There are three main things to consider when choosing interior paint for your walls; sheen, color and type of paint. The two main types of paint are latex and alkyd. Latex paints (sometimes known as water-based paints) use water as a thinner and therefore dry quickly and don’t smell. Latex paint is easy to use and cleans up with soap and water. Alkyd paints (also known as oil-based paints) use solvent as a thinner. They are superior for wood walls and trim and although more durable than latex paints, they are also less healthy and are harder to clean.

Sheen is how glossy the paint is; how much light is reflected off the finished walls. There are 3 types of sheen; flat, satin and gloss. Flat paint is non-reflective and hides any scratches, nail holes or stains. Flat paints are the superior choice for ceilings and rooms not subject to water or small children. A satin finish provides a soft shine as well as a durable, hard surface great for rooms that get a lot of use. Gloss paint has the most shine and is easiest to clean.

Picking the right color for a room depends on the type of lighting and what sort of theme you’d like the room to have. For rooms with a lot of lighting, go with a white, beige, cream or off white paint to pair with the bright light coming in. For rooms a bit darker, you want a bright color for the walls; yellows or pinks to brighten the room up, for bedrooms use cool purples, blues and greens.Lavender is a great color for a girl's room, with light coming in, the room is quite bright, but when it’s time for bed, the room color is still calm enough to support sleep. Daring colors like reds, hot pinks or lime greens are not advised under most circumstances. 

At the point that you’ve considered the three main elements of paint; sheen, color and type of paint, you’re ready to get started. Go to your local paint store, choose your paint color and then get at it!

Michael McGrath has over 26 years of experience as a journeyman painter and is the owner of his own Toronto Painting company, Painting Transformations Inc.

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