How to Choose the Right Indoor Paint for the Job?

Buco 30 Dec 2020

Knowing how to select the right type of paint for your indoor project can be the difference between a dull room that needs regular maintenance and one that stays radiant for years.

In this article, we’re going to help you brush up on your indoor paint knowledge so you can get the product your project requires and land up with the final coat that you desire.

To help you master the art craft of indoor painting like a pro, we will address the following points:

What to consider when choosing paint for a room.
Indoor Paint Colour Management.
How to choose paint for a specific room.
How to choose paint for a room with specific challenges or dimensions.
How to choose paint to achieve a specific look.
How to choose paint for ceilings.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING PAINT FOR A ROOM

Size of the room

You have to consider the ultimate cost of the paint you will need in relation to how much wall space you have to cover. This includes how many coats of paint you will need, the cost of the paint, etc. Many paint brands offer online paint calculators and tips, which can come in handy once you’ve decided on a brand and type of paint you want to use.

For more on the different types of paint and their coating qualities, read our article HERE.

Light in the room

Whether the room you want to paint receives a lot of natural light, or is assisted by sufficient electric lighting, you’ll need to consider the type of paint finish and colour that will work best, so that the light compliments the room instead of invading it.

Traffic the room gets

Not all types of paint handle the everyday wear and tear of life too well, and will need to be touched up over time. Some paints also make it harder to re-touched without making it look obvious. That’s why it is important to consider how much traffic the surfaces you are painting will be subjected to in the long run.

Ventilation

How much air flows through the room and what kind of living environment will it be? Some higher durability paints contain more VOCs which are harmful chemical emissions when breathed in in enclosed spaces over time. For your health and safety it is important to determine what level of VOCs are acceptable for your particular paint job. If you are unsure, please visit us in-store and speak to one of our friendly paint experts for more accurate advice.

The room’s ultimate purpose

What is the end purpose of the room? Do you want it to be a space in which you can unwind, gather, exercise, cook, or perform some kind of long-term function such as storage? Answering this main question for yourself will determine what kind of environment it will be and what kind of paint finish and colour will work best.

BRUSHING UP ON INDOOR PAINT COLOUR MANAGEMENT

Swatch yourself

When going through paint samples, adopt more than one technique to ensure you are getting the best colour for your space. Get as many swatches as you can to ensure you have the perfect shade compliment.

Create a focal point

You can easily change the look and feel of any room by simply adding a contrasting colours in such a way that a focal point is created. This can include painting the trimmings a lighter or darker colour, or even the fireplace or a particular accent wall.

All to the wall

Another tried and tested method is applying large swatches of paint directly on the wall you wish to cover. A good idea when doing this is to apply the paint to opposite sides of the walls of the room and also to judge the colour during day and night time, so you can get a clear picture of how the colour and finish will complement the space.

Be cautious when matching colours

A room can gain great dimension if the colours are well balanced and complimented throughout. Sometimes matching an element such as curtains, cushions, floor rugs and trimmings or a ceiling can add a pleasing depth of colour and accentuate a room perfectly. But when this effect is overdone it can quickly clash with the eye and even make the room extremely plain-looking. If you have a colour theme you want to work with, it’s best to adopt other shades of the same colour, instead of just washing a room in one single shade and finish.

Use the colour wheel when contemplating colours and shades

It is a general rule of thumb that colours that are closer to each other on the colour wheel will allow each other to stand out more. But colours that are on the opposite sides of the colour wheel, such as green and red, can complement each other as well when used in the right space.

HOW TO CHOOSE PAINT ACCORDING TO THE ROOM

Kitchen

A kitchen gets a lot of spills and traffic, so you will need to look for a paint that is durable and easy to clean, preferably with a high gloss or semi-gloss finish.

family / living room

The family room has many functions, receiving high traffic but also having the need to be an aesthetically pleasing room to gather and relax in. That’s why you will need to select a paint that can be easily cleaned and preferably has a satin finish, so it can reflect light as it needs to, without being visually harsh.

DINING ROOM

Your dining room is less used so it will only receive medium traffic, but you will be working with food there, so some clean-up must be prepared for. The paint you select needs to be both durable and easy to clean, preferably with a high gloss or semi-gloss finish.

