We've been asked by several website visitors and customers which paint type and finish is best for nurseries and kids' rooms. The staff and contributors to KidSmartLiving seem to make a hobby of painting our homes, and while we're not professional painters, we do feel qualified to tackle this question. Happily, it's an easy anwer!
The Basics: Paint Types and Finishes
Latex and Oil-based enamels are the two most commom paint types for the home. Latex is water-based, thus easy to clean up with water, versus oil based enamels, which clean up with thinners. There are some differences in the two paint bases, but for interior home painting purposes, latex is usually ideal.
Interior home paints come in several finishes. Listed here from the least sheen to the most sheen, paint finishes range from: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss. Semi-gloss or gloss is usually reserved for trim and bathrooms where you might want a brigher, harder finish. Walls generally are painted in a less glossy finish, usually flat or eggshell.
Durability and Cleaning
Years ago, people chose a glossier wall finish since it was easier to clean. Nowadays, flat and eggshell paints offer scrubbable finishes that are actually quite easy to clean. This makes the flat or eggshell scrubbale paints very popular for use in high traffic areas and kids' rooms.
Most everyone on the KidSmartLiving team uses latex paints in the flat or eggshell scrubbable finish in our home painting projects.
Consider Faux Finishes for Worry-Free Kids Rooms
Faux finishing, such as ragging or sponging is a fun, creative and less-worrsome finish for kids rooms. In addition to the variety of textures you can easily create, faux finishes tend to hide dirt and fingerprints. Plus, if disaster strikes in the form of a crayon, it's easy to camoflauge with a few strategic sponge pats. If you are painting a base coat to faux finish over - like ragging or sponging -- satin or semi gloss is a good choice since it won't absorb the paint too quickly and lets you get creative with the faux coat.
![[Plastic Glasses, Unbreakable Drinkware and Tableware, Child Safety Gates, Childproofing, Kids Beanbags and Chairs, Slipcovers and Family Home Decorating]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/newtoplogo.gif)
![[Sign-up to receive monthly specials and updates]](http://www.kidsmartliving.com/lib/kid-smartliving/top-newsletter-signup.gif){kind=small}
![[View Your Cart or Checkout]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/top-view-cart.gif){kind=small}
![[KidSmartLiving.com for unbreakable plastic glasses, drinkware and dinnerware, baby safety gates, child safety ideas, slipcover fit tips, family home decorating projects and more!]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/newtoplogobtm.gif){kind=small}
![[Coupon Savings Offer]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/frontpagebanner308.gif){kind=small}
![[Better Business Bureau]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/bbbreliabilityseal.gif)
![[Yahoo! Shopping Top Service Rated Merchant]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/left-y-shopping.gif){kind=small}
![[Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover]](http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kid-smartliving/new-creditcards.gif){kind=small}