Choosing Interior Paint: Sheen, Coverage and Preparation

Paint is the cheapest way to change a room, and the easiest to get wrong. Most problems blamed on the paint itself come from the sheen choice, the number of coats or the preparation underneath.

Start with the sheen

Matt hides surface imperfections and gives the flattest, most contemporary look, which makes it the default for ceilings and low traffic walls. Eggshell and satin wipe clean more easily and suit kitchens, hallways and kids rooms. Gloss is the most durable and the least forgiving of poor preparation.

Coverage and coats

Coverage on the tin assumes a smooth, sealed surface. New plaster and bare timber absorb far more, so budget an extra coat and expect roughly 20 to 30 percent more paint. Two thin coats always outperform one thick coat, because heavy coats trap solvent, sag and stay soft.

Primer is not optional

Stain blocking primer is essential over water marks, smoke residue and knots. A bonding primer is needed on glossy or previously painted surfaces that have been sanded. Skipping primer is the most common reason a top coat peels within a year.

Calculate before you buy

Measure wall area and subtract doors and windows, then divide by the coverage figure. Buy all the paint for one room from the same batch, because colour can vary slightly between batches and a touch up from a different tin may not match.

We stock Benjamin Moore interior and exterior paints in the most requested sheens, with tinting in store.