The right sheen hides what you want hidden and cleans where you need it to. The right color depends on your light more than on the chip in the store.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. New York City labor, building rules, access and the state of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
What sheen should I use for walls and trim?
Use a low sheen on walls and a higher sheen on trim. The usual choice is flat or matte on ceilings, matte or eggshell on walls, and satin or semi-gloss on doors and trim.
| Surface | Common sheen | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat | Hides flaws and does not glare |
| Living room and bedroom walls | Matte or eggshell | Soft look, wipeable |
| Kitchen and bathroom walls | Satin or a washable matte | Stands up to moisture and cleaning |
| Doors and trim | Satin or semi-gloss | Hard and easy to wipe |
Eggshell or satin for living room walls?
Eggshell, in most living rooms. It has a slight glow, wipes clean and does not highlight flaws the way satin does.
Pick satin if the walls take a lot of contact from children or pets and the surface is smooth. On old plaster with waves and patches, satin shows every one of them.
Flat or eggshell to hide bad walls?
Flat hides bad walls best. It does not reflect light, so dents, patches and waves in the plaster fade from view.
The trade-off used to be that flat paint marked easily. Good washable matte paints now clean far better than old flat paint did. For the uneven plaster of a pre-war Bronx apartment, a washable matte is often the best answer.
Should trim be satin or semi-gloss?
Either works. Semi-gloss is the classic choice and the easiest to wipe. Satin is a little softer and kinder to old trim.
Trim in older buildings has dents, drips and decades of paint. High gloss puts a spotlight on that. Satin gives a clean look without showing every flaw.
What is the best paint for a bathroom or kitchen?
The best bathroom or kitchen paint is one made for moisture: a mildew resistant bath and kitchen formula in satin or a washable matte.
This matters more here than in a newer house. Many Bronx bathrooms have no exhaust fan. The ceiling over the shower takes the worst of it and may need a stain blocking or moisture tolerant primer first.
What is the best paint for a high-traffic hallway?
A scrubbable paint in eggshell or satin is best for a busy hallway. It needs to survive bags, strollers, bikes and hands.
For shared hallways and stairwells in apartment buildings, owners often choose satin or semi-gloss on the lower wall because it washes down fast.
What is the best paint for exterior walls in this climate?
A 100% acrylic exterior paint is the usual best paint for exterior walls in New York's climate. It stays flexible through freeze and thaw, lets some moisture out and holds color in summer sun.
Near the water in Throgs Neck and on City Island, pick a product rated for coastal exposure and expect to wash the house now and then. Masonry and stucco need a breathable masonry coating. Bare wood and rusty metal each need their own primer.
Can I use the same paint inside and outside?
No. Do not use the same paint inside and outside. Exterior paint is made to flex and resist sun and mildew, and it can give off odor indoors for a long time. Interior paint is made to be scrubbed and breaks down fast in weather.
Does expensive paint last longer than cheap paint?
Usually yes. A more expensive paint has more solids and better resins than a cheap paint, so it covers in fewer coats, washes better and keeps its color longer.
By the national figures, paint runs $20 to $80 per gallon. Labor is 70% to 85% of an interior job, so better paint changes the total by little and can save a coat. Past a certain price you pay for the name.
Is one paint brand really better than another?
The line matters more than the brand. Every major brand sells a budget line and a top line, and the top lines from the big names are all good.
We choose by surface and use. If you have a brand you trust, tell us and we will quote with it.
How many coats of paint do I need, and how do I cover dark paint with a light color?
Two coats, in most cases. Two coats give even color, even sheen and a film thick enough to wash.
One coat can work when repainting the same color on a clean wall. New patches and bare surfaces get primer first.
To cover a dark wall with a light color, prime it first with a high hiding primer, then apply two coats of the light color. Trying to do it with paint alone often takes three or four coats and still shows shadows.
Why does the same color look different in different rooms?
The same color looks different because the light is different. North light is cool and makes colors look grayer. South light is warm. Bulbs change it again at night.
Bronx apartments add another factor. A window that faces a courtyard or the brick wall next door gets reflected light tinted by that wall. Test a large sample on two walls and look at it in the morning, afternoon and evening before you decide.
What white will not look yellow?
A white with a neutral or slightly cool base will not look yellow. Creamy whites have yellow in them by design.
Two other things turn white yellow. Warm bulbs do, so check the color under your own lights. And old oil based white paint yellows with age, most of all in dark spots such as closets and behind doors. Modern water based enamels do not.
How do I pick an exterior color that matches my roof and brick?
Start with what will not change. The brick, the roof and the stoop set the palette, and the trim color has to work with them.
Most Bronx brick is red, orange or tan. Off white, cream, black, deep green and dark brown trim all sit well against it. Pull one tone from the brick or the mortar and test it on the house. On a landmark or in a historic district, a color change needs Landmarks approval first.
How much paint do I need?
One gallon covers 300 to 400 square feet with one coat, by the national figures. To find how many gallons you need, measure the wall area, divide by 350 and double it for two coats.
HomeGuide's table gives 1 gallon per coat for an average bathroom of 400 square feet of surface, 2 for an average room of 800 and 3 for a large room of 1,200. Rough plaster and fresh patches drink more.
Should the painter supply the paint or should I buy it?
Let the painter supply the paint in most cases. The painter knows how much is needed, picks the right primer for each surface and stands behind the result.
If you buy the paint yourself and it runs short or is the wrong product for the surface, the job stops. Our quotes include paint and name the product, so you can see what you are paying for.
Want help choosing? Ask about color consulting when you call (718) 866-3263.