Paint & Accessories Buying Guide

Changing the paint colour in your home is one of the easiest and least expensive design changes you can make. When you want to get the most out of your interior decorating but don't want to break the bank, pick a new hue for your space! Our paint and accessories buying guide will make you a painting pro in no time.

Living room with huge window, white walls, beige sofa, and hardwood floor

Kitchen with blue arrow pattern backsplash, white countertop, brown cabinetry, and cutting board with fruits on it

Kitchen with grey cabinetry, white countertops, and wall appliances

Nursery with mint green wall, white crib, white curtains, white speckled overstuffed chair

Kitchen with turquoise walls, spotted chairs, white cabinetry

Dining room with grey walls, grid art on the wall, beige table, brown chairs

Change the Look of Your Home Overnight with a Coat of Paint

Painting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to instantly change the look of your home decor. Any budget can achieve fast results with paint, while also improving air quality, boosting curb appeal, and covering marks and stains.

Getting Started

Living room with wall bottom half blue and top half white, grey sofa, plenty of accessories

Size Up Your Room

How you use colour depends on where you plan to use the colour. Each room as its own unique elements and functions. First, think about the structure of the room. Consider its shape and size. A lighter colour can make a small room feel more spacious, while a dark colour can help an immense room feel cozier.

Take Architectural Details into Account

What kind of architectural details does the room contain? Think moulding, trim, columns, or brackets. What’s attractive and what’s not? Varied intensities and hues can complement architecture, finishings, and art. Remember, paint can both accentuate and hide a room’s features.

Large living room with grey curtains, white furniture, dark hardwood floors, fireplace

Bed in front of a brown wall with red flowers on both nightstands

Colour Largely Depends on Function

Will the main purpose of the room be eating, sleeping, working, entertaining, or something else entirely? A warm hue in the living room gives a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for guests than a cooler colour, which might be more appropriate in a bedroom or bathroom.

Selecting Paint

Nursery with purple walls, crib, table and lamp on table casting a soft glow onto the walls

Colour & Function

Think about where the room is situated in relation to other rooms, such as low vs. high traffic. Flat finishes are good for low-traffic areas of your home because it takes more effort to remove stains from this type of paint. Aim for a muted low-reflecting finish on ceilings, adult bedroom walls, and dining rooms.

Where Sheen Can Shine

Use low-lustre, satin, and eggshell paint on areas where a sheen is desired. These paints are easier to clean than flat paint, and hold up better under repeated washing. They withstand the wear-and-tear of high-traffic areas more easily than other finishes, like hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, children’s rooms, and playrooms.

Bathroom with powder blue walls, light hardwood flooring, and white plumbing fixtures

Kitchen with dark hardwood floors, white and grey cabinetry

Glossy is Good

Semi-gloss and high-gloss paint and enamel are excellent for banisters, railings, shelves, kitchen cabinets, furniture, doorjambs, windowsills, and any other surface you wish to highlight.

Note: The higher the gloss, the more it emphasizes any surface imperfections.

Choosing a Palette

How to Decide Your Paint Palette

Choose a design direction by working with existing elements in your home. For example, if you’ve already chose your interior decor or if you’re working with a room that’s already furnished, focus on a favourite fabric, piece of art or furniture, or other object.

If you still can’t settle on a colour, try our online paint selector! You can search for the perfect shade, then order online and pick it up in-store..

Be Adventurous

Have colour confidence! Don’t be afraid to paint bold and bright. If your room is unfurnished, a vibrant colour can fill it in until you can fill it out.

Right hand pulling a strip of blue tape off a wine red wall

Show Yourself in the Colours

Consider yourself above all by using paint colour to reflect your mood and personality. If you’re having trouble selecting a colour, try looking in your closet. The colours you enjoy wearing are the ones that make you feel good. You’re the one who’ll live with the colour you end up choosing, so go with shades you love.

Making Your Purchase

Two paint cans and various accessories on a dropcloth

Water vs. Oil

When selecting an interior finish, try choosing a water-based enamel instead of an oil-based gloss. Water-based gloss enamels emit less odour than conventional oil-based paints, are much easier to clean up after, and wear better over time.

Choose High-Quality Paint

Avoid low-quality paint and go for a high-quality selection because the latter will perform better for a longer period of time. It’s less prone to yellowing as it ages, goes on smoother, and won’t leave as many brush marks as inexpensive paint. It’s also easier to wash and is much more dirt-resistant.

Two people pouring light blue paint from a paint tray into a can

Test Before Buying

Get sample quarts to review your colour and finish selections at home. Paint a piece of scrap material, like cardboard or even a small portion of wall, to study the effects of various light conditions on your potential colour(s).

Choosing the Right Paint Brush & Roller

Woman and child smiling while painting a room

Natural vs Synthetic

When choosing a brush or roller you have two options: natural or synthetic.

Natural Bristles & Rollers

Bristles: Usually made with animal hair, hog hair is best. Natural bristle brushes are best used with oil-based or alkyd paint.

Rollers: They are usually made with mohair or lambswool and are best with oil-based paints.

SHOP NATURAL PAINT BRUSHES & ROLLERS

woman painting baseboards with paint brush

Synthetic Bristles & Rollers

Bristles: Made with nylon, polyester, or a combination, they can be used with oil or latex paint.

Rollers: Usually made with nylon, polyester, or a combination. Synthetic rollers are best with water-based paints.

SHOP SYNTHETIC PAINT BRUSHES & ROLLERS

Did You Know?

For latex paint, you should only use synthetic brushes. For oil-based or alkyd paints, you can use either synthetic or natural bristle but it's always a good idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations.

Paint Brush Tips

Man painting wall purple with paint brush

You can accomplish most paint jobs with a larger four inch brush for coverage and a smaller 2-inch brush for trim work and cutting in around corners.
Dampen a synthetic brush before use. Paint will be less likely to dry on the brush.
Don't overload a brush with paint. The application will be smoother and less wasteful.
Paint with the brush at a 45-degree angle to maximize the bristle's surface area.
For a better finish, paint from the area just painted towards the unpainted area. Painters call this "wet to dry."
Dip the bristles one-third of the way into the paint; any deeper will waste paint. Tap the side of the brush on the inside of the can to remove excess paint.
If you need to stop for an hour or so, position the brush in the paint to cover the bristle tips. For longer interruptions, wrap the brush in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and put it in the freezer for oil-based paints. If you're using latex, the refrigerator will be fine.
Before cleaning, remove remaining paint by stroking the brush back and forth on newspaper. Before storing, remove paint with the proper thinner.

Paint Roller Tips

Look for beveled edges on the roller for a smooth finish.
Check to make sure the roller has no visible seams.
Give it a squeeze - it should rebound to its original shape.
Moisten before use with water or thinner to prevent paint from drying on the roller.
Load the roller with paint from the slanted edge of the tray to prevent overloading.
Paint in the shape of the letter W. Start by moving the roller away from you. Without lifting the roller from the wall, fill in the open space.
To clean a roller cover, roll it back and forth on newspaper. Remove paint with the proper thinner. If you're rinsing out solvent-based paint, wear rubber gloves. Let it dry before storing.
Disposable rollers are available. If you don't plan on repainting soon, you may want to use these to avoid cleanup (especially when using oil-based paint).