Is expensive paint worth it?

Often, because better hide can mean fewer coats and better durability means fewer repaints. On a professionally painted room, labor is usually the larger cost, so saving on materials can be a false economy.

What sheen should I use in a bathroom?

Satin or semi gloss are the usual choices, because they tolerate moisture and cleaning better than flat finishes.

Do I need primer if the paint says it includes it?

Self priming paints work on sound, previously painted surfaces in similar colors. Bare substrates, stains, tannin bleed and dramatic color changes still call for a dedicated primer.

Service Explainers

How to choose interior paint

How paint quality tiers, sheens and primers actually differ, how to test color properly, and what to specify so a painter's quote is comparable.

By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated September 9, 2026

Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.

Interior paint test patches brushed onto a living room wall beside an open can, roller and brush on a drop cloth

Choose paint on three decisions: the quality tier within a product line, the sheen for the room, and whether the surface needs a dedicated primer. Higher tiers generally hide better, level more smoothly and hold up to cleaning, which often means fewer coats and less labor. Test colors on the actual wall in the actual light before you commit, because a chip under store lighting is not a preview.

Key points

Sheen is a durability decision as much as a look.
A better paint that covers in two coats can cost less installed than a cheap one needing three.
Sample on the wall, in daylight and at night, before ordering.

Sheen by room

What each sheen is generally suited to
Sheen	Look	Cleanability	Common use
Flat or matte	Hides surface flaws best	Lowest	Ceilings, low traffic bedrooms
Eggshell	Soft low luster	Moderate	Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways
Satin	Slight sheen	Good	Kitchens, kids rooms, busy hallways
Semi gloss	Noticeable sheen	High	Trim, doors, bathrooms
Gloss	Reflective	Highest	Accent trim and cabinetry

What separates quality tiers

Pigment and binder content, which drive hide and color retention
How well the paint levels, which affects roller and brush marks
Scrubbability, which matters in kitchens, halls and homes with children
Touch up behavior, since some paints flash when spot repaired
Spread rate, since a paint that covers in two coats saves labor

When you need a primer

Bare drywall, patched areas and new joint compound
Bare or previously stained wood
Stains from water, smoke or tannin bleed
A dramatic color change, especially over deep colors
Glossy existing surfaces after deglossing
Any surface where a stain blocking primer is specified by the manufacturer

Testing color properly

Paint a large sample directly on the wall, or on a poster board you can move around the room. Look at it in morning light, in afternoon light and under your evening lamps, because artificial light shifts color noticeably.

Check it next to the trim color, the flooring and any large fixed surfaces such as countertops or stone.

Would rather hand the whole job over?

Find a painter

Specify it so quotes match

Product line and quality tier, plus sheen for walls, ceilings and trim
Number of coats included
Prep included: patching, sanding, caulking and priming
Whether the painter supplies the paint or you do
Protection of floors, furniture and fixtures, and daily cleanup
Who moves furniture and removes wall plates

Common questions

Is expensive paint worth it?: Often, because better hide can mean fewer coats and better durability means fewer repaints. On a professionally painted room, labor is usually the larger cost, so saving on materials can be a false economy.
What sheen should I use in a bathroom?: Satin or semi gloss are the usual choices, because they tolerate moisture and cleaning better than flat finishes.
Do I need primer if the paint says it includes it?: Self priming paints work on sound, previously painted surfaces in similar colors. Bare substrates, stains, tannin bleed and dramatic color changes still call for a dedicated primer.