How to Pick an Interior Paint for High Traffic Areas

Choose a latex paint if you want the easiest paint to use. It's water-based, dries quickly and cleans up with warm, soapy water. It also produces fewer fumes than oil paint.

Choose a high-gloss latex paint for inside surfaces that get constant use, such as bathroom and kitchen cabinets. For trim work such as door frames, window sills and baseboards, high gloss is also a good choice for durability.

Use high-gloss paint wherever you want to be able to scrub the painted finish frequently. A high-gloss finish equals a high shine finish. This is great for a baseboard or a cupboard, but you probably wouldn't want that much glare on a huge surface such as a wall.

Use an eggshell or a satin finish for wall areas that will have hard use, such as a child's playroom or a laundry room. Remember that the higher the degree of shine, the easier it will be to clean.

Prime dark surfaces if you want to lighten them, such as when going from brown cabinets to white. You may need to use two coats of primer. You shouldn't need to prime lighter surfaces as glossy paints cover exceptionally well.

Prepare your surface as flawlessly as possible when using a glossy paint. The higher the gloss the more noticeable every imperfection will be, so make sure to fill, sand and prime as needed to ensure an attractive finish.