First step on the prep for the condo is interior paint types. The type of paint dictates the finish of the paint. As for interior painting tips, there are an array of paint types or styles to choose from depending on the look you want to achieve and how the paint plays with the light. The finish type affects the paint sheen. Choosing a paint finish for interior walls depends on the desired amount of shine and durability you want, as well as the look, durability, and atmosphere you want to create.

The most common interior paint finishes are flat (matte), eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.

Flat (Matte) finish: This is the least shiny finish available. A flat finish is opaque and somewhat muted in how it reflects the color. It works well on interior walls and ceilings, but doesn’t clean well and isn’t suited for kitchens, baths, or children’s bedrooms.  You may have to pain over any marks.

Eggshell finish: With its low luster, an eggshell finish is often used for decorative touches or finished. A little more sheen to it than it’s sibling, flat, It cleans up better than a flat finish, but probably not as well as you would want in a kitchen or bathroom.

Satin finish: One of the more popular paint sheen, satin, has more sheen than eggshell or satin. Satin finish can be used on drywall/plaster, paneling, wood, metal, concrete, masonry, and wall covering. This finish is ideal for “show case” rooms like dining rooms, family rooms, living rooms,  or for major color changing projects. Satin is washable, but not welcoming to being scrubbed, so you probably don’t want to use it where kids may be tempted to make a mess.

Semi-gloss finish: A semi-gloss paint finish displays a shine when looking at the surface. This gives a room a subtle shine, but without a reflecting its color brightly. It can be scrubbed and is good for moldings, doors, windows, kitchens, and baths. Semi-gloss can be used on wood, metal, drywall, plaster, stucco, concrete and masonry, and is more resistant to humidity and withstands stains, chipping, and scuffing.

High-gloss finish: A high-gloss finish has a shiny, polished look. Gloss is the most durable finish, is stain-resistant and the easiest to clean. This makes it a good choice for high traffic / use areas of your home that get the most wear and tear, such as kitchens, hallways and bathrooms. Food splatter or crayon marks will clean up easily on a high-gloss finish. With its glossy finish, it’s typically used for railings or door trims, and can be used either indoors or outdoors.

For our upcoming project, we will be going with eggshell on the walls of our new condo and will share with you more on this important first step in prepping things for condo living.

Below is a review of what interior paints may work best for your condo decorating project.