Should I paint the interior of my home?

I get asked by owners do I need to paint the interior of my home? I usually answer yes. It makes the home look better, it attracts better potential renters, it shows that you want to provide a quality home and it protects your investment.

There is a lot that should go into the painting process and not just who can do it the cheapest, although that is a factor. What colors should it be? Should it be all one color on walls and different on trim and baseboards? What texture should I use?

I also would not go with the cheapest paint. If you are going to spend the money to paint your home then spend a little extra and get good quality paint.

Paint colors are rated by Light Reflective Value, or LRV.  The LRV of paint measures how much light the paint reflects. A higher LRV indicates a paint that reflects more light, while a lower LRV indicates a paint that reflects less light. The LRV is a scale from 0 to 100. With 0 being the darkest and 100 being the lightest.  The LRV of paint can be affected by the type of paint, the color of the paint, and the finish of the paint. The LRV of white paint is 100 percent, which means it reflects all visible light. Black color has an LRV of 0 percent, which absorbs all visible light. A good rule of thumb that I like is an LRV between 60 and 70 LRV.

There are three main types of paint: flat, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Flat paint has the lowest light reflective value, while high-gloss paint has the highest. Semi-gloss paint falls somewhere in the middle. The LRV of color is also affected by the surface to which the paint is applied. A smooth surface will reflect more light than a rough surface. This is why glossy paint finishes look so shiny – they reflect more light than matte finishes.

This is an important consideration when choosing paint for a room. Paint with a high LRV can make a room feel brighter while painting with a low LRV can make a room feel darker.

Paint Sheens

Gloss, Semigloss, Satin, Eggshell and Flat or Matte.

Most brands of paint come in several sheens. Gloss sheens have the highest light-reflective characteristics. Next would be semigloss sheens followed by satin and eggshell which are low luster sheens. Lastly, you have flat or matte finishes. 

There’s a rule of thumb to follow when picking paint sheens. The higher the sheen, the higher the shine. The higher the shine the more durable the paint. High gloss sheens are a good choice for areas that sticky fingers will touch such as cabinets, trim, and doors. But high gloss is too much shine for most interior walls. 

Satin finishes are the most commonly used paint for interior walls. They are easier to clean than flat and eggshell paints, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, and playrooms. 

While both eggshell and satin are a little less durable, they are both excellent choices for your living room areas. Spills and drips can be easily cleaned or wiped off with a rag. 

You should think about using flat or matte sheens on walls or areas that tend to have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes because it can hide these blemishes and imperfections really well. 

I tend to go with Eggshell. Eggshell paint sheen is popular for many good reasons. It is an attractive, one-size-fits-all paint sheen that draws out the best in a paint's color. At the same time, eggshell is cleanable and somewhat resistant to wear and tear.

Eggshell paint isn't so reflective that it shines a spotlight on surface flaws. Eggshell paint applies easily and cleans well.

Eggshell is a universal sheen on any wall but not a celling.  Greater reflectivity in a paint sheen highlights flaws on the surface. High gloss paint shows every imperfection. The more matte the paint sheen, the better it is at hiding bumps, grooves, and pitting. The only paint that is better at hiding surface flaws than eggshell is true matte paint.

Here are some examples of colors. Can you tell which has the highest LRV?