I thought it would be fun since most of my clients lately have been people needing help picking paint colors, to give a liitle bit of information about paint types and finishes. You already know that paint can update and help personalize your space for very little investment. However going into the paint section of your local hardware store can be a bit intimidating. There is ceiling paint and floor paint and satin finish and high gloss, flat paint and glazing etc. There are tools that we never knew we needed and tools what can't figure out the use for(stay away from those :)). Hopefully this will help take a bit of the intimidation out of it for you.
Flat paint is just that, it is flat in appearance or matte if you will. It is harder for cleaning, so use of it is best in a room that doesn't get high traffic. (I personally never use flat paint.) While it will hide some imperfections better than other finishes it is not my favorite.
Satin paint has a slight sheen and gives a nice glow to any room. It cleans up well, much better than flat paint. Satin is my very favorite finish and is in most every room of the house.
Gloss in my opinion should almost never be used, but is great for high moisture areas such as a bathroom. It is also great on trims and doors. It is intersting to note that using a gloss on trims and doors in the same color as your satin wall paint will create a slight contrast in color just because the finish has changed.
Ceiling paints are designed for just that use and again the finish you select should be determined by the use of the room. It is best to keep your ceilings a lighter color than your wall color to keep the room from feeling closed in or small.
When taking the time to paint, don't skimp on quality. The better quality the paint, the better coverage and the less paint you will use. Make sure you have all tools you need, good brushes(again don't skimp here there is a difference in brushes), painters tape, rollers and tarps or other floor and furniture coverings.
Feel free to ask questions and I will help the best I can. There is so much more about paint, but I thought the basics would be a great place to start.
Happy Painting! Oh by the way, after you get your painting done, stop by www.lovethedecor.willowhouse.com to find new accessories for your new look.
