1. FLAT PAINT – Choose flat paint for ceilings and for rooms with little traffic, such as formal living and dining rooms. Flat paint is the most common type of paint used for interior walls and ceilings. It is good for camouflaging small bumps, cracks or other imperfections, but it gets dirty easily and is hard to clean.
2. EGGSHELL PAINT – Choose eggshell paint for most interior walls. Like flat paint, eggshell paint is also good at camouflaging small bumps, cracks or other imperfections. It is easier to clean than flat walls, though, because it has a slight hint of gloss.
3. SATIN PAINT – Choose satin paint for doors and trims and for walls that receive a lot of wear, as in a child’s room. Satin paint has slightly more gloss than eggshell paint. It endures cleaning and light scrubbing well.
4. SEMI-GLOSS PAINT – Choose semi-gloss paint for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and children’s bedrooms. It is also useful for cabinets and woodwork. This paint dries to a harder, slicker finish than eggshell or satin paint, making it very stain-and wear-resistant. It is also very durable and washable. However, keep in mind that semi-gloss paint highlights surface imperfections, so make sure your wall is well-prepped before you use it.
5. HIGH-GLOSS PAINT – Choose high-gloss paint for cabinets, woodwork and furniture. High-gloss paint is the most stain-resistant, durable and washable paint of all, but it also magnifies surface imperfections and can be cold and uninviting.