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One of the most important decisions you'll need to make when buying interior paint is choosing a sheen. The sheen refers to the amount of light that reflects off the paint's surface, and the right sheen for you will depend on the area of the home you're painting and how you want it to look.
To find the best interior paint for your project, consider the room you're painting, the type of finish you want and your budget. It's essential that you choose a paint that suits the area you're painting. While your bathroom will need a moisture-resistant paint, kids' bedrooms and hallways need hard-wearing paint that's easy to clean. Kitchen paint should be moisture-resistant but also capable of withstanding grease and other stains.
Make sure you take the following factors into account:
Generally speaking, the higher the gloss level, the more durable and hard-wearing a paint is. However, high-gloss paints are also shiny, so they're not suitable if you're painting a large area.
Take note that sheens can vary between brands, so an eggshell finish from one manufacturer may be different to that from the next.
Water-based paints are generally more user-friendly. While not as durable as oil-based paints, they're quicker to dry, have less of an odour and usually offer more colour choices.
Aside from the sheen, the best way to assess durability is to check out independent customer reviews to find out whether other users recommend a particular brand.
Most paints specify a coverage rate between 8 and 16 square metres per litre.
That distinctive and sometimes overpowering "fresh-paint smell" is the result of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are solvents designed to make the paint easier to spread and more durable. However, VOCs not only have a strong odour but can cause dizziness and nausea. In cases of prolonged exposure, more serious health effects like lung disease, kidney problems and even cancer can result.
While there's little worry of VOCs causing long-lasting problems when giving a room at home a fresh coat of paint, it's still essential that you only paint in a well-ventilated room and that you continue to air it for a few days after painting. And if you suffer from asthma or other respiratory issues, there are low-VOC and low-odour paints available.
If you live in a humid climate or you're painting a room where water and moisture could pose problems, such as a bathroom or kitchen, look for a paint designed to be mould resistant. These products contain an additive designed to stop mould and mildew from growing.
Finding the right interior paint colour is a time-consuming process and is often the source of many marital disagreements. These tips should help you find a shade that's just right:
While choosing the right interior paint for your project can be a challenge, researching the available options and then shopping around will help you make the right decision. If you want to buy interior paint to freshen up your home, start comparing your options today.
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