Choose paint by the room and the surface first, and by color second. Sheen decides how a wall hides flaws and how well it cleans. The type of paint decides how it stands up to steam indoors and to Michigan weather outdoors.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
What sheen should I use for walls and trim?
Use a low sheen on walls and a higher sheen on trim. Flat or matte suits ceilings. Eggshell or satin suits most walls. Satin or semi-gloss suits trim, doors and cabinets.
| Surface | Usual sheen | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat | Hides flaws and does not glare |
| Living rooms and bedrooms | Matte or eggshell | Soft look, wipes clean |
| Kitchens and bathrooms | Satin or semi-gloss | Resists moisture and scrubbing |
| Hallways and kids' rooms | Eggshell or satin | Stands up to hands and bags |
| Trim and doors | Satin or semi-gloss | Hard, washable finish |
Eggshell or satin for living room walls?
Eggshell is the usual choice for living room walls. It has a soft, low glow and wipes clean. Satin is a step shinier and tougher, and it suits a living room that gets heavy use from children or pets.
Satin shows wall flaws more than eggshell. On old plaster with waves and patches, eggshell or matte is kinder.
Flat or eggshell to hide bad walls?
Flat hides bad walls best. It reflects almost no light, so dents, patches and waves in the plaster do not catch the eye. Eggshell shows a little more but is easier to wash.
A good middle road is a washable matte, which many paint makers now sell. It hides nearly as well as flat and can be wiped. This is a common pick for older Detroit homes with uneven plaster.
Should trim be satin or semi-gloss?
Either works. Semi-gloss is the traditional choice for trim because it is hard and easy to wash. Satin is softer to the eye and hides dents and old brush marks better.
On old trim with many layers of paint and a few knocks, satin often looks better. On new, smooth trim, semi-gloss gives a crisp line against the wall. Use the same sheen on all trim in a room.
What is the best paint for a bathroom or kitchen?
The best bathroom or kitchen paint is a satin or semi-gloss acrylic made for those rooms, with mildew resistance. It stands up to steam, splashes and scrubbing.
Paint cannot do the job alone. A bathroom needs an exhaust fan that vents outside and runs long enough to clear the steam. In a kitchen, grease has to be washed off the walls before any paint goes on.
What is the best paint for a high-traffic hallway?
For a busy hallway, use a scrubbable acrylic in eggshell or satin. Hallways and stairwells get touched, bumped and scuffed more than any other wall in the house.
A better grade of paint is worth it here, because cheap paint shows shiny marks where it is wiped. Keep a labeled can for touch-ups.
What is the best paint for exterior walls in this climate?
The best paint for exterior walls in the Detroit climate is a 100% acrylic latex. It stays flexible through freeze and thaw, lets a little moisture out of the wall and resists fading in summer sun.
The primer is matched to the surface: an oil-based or stain-blocking primer on bare old wood, a bonding primer on aluminum and a masonry primer on stucco or block. Exterior paint has a minimum temperature on the label, and that matters here in spring and fall.
Can I use the same paint inside and outside?
No. Do not use interior paint on the outside of a house, and do not use exterior paint indoors. Interior paint has no defense against rain, sun and frost and fails quickly outside.
Exterior paint is made softer and has additives to fight mildew and weather. It is not meant for closed rooms. Use each where its label says.
Does expensive paint last longer than cheap paint, and is one brand really better?
Often yes. Expensive paint usually has more solids and better resins, so it covers in fewer coats, washes better and holds color longer than cheap paint. By the national figures a gallon of paint costs $20 to $80.
As for brand, the product line matters more than the name on the can. Every major maker sells a budget line and a top line. Because labor is 70% to 85% of a paint job by HomeGuide's figures, saving a few dollars a gallon rarely pays. Ask any painter which line the quote is based on.
How many coats of paint do I need?
Most jobs need two coats. Two coats give full color, an even sheen and a film thick enough to wash. Our standard job is two coats.
One coat can be enough when you repaint the same color over clean, sound paint. Three coats, or primer plus two, are needed for a strong color change, for deep reds and yellows and for new drywall or plaster.
How do I cover dark paint with a light color?
To cover a dark color with a light or white one, prime first with a good primer tinted toward the new color, then apply two finish coats. Trying to do it with finish paint alone can take four coats.
Patch and sand before the primer so repairs are sealed too. Cut in carefully at ceilings and trim, because dark edges are where the old color shows last.
Why does the same color look different in different rooms?
The same color looks different because the light is different. North rooms get cool, bluish light. South and west rooms get warm light. Lamps, floors, trees outside and even a brick wall across the driveway all tint what you see.
Test before you commit. Paint a large sample, or a sample board, and look at it morning, afternoon and evening in the room where it will go.
What white will not look yellow?
A white with a neutral or slightly cool base will not look yellow. Whites with cream or beige in them turn yellow next to cool daylight, grey floors or bright white trim.
Hold the color chip against a sheet of plain white printer paper. A warm white looks yellow against it at once. Also note that old oil-based white paint yellows with age, most of all in rooms with little daylight. Modern acrylic whites do not do that.
How do I pick an exterior color that goes with my roof and brick?
Start with the things that will not change: the roof and the brick. Pick trim and siding colors that share an undertone with them.
Detroit brick runs from orange-red to deep brown, often with dark flecks. Creams, warm whites, deep greens, charcoals and browns tend to sit well with it, and stark blue-whites tend to fight it. A grey or black roof is flexible. A brown roof wants warmer colors. Look at samples outside, against the brick, in daylight.
How much paint do I need?
One gallon of paint covers 300 to 400 square feet with one coat. Measure the wall area, take off doors and windows and divide. Then double it for two coats.
| Area to paint | Gallons for one coat | Gallons for two coats |
|---|---|---|
| Average bathroom, 400 sq ft of surface | 1 | 2 |
| Average room, 800 sq ft | 2 | 4 |
| Large room, 1,200 sq ft | 3 | 6 |
| Living room or several rooms, 1,600 sq ft | 4 | 8 |
Those are HomeGuide's published figures. Rough plaster, bare wood, stucco and brick take more.
Should the painter supply the paint, or should I buy it?
In most cases the painter should supply the paint. The painter knows how much is needed, which primer goes with which finish, and stands behind products they chose.
If you want to buy the paint yourself, agree the exact product, sheen and amount first, and expect the labor price to be listed on its own. We are glad to use a color you already have and can match it.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (313) 209-8467.