You’ve got kids, you’ve got messes. Even walls aren’t safe from little hands or feet – let’s not forget those floor-level scuff marks. What’s a parent to do? Why, check out these washable interior paint ideas, of course. Here’s what you need to know to make cleanup easy and keep your walls looking fresh and clean, despite the spills, stains and scuffs that come with real life.
What Does “Washable Paint” Mean, Anyway?
How does washable interior paint differ from other paint? It is formulated specially for enhanced stain resistance and cleanability. Engineered for extraordinary resistance to stains and unsightly marks, washable paint will stand up to soap and water and keep your walls from dulling and damage.
How Do You Choose a Washable Interior Paint Finish?
Like other paints, interior washable paint comes in a variety of finishes, including high-gloss, semi-gloss, eggshell and flat (or matte). When looking for washable interior paint, which finish should you use?
First, let’s define finish, also known as sheen. The finish just means the amount of light the paint reflects. For example, matte paint has a sheen level that clocks in at less than 10 percent, making the paint look flatter. High-gloss paint has a reflectivity of 70 percent or higher.
Eggshell and semi-gloss (a.k.a. satin) both have enough sheen to reflect light, but not as much as a high-gloss paint, making them a good fit for most homes. Save the high-gloss for trim or doors – or for high-traffic rooms like kitchens. But high-gloss paint shows every blip, so make sure your walls are pristinely smooth before painting.
Before washable paints, paint pros recommended high-gloss paint as the most durable. But with new technology, you can find the right finish for you – and trust it will stand up to kids’ wear and tear.
Design tip: If you’re still worried about your paint’s durability, try installing wainscoting around the base of the wall and painting it with high-gloss washable paint. This will protect the sheetrock and provide the most durable material for messy spaces.
Does Price Matter?
When you’re looking for an exceptional washable interior paint for messy rooms, does price matter? In a word, yes – especially if you’re going with a flatter sheen like matte or eggshell.
Wondering About Chalkboard Paint?
Chalkboard paint and playrooms go together like mac-n-cheese. If you want a real write-and-erase chalkboard in your playrooms, try painting one wall (or part of one wall – within easy reach). Just a quick note: chalk paint and chalkboard paint aren’t the same thing. Chalk paint is an extremely flat paint; chalkboard paint is made to use like a chalkboard.
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