Enter

Advanced Search

Hallways in a home or office are often called high traffic areas. Picture this, the kids come running through the front door after an afternoon of fun with their friends. They run past you - up the stairs and down the hall to their rooms. Instead of holding on to the banister which is not quite their height yet, they touch the wall to keep them balanced. They proceed down the hall with their hands rubbing up and down on the hallway walls.

Why is it that kids have to constantly touch the walls? Even if their hands do not LOOK visibly dirty – we know that they still ARE. Over time, your walls become dirtier and dirtier because of all the touching, scraping, and bumping. Also, if you have pets, they rub up against the walls and the oil in their skin can cause marks on the walls. The most common complaint from a homeowner concerning their hallways is that the walls always seem to get dirty way too fast.

Is there a special paint that can be used to paint hallways that will prevent them from having to be painted once a year? Here are a few options for those of you who have hallways that just never seem to look clean.

1. Do NOT use Flat Finish Paint. Flat finish paint is a more porous paint that soaks in dirt. If you like the look of flat paint, go with a Matte finish paint that still has that no sheen look, but is still washable.

2. Paint with a Washable Paint. Latex Satin or Eggshell is your best bet. Latex is a waterbased paint that can be washed with soap and water. Even washable paint can get dirty, but it is more durable when there is a higher sheen. The more shine there is in the paint – the more washable it is. As your hallway walls getting dirty you can easily take a sponge with a little soap and water and wash the dirt away. Your walls will be as good as new.

3. Paint Quality is Important. Believe it or not, there is a difference between the paints you would purchase from your local home supply store and the paint you would buy from a specialty paint store that deals specifically in paint. The better the quality the paint, the less you will have to paint over the walls, especially if you keep them clean.

4. Go with a Decorative Paint Finish. A faux paint finish can hide the dirt and imperfections from the usual wear and tear of hallway use. Instead of one color where you can see almost everything, a decorative paint finish ties in several different color variations. The options are endless as well. Some of the most common faux paint finishes include: sponging, ragging, and color washing. The subtle visual texture causes the dirt to actually blend in with the finish. Be sure to ask your painter if the walls are washable. If not, they can seal the surface for you so you can wash off the dirt as needed from your hallway walls.

5. Add A Chair Rail. This option will cost you a little bit more money because you may need a carpenter to install the chair rail. But the good thing about having a chair rail, is that you can split the paint colors. Paint a dark color below the chair rail and a light color on top.

6. Use a texture Paint. Applying a thin coat of texture on the walls, such as a plaster or stucco type finish might be an option for you. This is not the easiest to cover over later on if you want to go back to smooth walls so be sure that this is the direction you want to go in.

If you are still unsure, then seek the advice of a professional interior house painter. They can help you choose the best option for your home. But just remember; tell them you don’t want any flat paint used to paint your hallways.