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While often used interchangeably, flat and matte paints are not the same. Flat paint has no gloss and is completely shine-free, while matte has up to 10% resin, giving it a slightly velvety appearance. That small amount of gloss in matte paint gives it a more elegant, modern appearance than flat paint, though flat paint is ideal for hiding imperfections in even the most dented, scratched, and repeatedly repaired surfaces.

There is no one correct order for painting a room, as it largely depends on personal preference and skill level. However, for non-professional painters, we recommend the following order: ceiling, walls, doors, windows, trim. This is because painting trim, windows, and doors can be more time-consuming and meticulous, and it's best to save them for last when you’ve already gained some confidence from painting the larger surfaces.

The best time to paint indoors is typically in winter. When the weather is colder outside, you receive reasonable temperatures and humidity levels inside your heated home. You’ll have better paint adhesion when humidity is at average levels or below. To avoid higher-than-average humidity, avoid repainting indoors on winter days when it’s raining or snowing outside.

A whole-house color palette often has between five and seven colors. Those include the trim color that appears throughout your home, a foundation color for your main living areas, secondary colors for each bedroom, and accent colors, which are close to your foundation or secondary colors. Smaller homes under 1,000 square feet may just have four or five colors, while larger homes can have ten or more and still look cohesive.