How to Select Interior Paint

Decide what area in your home you want to paint.

Determine what the surface of the room is made of. The surface will give you insight as to the type of interior paint you should purchase to best cover that particular surface. Latex paints can be used on new or existing wallboard and plaster, as well as on masonry. Alkyd paints can be used on bare wood to be painted, painted wood to be repainted and metal.

Choose an interior color that you would like your room to be. Home improvement stores, such as Lowe's, have vast interior paint selections with various color options to choose from. For assistance, ask the store's knowledgeable sales staff to assist you with the selection of your interior paint.

Select the finish of your interior paint. Types of finishes include flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, gloss and clear finishes for wood grains. Your choice depends on the area you are painting. Traditionally, walls and ceilings are done in either a flat or eggshell finish and trim looks nice with a semi-gloss finish.

Determine if you are going to need primer and select one. Primer is the first coat and will go over existing paint. It will help the new paint color cover the old paint colors. Depending upon what part of the room you are painting, you may or may not need a primer. Typically, primer is not needed for white ceilings that you are painting white again. However, a wall that was one color and is changing to another color will need primer.