You do not have to paint your interior walls and cupboards mud brown or grimy gray to camouflage grunge and smudges until you get around to washing them. Paint sheens, techniques and colors that conceal dirt are almost as easy to find as dirt itself.
Washable Flat Paint
High-gloss paint is readily washable and ideal for trim and cabinetry. Nonetheless, it bounces light, exaggerating smudges and weaknesses, making it a poor choice for walls in nesting spaces, like mudrooms or playrooms, where surfaces become dinged and scraped often. Yesteryear’s apartment paint had a bad reputation concerning its washabilty. But today some paint manufacturers make washable, even scrub-friendly, flat paint with elements like special low-reflecting leaf or pigments, explains Tim Carter of this Ask the Builder site. Use it where you would use standard flat paint for a dirt-friendlier outcome.
Techniques That Tame
Taming the appearance of smudges and marks might be as easy as finding one paint technique or another. Textured or tone-on-tone techniques assist mask fingerprints, food splatters and bend scuffs from the busy entryway, bathroom or kitchen. Something with a mottled look, like elegant faux suede or leather, suits living rooms, libraries, home offices and bedrooms.
Dirt-Camouflaging Colors
Evidently, medium or dark shades conceal dirt better than light tones, but paint color matters as much as saturation degree or shadow depth. Top go-to colors include browns and grays, but warm, spicy reds, purples and burnt orange have also dirt hiding capabilities. Striped walls or colorful rooms, boasting mixtures of bold colors, capture the eye, limiting dirt exposure and improving a busy or ho-hum room’s overall atmosphere. A chair rail consumes some the scuffs, while quality paint stands to mark and muck mayhem.
The Dirt on Wall Cleaning
Entering dirt is simply a temporary way — finally you have to remove it for a house that’s clean and healthy. Wash walls and cabinets in the top down, with warm, soapy water a little gentle dish soap will perform. Note your paint’s brand, type, finish and color for touching stains. You might have to hide stubborn stains, like grease- or oil-based discolorations, under a stain-blocking primer prior to retouching painted surfaces.