What's the Best Paint for High Traffic Areas in Your Home?

Every home has rooms and areas that see the wear and tear of daily life. Picture the space inside the entry door that your family uses the most. Shoes and boots get kicked off, coats and hats get hung and unhung, backpacks get slung against the wall, grocery bags get dragged in, and dogs shake their wet coats all over you and the walls – it's the Times Square of your home!  But it's not just entries and mudrooms that take a beating – many other areas of your house get a good dose of use too. 

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So how do you protect the walls and trim in those high-traffic zones? Start by choosing durable, cleanable paints and finishes that are specially formulated to withstand high-traffic areas and select colors that help camouflage dirt and grime. These paints will continue to look good for a long time, will protect your walls, and will be easy to maintain. Read on to find out more about the best paint for high-traffic areas in your home.

What Are High-Traffic Areas?

High-traffic areas are places in your home that are used frequently and consistently, over and over, every day. The typical high-traffic zones are directly inside any doors that access the outside, mudrooms, foyers, stairways, kitchens, kids' bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. The only oasis may be an adult bedroom! Depending on how you use it, your garage could also be considered a high-traffic area.

High-traffic zones aren't just isolated inside a home. Outside, you'll notice wear and tear around your porch, patio, deck, garage, and all entry doorways. Also, exterior areas that are exposed to weather extremes like constant sun exposure, snow, ice, and wind should get the same protective paint that's used in high-traffic areas.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Paint for High-Traffic Areas

You take pride in keeping your home maintained and in good condition. Even though high-traffic areas get constant use, you try to keep those areas clean and attractive. This isn't so easy to do when those areas are painted with the wrong paints, finishes, and colors.

Several high-quality brands such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams offer all-in-one paints that contain primer with the paint. These products offer superior coverage and stain-blocking technology, making the job of painting go faster and easier. Before you paint, consider the following factors when choosing the best paint for high-traffic areas:

Durability 

It's essential to choose a paint with high durability. Durability provides long-lasting performance while maintaining a great appearance. Also, the higher the sheen you choose, the more durable the paint will be. For exceptional durability, you can even go with a commercial interior paint such as Benjamin Moore Scuff-X.

Washability

Look for a paint with a high level of washability and scrub resistance. You'll be cleaning the walls in high-traffic areas more often than other walls in your home so make sure the paint you choose can be washed frequently without damaging the finish.

Finish/Sheen

The glossier sheens are much more durable and provide stronger finishes – exactly what you want for your high-traffic areas. No one wants super high shine for interior walls, but an eggshell or satin finish can contain enough gloss to stand up to constant and continual use while still looking attractive and aesthetically appropriate for a home interior. The flatter the sheen, the less washable the paint will be. Flat and matte finishes are beautiful but not a great choice for high-traffic areas.

Mold and Mildew-Resistant

Bathrooms and kitchens are exposed to continual moisture. Ordinary paints have a fairly short life span in humid conditions. Make sure your chosen paint has mold and mildew resistance.

Color

Choose colors that hide dirt. Earth tones, medium grays, and natural greens are all beautiful colors that will tend to hide dirt and muck in high-traffic areas. Avoid white and very light hues in high-traffic areas if you want to camouflage dirt.

Quality Paint

You'll pay more for quality paint but the old adage, "You get what you pay for" couldn't be more true. A high-quality paint will have high-quality ingredients and features, and the manufacturer will stand behind their products.

Eco-friendliness 

For the health of you, your family, and the environment choose paints with low- and no-levels of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). Latex acrylic paints that are designed for high-use zones are your best bet.

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Best Paint Colors for High-Traffic Areas

When deciding on the best paint colors for high-traffic areas, you'll want a color that will camouflage all of the challenges that come with charging at those highly-used spaces. An added benefit of choosing the right paint colors is they might increase the value of your home. You can't go wrong if you choose from these color families that are great at hiding wear:

Neutral Colors

From gentle grays to beige and greige, neutral colors not only are a great choice for high-traffic areas of your home but can increase your home value. A neutral that's sure to be a winner is Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige.

Dark Colors

Dark colors offer drama and elegance. As long as you remember that dark colors can make a space look smaller, they can be an outstanding choice for high-traffic spaces in your home. Dark blues are moody and can bring depth to a space. 

Warm Colors

Earth tones in mushroom, soft rust, and ochres can bring life to a high-traffic area. Warm colors are welcoming and give off a cozy vibe that can make an entry or hallway inviting. Benjamin Moore's Baywood Brown is an example of a rich earthy hue.

Accent Walls

Maybe you don't want to paint over your Sherwin Williams Alabaster with its warm white charm but are worried it may be too light for the high-traffic areas of your entry or living room. A perfect solution is to paint an accent wall in a deeper hue. You can keep your beautiful white but the accent wall will protect it from wear and tear.

Best Paint Finish for High-Traffic Areas

As you decide on the right paint finish for your high-traffic areas, you'll want to choose a sheen that will be durable and stand up to periodic cleaning. The glossier the sheen, the more durable the paint will be. 

But most people don't want shiny, glossy walls. The best solution is to go with a mid-sheen finish such as Satin or Eggshell. These sheens will give you the durability you want without the high gloss. Flat and matte finishes are beautiful but don't have the level of gloss necessary for the durability you need. Find out more in our complete guide on paint sheen.

High-Traffic Areas Deserve High-Quality Painting Services

Singletrack Painting is proud of our many years of experience with quality painting services in Denver and the surrounding areas. At Singletrack, we understand the importance of working only with high-quality paints and materials.

We exclusively use Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore, top products in the painting industry. Our experienced and skilled painters provide outstanding interior painting services and terrific customer service. Request a quote today!

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