Interior Paint Guide: Which Paints to Use in Specific Rooms

In kitchens, you're looking in the general category of interior wall paints, but avoiding flat or other types of matte paints, as they can be difficult to wipe down.

• Type:  Interior wall paint.
• Composition: Latex enamel.
• Sheen: Satin or greater.
• Try This Brand: Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel.

Because of bathrooms' moisture, the need for wipe ability is even greater than in the kitchen.

• Type: Interior wall paint.  Usually, premium paints or those labeled as "bathroom paint" are appropriate.
• Composition: Latex enamel.
• Sheen: Satin or greater.  If you don't mind paints with higher gloss, these will perform better over the long run.
• Try This Brand:  Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel.

• Type:  Anything labeled Paint" or any flat white interior latex paint.
• Composition:  Latex.
• Sheen:  Flat.
• Try This Brand: Glidden EZ Track Ceiling Paint.

While you can use water-soluble latex enamel, oil-based paints--only available in quart sizes--provide smoother surfaces.  Two downsides:  strong fumes and long drying times.

• Type: Paint labeled Cabinet & Trim Paint.  Or any oil-based paint or acrylic latex paint.
• Composition: Alkyd (oil) or acrylic latex (the acrylic additive prevents white-tinted trim paints from yellowing).
• Sheen: Semi-Gloss or greater
• Try This Brand: Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel

Not a true "paint" of the type that you find in the paint aisle of your home improvement store, this is a coating usually found as part of a DIY refinishing kit.

• Type: Coating specially designed for bathtubs, sinks, tile, surrounds.
• Composition: Acrylic resin consisting of two parts, base color, and base hardener.
• Sheen:  Gloss
• Try This Brand:  Munro Products' Bathworks

Drywall's porous outer paper covering soaks up liquids like crazy.  Primer helps you lay down a more even color coat.

• Type:  Primer specially labeled as appropriate for drywall.  Usually, will incorporate the word "drywall" or "wallboard" within the name.
• Composition:  100% acrylic latex.
• Sheen:  N/A.  You have no finish choice with drywall primer; only one finish--flat--is available.
• Try This Brand:  Behr Premium Plus Drywall Primer & Sealer

These low-impact areas can use any kind of paint you wish.  Most homeowners, though, go for flat latex paints.

• Type:  Interior wall paint.
• Composition:  100% acrylic.
• Sheen:  Flat or greater, though most homeowners stop at eggshell.
• Try This Brand:  All paint manufacturers offer this type of paint.  Try Ralph Lauren 100% Acrylic Latex.

Basement masonry walls famously weep water.  If yours doesn't, consider yourself lucky.  If yours does, consider yourself part of the crowd.  Basement masonry paint seals crack up to 1/16" wide with elastomeric action (elastomeric means that it expands, and then resumes its previous shape when the pressure is gone). 

• Type:  Basement flexible primer and finish.
• Composition:  Latex acrylic.
• Sheen:  Glossy.
• Try This Brand:  Zinsser's Watertite Flexible Primer and Finish.