Question 1

What is the best paint for interior walls?

Accepted Answer

Painting walls in your house can give them a much-needed refresh. But there are so many different types of paint available. How do you know which is the best paint for walls?

A good place to start is by making sure you have an interior paint in hand. Exterior and interior house paints are often sold closely together, yet they have very different textures. So be sure that you have an interior paint.

Then consider the sheen of the paint. You’ll need to decide on whether matte, gloss, semi-gloss, or egg-shell is the best option based on the room you are painting. These options are described further below.

Question 2

What is matte paint?

Accepted Answer

Matte paint is the most common type of paint to use on interior walls. It doesn’t have any shine to it so is better for rooms like bedrooms or the living room where you don’t want any light shining off the wall to distract you. It is also good to hide imperfections on the walls in older houses. Matte paint is easy to apply but also it marks easily, so it is not best for rooms like the kitchen where you want to be able to wipe down the walls.

Question 3

What are gloss and semi-gloss paints?

Accepted Answer

Gloss and semi-gloss are also commonly used. They have a high shine, are durable and easy to clean. These paints highlight imperfections in the wall so make sure you prime your walls if you are going to use any kind of gloss paint. It is often better for skirting boards and doors.

Question 4

What is eggshell paint?

Accepted Answer

Eggshell is a great paint for interior walls as it has a shine, but this is subtle. It’s easy to apply and can cover large surface areas. This paint is excellent for kitchens as it is easier to clean than matte paint. Eggshell paint is also one of the best paints for uneven walls and is a popular wall smoothing paint making it a great choice if there are subtle imperfections in your walls.

Question 5

What paint colours make a small room look bigger?

Accepted Answer

Paint colour is essential to a great interior look and smaller rooms can be challenging to decorate. If you have a small room and you want it to look airy and bright, choosing the right paint colour is essential.

It might seem like white would always be the best option to paint a room to get the maximum light reflection. However, in a north-facing room, this can make a room seem colder. Use white for small, south-facing rooms or rooms with lots of natural light.

Colours like beige, off-white, and cream can help to off-set any coldness by giving warmth to your room, as well as make sure that your room still looks bright and spacious. The added bonus of colours like these is that they won’t clash with your furniture, allowing you the freedom to style your room how you want. Then light, pastel colours like sky blue can be peaceful in rooms like bedrooms and also great for making your room feel airier.

Question 6

When is it best to choose dark colours for your interior paint?

Accepted Answer

Darker colours tend to absorb the light. This can close in the feeling of a particularly open room and create a cosy atmosphere. It’s best to avoid dark colours for small rooms though, as these can make a smaller room seem cramped. A great work around to add a splash of colour in a small space is to choose one wall for an accent wall. Paint this wall in a bold colour and then the other walls in light tones to keep things bright and spacious.

Question 7

Should all rooms in a house be the same colour?

Accepted Answer

Having different colours for different rooms can influence your mood and also help to inspire you. Why not make your environment at home work for you by giving each room its own unique personality?

The first thing to note if you are painting your rooms different colours is to check which rooms are visible from the others to make sure that the colours are complementary. For example, if you have a bold colour in your living room, you may wish to pick a more subtle colour for an adjoining dining room.

There is no single answer to which colour you should paint your rooms. Think about what effect you are going for!

For an inviting living room, vibrant colours like oranges and yellows can make a room feel welcoming. You could also make a statement with bolder colours like green, grey or dark blue. If you want to make your room feel bigger and more relaxing, opt for lighter, neutral colours.

Dining rooms can look gorgeous in green, especially if you are overlooking a garden. Reds and oranges are lively colours and promote socialising – perfect for entertaining!

Bedrooms are better with softer, pastel colours to help soothe and promote a great night’s sleep.

Productivity is key in your home office. Choose colours that make you feel more productive, such as blues and greys, teal, off-white, pastel yellow, or purple.

In your kitchen, you want to feel energised and productive. A warm colour such as yellow can help you feel bright and ready to start the day.

Question 8

How long does it take to paint a room?

Accepted Answer

The average time to paint a room usually starts at around 6 hours and up. This is highly dependent on the size of the room, its current condition, and the number of coats of paint it will need to effectively cover the walls. The more work that needs to be done the longer it will take to paint a room in contrast, if the room is smaller in size and doesn't need much prep work it may take less time to paint. Another factor which can effect this timeline is whether you only plan to paint walls or the ceiling, trim, baseboard, and any window 
frames as well. Each of these additional areas can add to the time it takes to paint the room.

Question 9

Should I hire a painter or DIY?

Accepted Answer

While there are plenty of DIY resources available online, the best way to paint a room is to hire a painter. They have years of experience learning top painting techniques to ensure every room has a smooth coat and looks amazing!

Question 10

Can You Paint Over Varnish?

Accepted Answer

If you have varnished wood trim along the base of your walls then you might find yourself wondering how to paint over varnished wood. Painting over varnish such as on wood trim can be a great way to match the aesthetic of your walls with your trim. As the surface of varnish is usually glossy though, this will simply require a few extra steps. First, the surface will need to be sanded or de-glossed and then primed in order to ensure that the paint adheres properly.

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