What Kind of Paint Do I Use in the Hallway?

Sheen

• Paints are manufactured in a number of different sheens, including flat, matte, satin, eggshell, semigloss and high gloss. For most wall applications, satin and eggshell are the most appropriate choices. Flat paint is porous and difficult to clean, and glossy paint is excessively reflective for a large area such as a wall. Satin or eggshell sheens make walls look lively without offering too much reflection. The sheen of paint is different than the color; you can buy a gallon of paint base in your selected sheen and then have tint added to create your chosen color.

Camouflage

• If you have a high traffic hallway, you may find that the walls get dirty quickly, particularly if you live with young children or dogs who are always bringing dirt into the house. Painting your hallway walls in a way that camouflages dirt can decrease the frequency with which you need to wash them. Various multi-hue sponging techniques can create attractive walls with mottled effects. Not only do these techniques create interesting visual effects, they also hide the effects of dirt by providing a complex background against which dirt isn't as visible.

Color

• Lighter colors are popular in most rooms of the house because they create an airy and cheerful space. Light colors can be even more important in hallways, which are usually small and sometimes crowded looking. Light colors make rooms seem larger than they actually are and help to reflect whatever light there is into dim corners. A hallway with a bright white ceiling and yellow walls will be more attractive and more easily navigable in dim light than one that is covered with dark brown paneling or painted in grim colors.

Cost

• Not all paints are created equal. In general, you get what you pay for when it comes to paint. This means that you can save a lot of money by purchasing cheap paint, but you will probably see the results of your savings within a few years when the paint begins to fade, chip or peel. A specialty paint store generally offers higher quality paint, as well as more knowledgeable and specialized staff, than a general hardware store. Using high quality paint in your hallway will make it more durable and easier to clean and will keep it looking beautiful longer.