4 Major Types Of Paint For Your Indoor Project (2024)

Types of interior paint are different than those used for exterior projects. Whether you’reremodeling your kitchenorbathroomor giving your entire home an overhaul, it’s worth it to put in the time to research the best type of paint for your situation.

When purchasing paint, reading the label is incredibly important; a lot of the terms seem interchangeable, and different brands may use them differently. Knowing the difference between water-based and oil-based paints is necessary, and so is learning their best applications.

If you’re going to DIY paint, equipment and prep work has a huge impact on the result. Watch how-to videos and speak to painting professionals before you dive into a project. If you’re not prepared, it could be twice as expensive to fix than to do it professionally the first time around.

Latex Paint

The first patent for a water-based paint was approved in 1865, but it wasn’t until the 1940s when the introduction of latex paint revolutionized the industry by producing a higher quality of water-based paint.

Latex paint is still the most common option for indoor paint jobs, and is also the most environmentally responsible option. It dries faster than oil-based paint, and it is easier to clean—soap and water does the job. However, it is less durable, and it’s best for areas that don’t see a lot of wear and tear, such as walls and ceilings.

Acrylic Paint

Both latex and acrylic paint have become generic terms for water-based paint, and they’re very similar in composition and use. Paint referred to as acrylic paint tends to literally have more acrylic polymers than latex paint. Reading the label is recommended when buying any paint to understand what you’re getting since these similar terms can be confusing.

Due to the higher polymer count, acrylic paint can be more durable than latex paint (and thus more expensive). This can make it a better option for surfaces that take a little more physical use, such as cabinets.

Alkyd Paint

Oil is the main ingredient in oil-based paints, with alkyd oil a popular base. Oil-based paint is less common than water-based paint, but it does offer some perks. It is a more durable paint, and it can provide a smoother finish by not showing brush or roller marks. It is often recommended for use on surfaces that take more regular abuse, like floors, doors, and furniture.

Keep in mind when using oil-based paint that it will have a stronger smell and take longer time to dry than water-based, and cleanup is also more difficult: cleaning brushes will require a harsh chemical like paint thinner or turpentine.

Enamel Paint

“Enamel” is another paint term that has become generalized. It means that it is an incredibly long-lasting and durable paint that can put up with wear and tear. It is generally more common for exterior paints but can also apply indoors. In the past, nearly all enamel paints were by default oil-based, but recently some water-based paints have started to use this label as well. Again, carefully reading the paint description is important to understand what kind of paint you’re getting.

Flat or Matte

Starting at the low end of the sheen spectrum, flat or matte paint has no shine to it. It offers non-reflective, smooth coverage that can disguise surface blemishes such as nail holes. It requires fewer coats than higher gloss paint and is easier to touch up.

It has the most pigment and is the least expensive, but it is also the least durable. It’s best for low-traffic, low-wear indoor areas like adult bedrooms and dining rooms.

Eggshell

One of the most popular finishes for indoor wall paint, eggshell provides a low level of sheen and a smooth finish. It’s more easily washable than a flat paint and more likely to resist stains and scuffs, but it’s still not as durable as more glossy finishes. It’s good for rooms with mid-level activity, such as hallways, dining rooms and living rooms.

Satin

With a soft sheen finish and high durability, satin paint is considered the most versatile and best paint for indoor walls. It resists mildew and fading and is easier to clean than flat and eggshell finishes. However it can show brush or roller markers and other application flaws, and it can be difficult to touch up. It is common for high traffic rooms like playrooms and family rooms, as well as rooms with a lot of moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Semi-Gloss

As its name suggests, semi-gloss has a shiny appearance that offers more reflectivity than satin finish. It has a high resistance to moisture and is a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. It is also highly durable for areas of high wear and tear. While it is relatively easy to clean, it does show blemishes easily. In white and off-white rooms, a semi-gloss finish provides a brighter appearance than other finishes.

High Gloss

As an increase in sheen comes with an increase in price, high gloss paints are likely to be the most expensive. The high shine of this finish is too much for walls, but its high durability is excellent for doors, cabinets and trim, and it’s the easiest to clean. It requires more coats than other finishes, and it is the most likely to show application errors.

When deciding the right paint, color is often weighted heavily. But the type of paint is just as important.

When deciding between oil-based or water-based, consider this important factor before you start: You can put water-based paint over oil-based paint but not the opposite, so the surface that you’re starting with matters. If you’re painting a surface you plan to change frequently, water-based is a better option. If longevity is the goal, then oil-based is worthy of consideration.

If you’re new to DIY painting, oil-based can hide application errors (brush and roller marks, for instance) better than water-based paint, but it also has a more pungent smell, takes longer to dry and needs special solutions for cleaning tools.

Deciding what finish to use is largely dependent on the room or surface being painted. High-gloss isn’t the best type of wall paint, but it can be beautiful and even glass-like on trim and accents. In rooms with exposure to moisture, satin and semi-gloss are the go-to. For the most bang for your buck in rooms with low wear and tear, flat paint works great. And remember: the higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean.