Interior Paint

Matt Fox explains the different types of paint available for interior use.

All About

Product Ideas

The two major types of interior paint are latex, which is water-based and can be cleaned up with soap and water, and alkyd, which is oil-based and must be cleaned with thinner. Latex is easiest to use.

Paints come in four finishes with varying degrees of shine: flat, satin, semi -gloss, and gloss.

flat: no sheen; best on walls in low-use areas, like dining, living rooms, and bedrooms; washable but not scrubbable.
satin: slight sheen; good for walls and trim in higher use areas like hallways and kid's rooms; washable and scrubbable. This is the most popular sheen; it is durable and elegant.
semi-gloss: medium sheen; good for walls and trim in high abuse areas like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry; washable and scrubbable.
gloss: high sheen; best for trim and cabinets, washable and scrubbable.

When painting walls and trim, use lower sheen on the walls and a higher sheen on the trim.