Paint can have a big impact on how we relate to a room. Ever walk into a space that dazzles you with its deep, intense wall color? Or perhaps you’ve experienced a room color that soothed and quieted your mind. As a designer, I love thinking about the psychology of color, but there are more practical considerations than just finding the right hue. Now let's get rolling. (Pun intended.)
Behr, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Pottery Barn, Magnolia Home, Restoration Hardware, C2, Pratt & Lambert. The list goes on.
Like most things, the difference between brands often comes down to marketing. Each paint contractor will have his or her favorite brand and formula, but the decision should ultimately be driven by the unique needs of you and your home.
If you have kids, you’ll want a premium, stain-resistant and scrubbable formula. Oh, and make sure those baseboards get a nice, hardy coat of semi-gloss paint that will stand up to hockey sticks and roller blades.
Hate painting? You’ll want a formula known for its great coverage in the least number of applications. You might also consider a paint-and-primer-in-one formula.
On the other hand, if you feel confident in your painting skills and have the time it takes to apply two to three coats with touch-ups, a workhorse paint formula will do the trick and save you some money. Often referred to as “production paint," pro painters use this type on everything from $1,000 room refreshers to $1 million homes.
If you haven't painted your home recently, you'll find that things have changed in recent years, and you're faced with more choices. The old oil-based wall paints have largely given way to latex water-based paints, especially for interior applications.
For the vast majority of indoor painting projects, you should choose a latex. Formulations have come a long way in recent years, giving water-based paints almost all of the former advantages of oil-based paints, without the drawbacks. There are, however, certain situations where people hesitate to use latex, such as for painting interior doors. If you choose a semi-gloss sheen and want to minimize visible brush strokes, consider a hybrid paint, such as a water-based acrylic alkalyd. These go on as smooth as an oil-based alkalyd but can be cleaned up with water and release lower levels of VOCs. Sherwin Williams ProClassic is a good choice. Whatever paint you choose, if you are painting doors or cabinet doors, take the time to remove them and lay them down flat on sawhorses. You're much less likely to get drips and sags that way.
See also: Interior Paint Review [Good Housekeeping]
Each paint manufacturer has their own terminology for the sheens they offer, but keep these things in mind as you choose the right level of glossiness.
When it comes to applying paint, there are tons of choices. They each have their unique advantages, but I recommend choosing the one that you're most comfortable with. A commercial paint sprayer may make quick work of large jobs in the hands of a skilled painting contractor, but it could lead to disastrous results for those of us who paint infrequently.
Techniques and formulations aside, sometimes your main motivation for choosing one paint brand over another is the range of colors available. Designer paint brands like C2, Farrow & Ball, and Pratt & Lambert carry a premium price tag but are well known to designers for their uniquely rich color palette. Meanwhile, the Pinterest-HGTV crowd are big fans of brands like Magnolia Home, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware for their smoky, soft, and earthy color palette. You can try to take a paint chip to get a less-expensive paint custom matched to a designer shade, but it's probably not going to look as good as the original.
The bottom line is to go with what you love. Once you've narrowed your color and sheen choices to a few front runners, ask your paint store to mix up your choices in sample sizes so you can paint a section of your wall. It's amazing how different paint can look on your wall compared to on a tiny color chip.
See also: Bringing the Outside In: 5 Keys to Pacific NW Style