Want the right paint? Ask the right questions

Walking into a hardware store to find paint for your home can be daunting. It seems that each colour comes in at least sixteen shades and then there’s gloss, high gloss, matt, oil-based, water-based, low-VOC…

To simplify things, here are some questions to ask yourself about your preferences and lifestyle. The answers will help guide you through the maze of paints available today and make your purchasing decision a lot easier.

1. How sensitive is the family to ‘paint smell’? If you hate the smell of paint, look for water-based latex paints, which have little or no odour compared to oil-based or alkyd coatings. Latex paints are easy to clean up and perform well on all interior surfaces. Even better, choose low-VOC paints which release very few toxic chemicals.

2. How much activity happens in the space being painted? If the room you are painting sees a lot of activity, the painted surface could get soiled. In that case, it’s best to use a high gloss or semi-gloss paint, which tend to resist stains and are easy to clean. If the room will see little activity, you could use any level of sheen – from a flat paint to a high gloss finish.

3. What atmosphere do I want to create? If your goal is to make the space cosy, consider using a ‘warm’ colour from the red, yellow or orange family; if you want it to appear cooler, choose blues or greens.

4. Do I wish the room were bigger (or smaller)? If the space seems cramped (or cavernous), you can do something about it by selecting the right paint colour. Lighter colours make a room seem larger, while darker colours make it feel more intimate.

5. How long will this paint job need to last? If you paint only every so often, you’ll want to apply a durable, colourfast paint that will hold up well and continue to look good for a very long time.

6. How much time do I want to devote to this project? If time is limited, or you just want to complete the project quickly, then consider applying a ‘paint and primer’ product that works like two coats in one. You’ll likely need to apply fewer coats, which will save a lot of time - and you’ll still get superior results.

Considering these questions takes just a few moments, but saves a lot of consternation when you are at the paint shop. More importantly, the answers will help you quickly identify the very best type of paint for your next home renovation project.