Pros and Cons of the Most Popular Interior Paint Brands & Which We'd Recommend

There are so many different paint options available, and it can be hard to know which to use for your home projects! Gabe used to paint as a side job, so I asked him to share his honest opinion about the pros and cons of the most commonly used paint. We are breaking down the price, quality, and coverage in today’s guide to the best paint brands for home interiors.

Generally when it comes to paint, you get what you pay for! I find it is always worth paying a little more up front to purchase a quality brush, roller pad, roller frame, and paint. We have often found that paying for the higher quality paint means less coats needed resulting in time and money saved!

Key terms to better understand paint quality
Hide – The paint’s ability to hide stains or previously used colors. The more drastic the color change, the more coats may be needed to hide the previous color.

Open time – The time it takes for the paint to become tacky once applied. The more tacky the paint becomes, the harder it is to blend and level, and the more apparent roller marks and brush strokes will be.

Coverage – How smoothly the paint applies to the surface, as well as how far the paint will spread before showing the old paint underneath.

VOC levels – Each of these wall paint line formulas has low VOC levels and is safe to use in your home. An odor may persist for a short time while the paint dries. The trim enamels will have slightly higher VOC levels, with the hybrid versions having the highest. These levels are still drastically lower than past formulas and oil-based trim paints.

Sheen – We generally prefer an eggshell sheen for wall paint because it is flat enough to hide imperfections but has just enough gloss to brighten. It is also easier to clean and more durable than a flat. Satin, which is one gloss step up from eggshell, is generally our second pick. As a rule, the more sheen (glossiness) the paint has, the more wall imperfections will be noticeable.