Having browsed through Interior Decoration magazines, the internet, home decor shows on television, you have an idea of what you want. But when you look through paint catalogues, you see different paint types. Which do you choose?
There are various types of paints to choose from and they all have different functions and finishes.
Matt/Flat paints are great for uneven surfaces, covering hairline cracks and plastering flaws. Matt finish gives a warm feel to the room. In high traffic areas like the living room, dining room, hallway and stairway, it is best to use a more resistant paint that has added easy clean properties to keep these areas spick and span.
Satin/Sateen/Silk paints gives a sheen that fills the room with a luxurious feel. They do come in varying degrees of sheen, ranging from soft to a more obvious sheen. These paints have great coverage but will not hide wall blemishes and unevenness. It will actually play up the flaws on the walls so these looks best on smooth, even walls. To make the room more interesting, you can even pair matt paints with satin paints to give the wall a textured feel. It is a great alternative to having wallpaper.
Gloss paints gives a glossy finish as the name implies. These type of paints are usually used on wood and metal surfaces. Good preparation of the painting surface is a must as gloss paints is the hardest of all paint types to paint. If surface is not prepared well, it will show through your paint work. Any old paint on wood surface must scrapped off and sanded down to a smooth finish and primed prior to painting. Likewise, metal surface must be free of rust and peeling paint. Else, new layer of paint will not hold and will start peeling after some time.
If you still cannot decide what type of paint to choose, do not fret, paint manufacturers have also thought that out for you. There is an all-in-one one premium paint option that has almost all the features of the different paints in one tin. So what’s the difference? The price, and the shades of colors available for each type. Different finish has its’ own range of colors and they do differ when painted on the wall. Decide on what is your priority, is it functionality, finish or color. With that in mind, you are right on track to a fresh new look for your home!