The best paint for interior doesn’t have to be difficult. In the past, you had to coat the walls, wait a day for them to dry, then paint several coats of waiting quite a while between each coat.
Modern interior paint has solved this problem by offering a single primer/paint solution. Plus, it usually dries quickly and is generally easy to apply.
To make it easier for you to choose your paint brand, we have divided the best paint brands into 15 categories, from best value to best coverage and so on, so you can find the best paint for your home. You may need to get some too, based on the needs of the job and what you’re painting.
Here are the 15 best paints for interior
1. Behr marquee
With a 100% one-coat guarantee, a marquee is a great choice for covering up old paint. While this isn’t the cheapest option, it’s great if you’re looking to save on home renovations because you’ll be using less paint. Bonus: it’s also smudge-resistant.
2. Ppg diamonds
This high-quality coat of paint will not budge. Consumer reports tout its scrubbing ability and surface smoothness, which means fewer touches over the years. Better yet, it offers a lifetime guarantee, so it’s great for high-traffic areas like hallways.
3. Sherwin-Williams cashmere
This acrylic latex paint/primer combo stands out for its buttery smooth application. Automatically rises to an even layer. In other words, you don’t have to worry about permanent roller marks or brush strokes.
When your walls dry, you get a very smooth and rich finish that looks great from every angle. This best paint for interior offers great coverage, easily hiding any color or markings underneath.
4. Glidden essentials
High-quality options with affordable price tags. Whether you want to freshen up your living room, entryway, bedroom, or home office, this paint provides excellent coverage and an easy-to-clean finish.
Glidden essentials can be colored into over 1,100 colors, and you can choose from flat/matte, eggshell, or semi-gloss. We also appreciate that this is a low VOC (volatile organic compound) latex paint with minimal odor. Plus, glidden backs it up with a 15-year warranty.
5. Rust-oleum
Rust-oleum lime. The ultra-matte formula creates a charming, semi-stressed look that’s ideal for rustic and vintage-inspired interior design schemes.
In addition to painting walls, you can use rust-oleum lime to transform wooden furniture, metal fixtures, and ceramic items around your home. This low odor latex paint is easy to apply, adheres easily to most surfaces, and dries to the touch in 30 minutes. Peoples often use this paint on a cinder block to make the cinder block look like stone.
6. Kilz Original
Kilz Oil-Based Primer is a powerful smudge-resistant formula that blocks most heavy interior stains including water, smoke, tannins, inks, pencils, markers, oils, as well as pet seals, food, and smoke odors.
Trusted by professionals for more than 40 years, its excellent sealing and adhesive properties help paint adhere to most interior surfaces resulting in better results.
Use on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, painted metal, and properly prepared glossy surfaces†. Not recommended for surfaces that are prone to mold or mildew or on floors.
7. Valspar cabinet enamel
Impervo is undoubtedly the best paint you can use for cabinets, trim, and doors. It will take longer as you will have to apply 2 coats of primer then 2 coats of impervious enamel but your cabinets will dry smoothly and you will have chip resistance and a finish that will last.
For an extra glossy finish, Valspar ultra-high gloss is the right choice. Like its flat counterpart, this paint/primer formula is resistant to stains, scuff marks, scuffs, and general wear and tear. It has a washable finish, which means most stains and stains will be removed with soap and water.
This acrylic paint is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. No matter where you apply it, you can count on this gloss-resistant finish to maintain its glossy look.
8. Behr premium plus
If you’re looking for the perfect pure white, check out Behr premium plus enamel ultra pure white. This acrylic paint and primer combination comes in five glosses, including flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.
The low odor formula glides on easily and covers your existing wall color even dark colors. It is mildew resistant and is ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and other moisture-prone spaces.
9. Ace royal
This quick-drying paint offers excellent coverage for the cost and can be color-matched with almost any hue you choose. While this isn’t the best choice for playrooms or areas frequented by pets, it is a good paint for the price.
10. Glidden premium
Glidden premium interior paint + primer offers great value and help beautify and refresh any space in your home on a budget.
Glidden premium interior paint can be scrubbed and washed for all of life’s minor faults has been formulated to be thick for easy application, and provides good protection and coverage on pre-painted surfaces, with zero VOC* and low odor. All backed by our lifetime warranty.
11. Primer showcase
Showcase is the best paint for an interior that is easy to apply in just one coat, guaranteed. Designed with advanced stain and rub resistant technology to withstand frequent washing and vigorous scrubbing even after the stain has dried.
Showcases are an excellent choice for areas of the home where walls need a quick and regular cleaning so your walls will have a freshly painted look for years to come.
12. Benjamin Moore ben regal select
This paint is easy to apply and combines coverage, durability, and cleaning ability. Half of the painters we spoke to considered it their paint of choice.
Regal Select is also an easy-to-use paint, making it ideal for non-pros. As part of this guide, we painted two rooms with it and were surprised at how easy it was to brush and roll.
13. Emerald urethane
I had high hopes for this paint, but it wasn’t worth the cost. My cabinets were professionally painted with it and less than 4 months later they have scratches, chips, and a “chalked” feel. It was an expensive job that I wish I had never done. Do better, Sherwin Williams.
Read also: What color goes with green
Emerald urethane trim enamel finish with elegant cabinets, doors, and trim. This water-based enamel is resistant to yellowing compared to traditional oil-based coatings and creates a tough, durable finish that resists wear and tears infrequently cleaned and used areas. Emerald urethane trim enamel also lasts less and can be used for both interior and exterior projects.
14. Advance benjamin-Moore
The advanced paint formula is a water-borne alkyd, meaning it is transmitted through a water-based enamel, not an oil-based one. As Benjamin Moore’s website states, one of the most significant benefits of this feature is that it substantially reduces the number of VOCs dispensed with.
Compared to traditional oil-based paints, an advance will maintain the same flow and leveling while being washable with just soap and water.
15. Farrow & ball
Another high-gloss paint that will give kitchen cabinets a beautiful glossy finish is the upscale water-based farrow & ball full gloss variety that is a favorite with many designers.
This paint line is available in a variety of colors, including neutrals and bolds. For example, stiff key blue is perfect for making a statement in your kitchen or dining room.
For a more traditional approach, opt for a color like an ammonite, which is a soft, earthy gray. The color you choose may be your biggest consideration when choosing interior paint.
In fact, if you already know the interior paint color you want, there are many color choices. Most major paint manufacturers offer a wide selection of color chips. Use them to narrow down your choices, then consider buying a pint-sized paint tester to try out colors at home if you’re still crying.
The finish best paint for interior you choose will depend on where you paint and how hard you want it to be. Aesthetics also play a role; a glossy finish adds drama, while a more matte look might suit quieter environments.
