The right sheen and product depend on the room, the light and the state of the walls. Old plaster and north-facing apartments change the usual advice.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Manhattan labor rates, building rules, access and the state of your 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 common choice is flat or matte for ceilings, matte or eggshell for walls and satin or semi-gloss for trim and doors.
Shine does two things. It makes a surface easier to wipe, and it shows every bump. That trade-off drives all the answers below.
Eggshell or satin for living room walls?
Eggshell is the usual pick for living room walls. It has a soft glow, wipes down reasonably well and hides more than satin.
Satin is shinier and tougher, which suits children's rooms and busy areas. On long walls lit from the side by a window, satin shows roller laps and patches more than eggshell does.
Flat or eggshell to hide bad walls?
Flat hides bad walls best. It reflects almost no light, so waves, patches and old repairs fade into the surface.
That matters in pre-war apartments, where plaster is seldom perfectly flat. Modern washable mattes give most of the hiding with better cleaning. Old flat ceiling paint marks easily, so keep true flat for ceilings and low-traffic rooms.
Should trim be satin or semi-gloss?
Either works. Semi-gloss is the traditional trim finish: hard, bright and easy to clean. Satin is softer to the eye and more forgiving.
On old trim with dents, drips and many paint layers, satin hides the history better. On new or carefully restored trim, semi-gloss looks crisp.
What is the best paint for a bathroom or kitchen?
A bathroom or kitchen needs a paint made for moisture, with mildew resistance, in a finish you can wipe: satin, semi-gloss or a washable matte made for baths.
Windowless bathrooms are common here, and they stay damp. The product helps, but the fan matters more. In kitchens, grease must be washed off the walls before painting or the new coat will not stick.
What is the best paint for a high-traffic hallway?
A hallway needs a scrubbable paint in eggshell or satin. Entry halls, stairs and corridors get bags, strollers, bikes and hands along them every day.
In building common halls, a tougher coating and a darker color low on the wall can save repainting. Ask us about options for your hall.
What is the best paint for exterior walls in this climate?
The best paint for exterior surfaces in New York is a 100% acrylic exterior paint matched to the material: masonry paint for brick and stucco, exterior enamel for doors and trim, and a rust-inhibiting system for iron.
The paint has to cope with freezing winter nights, hot humid summers, driving rain and road salt at street level. Acrylic stays flexible through those swings. On masonry it must also let moisture out.
Can I use the same paint inside and outside?
No. Do not use interior paint on the exterior, because it is not made for sun, rain and temperature swings and will fail fast.
Exterior paint indoors is also a poor idea. It can contain additives for mildew and weather that are not meant for closed rooms. Use each where it belongs.
Does expensive paint last longer than cheap paint?
Usually, yes. Expensive paint has more solids and better resin than cheap paint, so it covers in fewer coats, washes better and keeps its color longer. Nationally, paint costs $20 to $80 per gallon.
Since labor is 70% to 85% of a paint job by HomeGuide's figures, saving a few dollars a gallon saves little overall. A top product over poor prep still fails, though.
Is one paint brand really better than another?
The line matters more than the brand. Every major brand sells a budget line and a premium line, and the premium lines from the well-known makers all perform well.
We do not name a brand on this site. Ask us what we would use on your job and why. If you have a brand you prefer, tell us.
How many coats of paint do I need?
Two coats is the standard for a lasting, even finish. One coat can work for the same color over clean, sound paint.
You need primer plus two coats for new plaster or drywall, patched walls, stains and big color changes. Deep reds, blues and yellows often need a third coat.
How do I cover dark paint with a light color?
To cover a dark color with a light or white one, prime first with a high-hiding primer, then apply two finish coats.
Skipping the primer and adding finish coats until it covers costs more in paint and time. Going the other way, from light to a deep color, a grey-tinted primer helps.
Why does the same color look different in different rooms?
A color looks different from room to room because the light is different. North light is cool and makes colors greyer. South and west light is warm.
Many Manhattan apartments face a courtyard, an air shaft or another building, and get little direct sun. Colors read darker and flatter there. Test a large sample on the actual wall and look at it in daylight and under your own lamps.
What white will not look yellow?
A white with a neutral or slightly cool base will not look yellow. Creamy whites carry yellow or red in them and look warmer still under warm bulbs.
Check the bulbs before blaming the paint. Also note that old oil-based white on trim yellows with age, most of all in dark rooms. Repainting it with a modern acrylic enamel solves that.
How do I pick an exterior color that matches my brick, brownstone or roof?
Start with what will not change. Brick, brownstone and stone have fixed tones, so pick a door and trim color that suits them.
Dark traditional colors such as black, deep green and oxblood sit well against brownstone and red brick. Look at the neighbors on both sides, since row houses read as a group. 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 published figures. An average room with 800 square feet of wall and ceiling needs about 2 gallons per coat, so 4 gallons for two coats.
Rough plaster, bare patches and deep colors use more. When we quote, the paint is worked out for you.
Should the painter supply the paint or should I buy it?
It is usually better for the painter to supply the paint. The painter knows the quantity, picks the right line for each surface and is answerable for the result.
If you want to buy the paint yourself, agree on the exact product, sheen and quantity first, and get that in writing.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (917) 970-7431.