Tips for Choosing a Paint Color

Posted by Matt Morris on June 18th, 2019

When I was a new homeowner, I remember the overwhelm that happened when I walked into Lowe’s to buy a can of paint. Not only are you slammed with limitless color and brand options, but there’s even more to buying paint. What type of paint will you use? What sheen? Oil or latex? These are the questions I found myself faced with when all I wanted was to buy a nice can of paint. Luckily, the nice lady at Lowe’s explained the differences to me, and I found that my most important consideration regarding the LOOK of the paint was the color and sheen. Color is fairly self-explanatory, but there’s definitely more than meets the eye.

When it comes to sheen, it’s important to consider a little more than just look. A glossier paint (with more sheen) will be easier to clean up. That means if you have sticky little hands that are constantly running around your home, it’s worth considering a paint type that you can wipe down easily. The downside to this is that it’s also easier to mess up. Any spot or imperfection on the wall will be much more noticeable.

Another option is a semi-gloss sheen paint. With this, you can have the best of both worlds. Something that’s still fairly easy to clean, but will also wipe off fairly easily.

If you have walls that have a lot of blemishes (like scratches or dents), it’s worth considering a matte paint. This way the spots – which are pretty permanent by the way - will not be nearly as noticeable as they would be with high sheen paint. Keep in mind, this kind of paint will be more difficult to clean and you’ll find that fingerprints show up more easily on it.

For your color, choose something like Repose gray or eggshell. Eggshell will help hide imperfections while being easy to wash. Although the gray is prettier (and more stylish), the eggshell will probably be the easiest option for upkeep.

Before deciding on what paint you’re going to use, consider how long you plan to be in the home. If you have kids but are planning to move in a few months, perhaps it makes sense to do a paint that is more stylish rather than sticking to something like Repose gray. This ended up being the deal breaker for my family. I knew that we had planned to try and sell our home within a few months. Although the eggshell more compatible with most colors and styles, the gray looked stunning in our home.

Again, you have to choose what’s best for you. Finding a balance between style and convenience is definitely the best of all worlds, but it’s not always an easy thing to figure out. Start with something you like,and see if there’s a more neutral option if you’re selling soon. If you don’t plan to sell soon, just spend money on a pain that you truly love.