Color of Interior Paint

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

What's the best color and shade for interior paint on my new workshop?

I finished the drywall, but left it "rustic" (i.e. no tape, no spackle, etc). I'm going to paint it just to protect the drywall surface.

My thoughts;
- bright white paint for more light
- medium white, as a compromise between light and hiding blemishes
- light grey; it's a workshop, and there'll dings, oil sprays, etc.

What's the best route?

Joe

mike93lx · Apr 24, 2019

You aren't going to tape the seams?

I would do that now. Once you paint it, you can't easily fix that. Even a simple tape job and fill the screw holes will help it look a lot better and isn't that hard or expensive

Moosefire · Apr 24, 2019

I'd keep my eye out for clearance deals, sometimes people get a color mixed up then return it, and you can get it cheap. Find whatever color you can get in 5 gallons and run with it

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Mike,
in my heart I know you're right, but I'm just want this to be done. After painting the spackle won't adhere as well? Is that it?

Moose,
I see returns in 1 gallon cans all the time. 5 gallon, pretty rare. I don't want all the walls to have different colors and all.

Joe

mike93lx · Apr 24, 2019

sign216 said:
Mike,
in my heart I know you're right, but I'm just want this to be done. After painting the spackle won't adhere as well? Is that it?

Moose,
I see returns in 1 gallon cans all the time. 5 gallon, pretty rare. I don't want all the walls to have different colors and all.

Joe

Yes and i hear you. Keep in mind that it is never as easy ir cheap to do it right than at the beginning.

Personally,i wouldn't be ok with the look. To each his own

The Cobbler · Apr 24, 2019

as far as buying boo boo paint, get similar neutral colours & mix them together

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

mike93lx said:
Yes and i hear you. Keep in mind that it is never as easy ir cheap to do it right than at the beginning.

Personally,i wouldn't be ok with the look. To each his own

Aaargh, Mike, you are right. We all need a nudge of correction every now and then.

Cobbler,
I hear you, but mixing disparate brands and colors can be a big task, esp. to paint a whole workshop. And to save how much? Maybe I should be more frugal and follow your advice.

And...anyone answer the orig. question. What shade/tint?

K'ledgeBldr · Apr 24, 2019

Flat ceiling white- its bright, somewhat reflective, and easy to touchup if needed.

ky-mike · Apr 24, 2019

I did mine in a blue/grey. A light enough color that the inside does not appear dark. Interior window trim in a darker blue. Blue cabinets.

I would not go white, but would suggest a light color of whatever theme color you want in the workshop.

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Ky-mike,
Why the color? To make it seem less cheap?

K'ledge,
Flat? I'm afraid it would pick up more dirt than semi-gloss.

mike93lx · Apr 24, 2019

I would do either eggshell or flat. I hate the look of semi gloss and don't even do it on trim. Flat will hide imperfections in the finish. Apply 2-3 coats to add durability.

I would do a very light grey or off-white

The Cobbler · Apr 24, 2019

sign216 said:
Cobbler,
I hear you, but mixing disparate brands and colors can be a big task, esp. to paint a whole workshop. And to save how much? Maybe I should be more frugal and follow your advice.

depends, I've done it several times and used up all sorts of odds & ends of paint, so the end result was basically free paint, minus my time.
years back I had all kinds of oil base paint . I made up 10 gals of a nice neutral beige that I painted my shop with. used window screens to filter out the chunks & **** . it ended up being fantastic paint.
I'm sitting here thinking I have all sorts of neutral latex paint part cans I should do the same and get rid of all the odds & ends.
if you have an odd colour & not sure what it will do if you mix it in, take a bit of each & mix it, see what it does, it's easy to get a real ugly muddy looking paint.
most of what i do id in the beigey tones so not as big a deal than if you have all differnt tones

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Mike93,
Another vote for flat, eh? I really thought semi-g would be the way to go. Why the hate towards semi-gloss? I don't even use full gloss on my trim. I mean what am I, a New Orleans pimp?

logical · Apr 24, 2019

Do the screw holes and seams, it's leaving exposed gypsum that will wick moisture if you don't plus it looks 100 times better. You don't need to finish to the level of perfection you might do inside a house. Just get a big wide knife and smooth it out. This is also why you use flat...to hide your mudding skills.

And don't mess with odd returned paint. Buy something you can get more of when you want to touch up in 2 years. White paint in 5 gallon buckets is not expensive.

Falcon67 · Apr 24, 2019

Eggshell - will be easier to clean a bit that flat white. If flat white, get anything cheap that is a repeatable purchase later on - Walmart comes to mind. Because flat gets smudged, chipped, marked, etc really easy. Keep a bucket of touch up handy if you go with flat.

Not to be to direct about it, but untaped drywall isn't rustic, it's just half done.

ky-mike · Apr 24, 2019

sign216 said:
Ky-mike,
Why the color? To make it seem less cheap?

K'ledge,
Flat? I'm afraid it would pick up more dirt than semi-gloss.

To me, white paint gives a "sterile environment" perception. Not bad if you are going to keep the workshop spotless, but that sort of defeats the purpose, at least to me.

