Paint Buying Guide — How to Choose the Right Paint for Your Home

Paint Guide

A comprehensive guide to choosing paint for every room in your home. Covers interior vs exterior, finish types (matte, satin, glossy), budget vs luxury, paint grades, coverage calculation, and brand recommendations for Kolkata homes.

Choosing the right paint involves understanding your space, your budget, and the specific requirements of each room. This guide walks you through every decision you need to make. Step 1: Determine the Surface Type New plaster (cement): Needs putty + primer + 2-3 coats of paint. Wait 28 days for curing before painting. Repainting over old paint: Scrape loose paint, fill cracks, apply primer, then 2 coats. POP ceiling: Use dedicated ceiling primer, avoid heavy-texture paints. Exterior walls: Always use exterior-grade primer and paint with weather protection. Step 2: Choose Your Paint Grade Luxury (Rs. 600-1500 per litre): Royale Glitz, Royale Matt, Royale Atmos, Royale Health Shield, Opus One Pro, Berger Easy Clean, Silk Breathe Easy. Best for: living rooms, bedrooms, feature walls. Features: washable, anti-fungal, premium finish, some with air-purifying or anti-viral properties. Mid-Range (Rs. 300-600 per litre): Ace Interior Emulsion, Apex Interior, Opus Silk, Opus Matt, Berger Velvet, Berger Illusion. Best for: all rooms, good balance of quality and cost. Features: washable, smooth finish, decent durability. Economy (Rs. 150-300 per litre): Tractor Emulsion, Tractor Shyne, Tractor Uno, Bison Interior, Express Paint. Best for: rental properties, budget renovations, large areas. Features: decent coverage, basic washability, good value. Step 3: Choose Your Finish Matte: No reflection, hides wall imperfections, sophisticated look. Best for: bedrooms, living rooms. Not ideal for: kitchens, bathrooms (harder to clean). Satin/Eggshell: Subtle sheen, easier to clean than matte, good for most rooms. Best for: hallways, kids' rooms, high-traffic areas. Glossy: High reflection, most durable and easiest to clean. Best for: doors, windows, metal surfaces, kitchens, bathrooms. Step 4: Calculate How Much Paint You Need Most interior emulsions cover 100-140 sq ft per litre per coat (for 2 coats). For a 10x10 ft room (4 walls, 10 ft height): Wall area = 4 x 10 x 10 = 400 sq ft. Minus door (21 sq ft) and window (10 sq ft) = 369 sq ft. Paint needed (2 coats) = 369 / 100 x 2 = 7.4 litres. Always buy 10-15% extra for touch-ups. Step 5: Don't Forget Primer and Putty Putty fills surface imperfections and creates a smooth base. Primer ensures paint adhesion and prevents alkali attack from new plaster. Skipping putty and primer to save money will cost more in the long run — paint will peel, blister, or not cover evenly.