asthma find that paint fumes can trigger attacks. Long-term exposure to VOCs has been linked to kidney disease, liver damage, and cancer. Most homeowners painting once every couple of years probably won't be too concerned about VOCs, provided the rooms being painted have good ventilation. However, there are several alternatives if you are affected by paint fumes, if sensitive people live in your home, or if you just don't relish breathing paint fumes.

Manufacturers have instituted alternative production techniques to help decrease the amount of VOCs and odors found in paint. A "Green Seal" is given to paints with a VOC content less than 50 g/L (for flat sheens) or 150 g/L (for non-flat sheens).

VOC: Volatile organic compounds are the organic solvents found in commercial paint, which evaporate during the paint curing process. These compounds are the carrier responsible for the paint being able to spread on a surface. Usually, 250 to 350 parts VOC are in a pound of paint. The odor during the paint curing process comes from the evaporation of the VOC compounds.

Low-VOC: Defined as one part VOC per pound of paint, low-VOC paints have far fewer VOCs than conventional paint. Low-VOC paint has almost no smell, though some chemically sensitive people may still notice the VOC odor.

No-VOC: This type of paint has no VOCs at all. Since there is not any VOC present, chemically sensitive people will not be affected. However, chemically sensitive people may still be sensitive to other paint components, which also give off an odor. Not all zero-VOC paints are odor free.

Non-toxic: This type of paint is also referred to as natural. These products are no-VOC and non-hazardous. Natural materials like plant dyes, linseed oil and milk protein are used instead of chemical components. Non-toxic does not necessarily mean low-odor, however.

Be aware that due to U.S. EPA paint labeling regulations, some toxic ingredients found in conventional, low-VOC and no-VOC paint may not be listed on the paint container. An MSDS sheet should be consulted for a complete list of all the paint ingredients. It should also be noted that latex paint is not made with latex rubber, and thus it does not pose a threat to those with latex allergies. "Latex" is just a name used to describe rubber-based paint. Latex paint is made with polyvinyl material with acrylic resin, not natural rubber latex.

Alternative paints are worth consideration for those who are sensitive to paint compounds or those who wish to use environmentally friendly products. Bioshield, the first company to introduce environmentally safe paints in the United States, offers Natural Clay Paint (*est. $40 a gallon) in a half-dozen colors. The clay paints are absorbable and thus stain easily. The best places for this type of paint are low impact areas such as dining rooms and living rooms. To get custom colors, you can combine paints yourself. Bioshield's no-VOC natural clay paint is odor free and comes in about 20 colors. In a casual test by Kate Harris for The Green Guide, the resulting wall had a warm, natural look, and cleanup was easy. Harris needed two coats to cover the old color, however, and some paint later came up on tape she'd used while applying trim.

AURO Natural Wall Paint Professional 322 (*est. $83 for 1.3 gallons) receives praise for being washable, scrubbable and abrasion resistant. Of course, these paints are far more expensive than most others.

The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company offers paint made from authentic American Colonial and Shaker milk-paint recipes in 16 colors (*est. $44 a gallon) and receives high marks for eco-friendliness. Unfortunately, in an article from SoNG, an ecologically minded community in Ithaca, New York, this paint doesn't go on very well, and coverage isn't great. It takes at least twice as much milk paint to equal the coverage you'd get from a regular latex paint. In Kate Harris' test at The Green Guide, the milk paint had a flat, old-fashioned look, and it required a top coat to prevent stains. Because it seeps easily into porous surfaces, you could end up with blotchy color, if your surface isn't well prepared. This paint comes powdered -- you need to mix it with water and use it quickly, since it won't store well.

Sherwin-Williams Harmony paints (*est. $37) have zero VOCs and are low odor. They also have an advantage in that they can be custom tinted, giving you a lot of color choices (be aware that the tints themselves may contain a small amount of VOCs). Sherwin-Williams Harmony paints go on like any latex paint, so there's no learning curve. One test says they are prone to fading.

Benjamin Moore makes a low-VOC and low odor paint called Eco Spec. It doesn't entirely eliminate VOCs, but it costs less than Sherwin-Williams Harmony no-VOC paint. Benjamin Moore Eco Spec paint comes in semi-gloss (*est. $28 per gallon), eggshell (*est. $27) and flat (*est. $23). This paint also dries quickly and is splatter-resistant. We didn't see this paint included in comparison reviews, however.

Important Features: Interior paint

The following is what experts say about choosing an interior paint:

• In general, you get what you pay for. Buy the best quality paint you can afford. High-quality paint makes the paint job last longer, is less prone to yellow with age, goes on smoother, and is less apt to leave brush marks.

• Start with a well-prepped surface. Inspecting the area to be painted with a good lighting source will determine if cracks, stains and surface inconsistencies exist. If you're painting over new drywall or want to use a light paint over a dark paint, you'll need to apply a primer coat first.

• Water-based latex paint is best for most situations. Water-based paint wears better over time, is easier to clean up, and has fewer odors than oil-based interior paint.

• Consider a low-VOC or no-VOC paint. Paint fumes can cause headaches and nausea. Long-term exposure has also been linked to liver and kidney problems. If you will be working in an area with little ventilation, a low-VOC paint might be an especially good idea.

• Decide on a finish. There are several types of interior paint finishes. Gloss and semi-gloss paint is great for areas that require frequent cleaning, such as kitchen cabinets and walls. Satin paint has low shine and is easy to clean. Eggshell, with its barely discernable gloss, is a good choice for bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms. Flat or matte finishes have almost no reflective quality, making them a good choice for walls and ceilings with irregularities.

• Consider trying a small amount of paint to test a bold color. Be sure to look at sample chips at home and at different times of the day/night. If you can't decide between two paint colors, buy the smallest amount of paint possible (typically a quart) of each color. Then paint separate sections of trim or small areas of wall with each color and decide which you like best.

• Buy enough paint. Multiply the length of the walls all around the room by their height to get square footage; add the square footage of the ceiling (if you are painting the ceiling). Exclude the doors and windows, then add 25% to that figure. Manufacturers provide information on the paint can regarding the coverage you can expect under normal circumstances. A gallon of paint should cover 400 to 450 square feet. Be sure to buy enough paint, because you'll want extra for touch-ups later. Remember that lighter colors over darker ones will always require more coats than the other way around.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)
3	Behr Premium Plus (*est. $23 per gallon)
3	Valspar American Tradition (*est. $23 per gallon)
3	Dutch Boy Home (*est. $14 per gallon)
2	Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company (*est. $44 per gallon)
2	Kilz Casual Colors (*est. $17 per gallon)
2	Sherwin-Williams Harmony (*est. $37 per gallon)
2	Sherwin-Williams Duration Home (*est. $40 per gallon)
1 each	ColorPlace, House Beautiful, Dunn-Edwards, Yolo Colorhouse, Benjamin Moore Aura, AFM Safecoat, Bioshield

We found more general buyer's advice on paint than we did reviews based on comparison testing. In the most comprehensive tests, most paint is shown to go on smoothly, but there are variations in color fastness. Consumer Reports does not rate paint for odor or VOCs, but we found lots of commentary for low-odor, low or no VOC, and natural paints, which are now alternatives worth considering. Behr Premium Plus gets the best reviews in formal testing, but Valspar American Tradition paints are more color-fast. We found very good comments for Sherwin-Williams Harmony paint, a low-odor, zero-VOC paint, even though it's pricier than others.

Sponsored links