I always use eggshell for wall paint as it is generally easy to wipe off smudges.

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Cobbler,
I like your thriftiness, but I just don't have that much odd paint hanging around. And this project has been so much work, a part of me just wants to buy the paint and get it done.

Logical,
100% on a lesser level of perfection. I'll cave in and do the seams and holes. Just that work and family don't share my priorities.

Falcon67 · Apr 24, 2019

LOL, family seldom shares the shop priorities. Or gets the schedule, time investment on any particular project or the scope of work.

One of the reasons I went OSB instead of drywall.

44Dan44 · Apr 24, 2019

Semi gloss on walls will show imperfections worse than flat.
Flat is perfect for ceilings.
Going cheap on paint costs you more later, extra coats to hide.
Matte is a good wall choice, kind of in between flat and eggshell but gets you better cleanability.
Satin is borderline too glossy for a wall especially if you don’t plan on doing a thorough job on tape and mud. Great for trim or doors.

Gloss, semi gloss; save them for your car. Unless your workshop will double as a casino.
I highly recommend Sherwin Williams Duration, they have 20% off all paints frequently, even so it’s comparable to the big box stores.
You know how sometimes you can tell the difference between painted areas that were rolled on versus brush? Duration solves that, come back a year later to touch up something and it still blends perfectly.
Color: matte light gray walls all day, ceiling flat white

Flat category (Flat, Matte): Paint surface that creates no to very low reflectance when dry.
Satin category (Low Gloss, Low Sheen, High Sheen, Eg-Shel, Low Lustre, Velvet): Paint surface that creates a low to medium reflectance when dry.
Semi-gloss category (Semi-gloss, Pearl, Medium Lustre): Paint surface that creates a medium to low-high reflectance when dry.
Gloss category (Gloss, High Gloss): Paint surface that creates a high reflectance when dry.

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

ky-mike,
I think you're right on the color.

Falcon,
We think alike, but OSB is too ********* for me. Beside, the drywall is already up.

44Dan,
Thanks, I think I'll go eggshell, maybe flat. And thanks for the recommendation on Sherwin Duration. First hand experience has real value.

Joe

ddawg16 · Apr 24, 2019

Personally, the drywall seams would drive me crazy.
Consider the fact you are going to get a lot of air leakage through those cracks. And even in cheap houses, they at least tape and mud the seams for fire protection.

At a min, you should get a few tubes of caulk and caulk all the seams.

Use exterior semi-gloss or gloss paint. Egg shell is good at covering up mistakes...but with your walls, it won't help. Gloss and semi-gloss don't hold dust and dirt as much and is easier to clean.

Ceiling white for the best light reflection.

Walls....2-tone...upper part light...lower can be slightly darker for more contrast. But if you are like most of us, those walls will be covered with so much ****, you won't see much of the walls.

This is my garage.....before I covered all the walls with ****....

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Dawg,
I really like your two tone idea. It adds a quality to the construction. Less "cheap."
But I've got to say, you are the only guy in this whole thread to say gloss or semi.

Why does everyone else say flat or eggshell?

Joe

tthornto · Apr 24, 2019

More glossy = more light reflection and easier to wipe clean but also shows more imperfections and is more expensive.
Flat = Hides imperfections better and is cheaper but doesn't reflect as much light and doesn't wipe clean as easily.

My Go to paint for the Garage as well as closets and ceilings is Glidden Quick Cover Interior latex in Flat white. It's available off the shelf (no mixing) at Walmart for less than $10 a gallon and covers just as well as Valspar or Behr "one coat" paints that cost 2.5-4 times as much.

CraigStu · Apr 24, 2019

I use flat or one step up, whatever it is called by the various makers. I went w/ an off white toward grey. Just enough grey so I am not blinded when I turn on the lights. Just close enough to white to do the ceiling the same color. I am done w/ edges at the ceiling wall joint. I rented a sprayer. It was just 15x22 but I sprayed kind of light and just went around and around for 3 coats. I got to tell you, I would be real close to leaving screws and joints un-finished on the next one. I am not good at it so spent way more time finishing than I did installing. And eating that dust, (yeah I used a filter but still) is no fun. And taking my outer clothing off in the garage before going inside isn't fun either.

DFB · Apr 24, 2019

I simply use a Zinsser 123 primer on my jobs and good to go

I think it works fine and easy to touchup

I did the packing house, the donut shop and new store kitchen with it.

The dipshit I had to work with though when we finished out the main part of my boss's new barn store at the orchard bought that homedepot **** in 5 gal buckets one bucket at a time and didn't get the same number each time :lol:

It was close but a trained eye knew better. Lucky for him the boss couldn't tell can't see for ****.

And that paint come right off with a wet sponge. Don't ask how we know

sign216 · Apr 24, 2019

Thornto,
Glad you can get the Glidden so cheaply. I'll be looking for it.

Craig,
Yep, I think one step up from flat appears to be the way to go. Thanks.