BEDROOM

Your bedroom is also one of the lower-traffic areas of the house, but it’s also one of the few ‘sanctuary’ spaces in your home, so it has to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. That’s why selecting a paint that has a higher pigment content with a flat or matte finish will work best for this space of your home.

For a full guide on SELECTING THE RIGHT KIND OF PAINT, read our article HERE.

HOW TO CHOOSE PAINT FOR A ROOM WITH A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE

A room that is too small:

Painting white, cream, pastels, or cool colours that have a slight blue or green tinge can create the visual illusion of more space in a room, by reflecting the light.
Painting the trim the same colour as the walls can create a seamless look that visually expands the space of a room.
Select a darker shade of paint with a high gloss sheen, which will reflect the light within the space and enhance it.
Paint vertical stripes to visually enhance the room height. Or similarly, paint horizontal stripes to ‘lure’ the eye around the perimeter of the room, making the walls seem further away.

A room that is too big

Using warmer colours on the walls can draw the aesthetic of the room closer together, making the space feel more cosy.
Paint the ceiling a warm colour with a flat finish to help make the vaulted ceiling feel a little closer.

A room with features that go unnoticed

Paint the room trimmings in a contrasting colour to make them pop against walls with duller tones.
Create a focal point in the room by using a contrasting colour on an accent wall, fireplace, piece of furniture or wainscotting.
Use paint with a higher sheen on the trimmings and baseboards on doors and windows to make them stand out.

A room with something ugly to hide

Matching colours in a room or using low-contrasting shades on the various spaces in a room can easily hide unappealing elements.
Selecting a low-sheen or flat finish paint also helps hide room flaws. High gloss and semi-gloss paints easily point out the slightest imperfections on a surface.

HOW TO CHOOSE PAINT FOR A PARTICULAR LOOK & FEEL

A SOOTHING atmosphere

Soft, understated or muted colours work well to bring forth a tranquil feeling in a room.
Some good choices include: pale lavender, light greys or greens, and light blues with a chalk white finish.

An elegant look

Neutral colours in a room with the correct amount of accents can instantly create an elegant look.
Some great shades of neutral colours include: Off-white, Almond, and soft earthy textured shades.
If you want to make a large room look elegant and cosy, opt for a darker shade of your neutral base colour, and complement with a splash of colour or texture where you see fit.

A rustic look

Using flat paints for walls or furniture can help give that worn-in look.
Using a flat enamel for the trimmings and an eggshell finish for the walls will work perfectly if you need a space that can be easily cleaned.

A vibrant look

Vibrant colours work well when used with their respective shades. This means selecting either a colour next to your main colour on the colour wheel, or a colour on the opposite side of the wheel.
Black and Red can give an instantly striking Oriental look with lots of vibrance, and both colours are open to a lot of complimenting colours that can be added within the elements of the room.
Use contrast to your advantage by deciding what the rooms colour function must be. This will help you decide which area of the room can be the focus, or which element can be the inspiration for the colours you choose.

HOW TO CHOOSE PAINT COLOUR FOR CEILINGS

Contemporary interior décor trends have done away with the notion that ceilings need to be white. Painting your ceiling with the correct shade and finish can add a lot of well-needed character to a room. But beware - painting ceilings is a backbreaking job, so consider what your ultimate function and feel for the room will be, before deciding to paint your ceiling a certain colour or finish.

Go for durability

Because painting your ceiling is such a task, it is important to select a paint that will handle moisture, cracks and touch-ups well.

Use colour to your advantage

Painting a ceiling the same colours as the walls can help make a small room feel larger. While painting your ceiling a warmer colour than the rest of the room will make it seem lower and thus make a room that feels to large seem more cosy. Just keep in mind that if your ceiling is already low, painting it a dark shade will make the room feel more claustrophobic.

Go for gloss at your own risk

If a room tends to be darker, painting the ceiling with a higher sheen paint can help reflect more light in the room. But this only works well if the ceiling is newly resurfaced and has no blemishes at all. Remember higher gloss paints accentuate imperfections easier, and they are more difficult to apply perfectly.

Luckily, BUCO has a wide range of indoor paints available in-store & online, as well as expert assistance in-store for all your paint project related queries. Visit us today to get your perfect indoor paint project under way.

SHOP a wide selection of indoor paint products in our online store by clicking HERE

For a full guide on EXTERIOR PAINT, read our article HERE.