A fresh coat of paint can turn a scuffed-up wall or scratched piece of furniture into something brand new. Paint gives new life to things and can be a valuable asset in almost any home improvement project. However, a good paint job begins with getting the right paint for the job. Before you even choose your paint color, you have to determine what type of paint is best for your project. When it comes to paint types, your two basic options are oil and acrylic. Which one you use depends on what you are painting and your method of doing so. Knowing the specifics of each paint will ensure you get the right type for the project, and the best results every time.

Oil Paint

Oil-based paints, also known as Alkyd paints, are the slowest drying type of paint. The longer dry time and the fact that oil paints blend better than other paints make it the best choice for painting a large area of space such as a wall or ceiling. Oil-based paints emit strong fumes and can sometimes even be toxic. If you choose to use an oil-based paint, make sure the room you are working in is well ventilated and consider wearing a mask to reduce the amount of fumes you inhale. Additionally, if you are using an oil-based paint, make sure you have mineral spirits or paint thinner handy to clean your brushes or rollers.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paints are water-based, making them the most popular of the choices. Clean up is much simpler than it is with oil, all you need to clean your supplies is use water. Plus, acrylic paints dry more quickly than oil, so using them to paint larger areas without streaking or leaving brush marks can be difficult. They can also have trouble adhering to things that were previously painted with oil-based paint, so it is essential to use a primer when going over anything previously painted with oil. Acrylic paints are an excellent option for painting door frames, window frames, and furniture.

A project is always easier if you start with the right materials. Knowing the basics of acrylic and oil paints makes choosing the best option a simple task. Next time you want to bring a fresh color to a wall or new life to a piece of furniture, make sure you use the right type of paint for the job.