DEG,
Primer, and that's all? Wow, a new standard in easy finishing. Something to think about.

Monza Harry · Apr 24, 2019

ky-mike said:
I would not go white...To me, white paint gives a "sterile environment" perception.

I had originally thought Gloss White for maximum light dispersion, but I have found that the "Sterile White" isn't good with a minority of the population, I have encountered some people that are shall we say "Aggressive" in that environment, co-incidental maybe but I had heard that "Tale" before. Just a caution to consider, I am now considering the two tone with a contrasting narrow stripe to break up the white/grey (semi-gloss probably) 2 tone. A ways off I'll change my mind again, as soon as I find it again LOL! Harry

bugnut · Apr 25, 2019

Existing is flat light grey with black trim.

New drywall will be matte very light grey and back base trim white ceiling trim, ceiling is white steel panel.

the reflection from semi or gloss is not kind to my old eyes............

countrysquire · Apr 25, 2019

Some paint manufacturers will list the Light Reflectance Value for each of their colors. The scale is 0-100, with the value being the percentage of light that is reflected. If color matters to you, have a look at these numbers. Pure white will be in the low to mid 90s, and it drops off from there. I went with a white ceiling and Benjamin Moore Grey Owl walls, which has an LRV of 66.

Lonnies Performance · Apr 25, 2019

Flat is the hardest to clean so i would stay away from that. I hated cleaning it in the house let alone where you plan to get things dirty.

At minimum eggshell is much easier to clean & satin even better, but you start to see your flaws in the drywall as you add more gloss. What looks worse, a dirty wall, you can barely clean, or one that shows your finishing flaws? Let that be your decision.

nadogail · Apr 25, 2019

Box those smaller quantities of paint so that you get a uniform "hash" of color. Then make a sample swatch so your paint supplier can mix to match any additional paint you might want.

ddawg16 · Apr 25, 2019

sign216 said:
Dawg,
I really like your two tone idea. It adds a quality to the construction. Less "cheap."
But I've got to say, you are the only guy in this whole thread to say gloss or semi.

Why does everyone else say flat or eggshell?

Joe

To hide the defects....in your case with no mud....moot point.

Semi or high gloss is easier to clean and and does not hold dust and dirt as easy. If you use exterior....it doesn't care if it gets wet.

But as I said earlier.....when it's all done, you will most likely have a lot of **** on the walls so a lot of those defects won't be obvious.

sign216 · Apr 25, 2019

I'm thinking eggshell is the best compromise.
Probably in a very light blue.

Dawg, I like your two-tone idea and I think I'll borrow it. Maybe a darker blue, 3 ft high. Any tips on keeping the seam pure, i.e. not having colors bleeding over?

sign216 · Apr 25, 2019

CraigStu said:
I got to tell you, I would be real close to leaving screws and joints un-finished on the next one. I am not good at it so spent way more time finishing than I did installing.

Craig,
I was going to follow your suggestion, and not finish the screws and joints, but everyone on the board says to do it right and finish it.

Anyone else w Craig on this, and not doing the finish work?

Joe

mike93lx · Apr 25, 2019

sign216 said:
I'm thinking eggshell is the best compromise.
Probably in a very light blue.

Dawg, I like your two-tone idea and I think I'll borrow it. Maybe a darker blue, 3 ft high. Any tips on keeping the seam pure, i.e. not having colors bleeding over?

Paint the lighter color past the line, then tape with good tape. Make sure it is pressed well onto the wall. Then lay on the darker colo remove tape after cleaning up

sign216 · Apr 26, 2019

mike93lx said:
Paint the lighter color past the line, then tape with good tape. Make sure it is pressed well onto the wall. Then lay on the darker colo remove tape after cleaning up

Thanks Mike, that sounds like it should work.

bcoke · Apr 27, 2019

I went the no mudding of the drywall and it looks great.........went to home depot and got their "landlord" paint 5 gallons.......cheap great covering looks great picked the brightest "sunshine" Yellow brightens up the work space and looks great any wood on walls [plywood to hang things on] painted slate grey both look great together........all metal shelving black /red combinations.........even the ceiling the bright yellow really brightens up the place.........try it you will like it !!!!!

TriumphFan · Apr 27, 2019

Spiders love cheap, flat paint. If you like cleaning webs out of every corner use flat paint. Mold likes flat paint too... I use semi-gloss paint. Two-tone always looks nice...

finn · Apr 27, 2019

Eggshell antique white.

Spend the time to mud the joints. Doesn’t have to be perfect, just a couple of coats of mud.

I’l get crucified for suggesting the mesh tape, but that’s all I use and it works for me.

sign216 · Apr 27, 2019

finn said:
Eggshell antique white.

Spend the time to mud the joints. Doesn’t have to be perfect, just a couple of coats of mud.

I’l get crucified for suggesting the mesh tape, but that’s all I use and it works for me.

The drywall is a shoddy job, but the labor was cheap (me!). Still, I'll put one or two coats of mud on it. I was planning on mesh tape. It's a little easier, and this isn't the Whitehouse Lincoln bedroom.

Joe

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