A Consumer’s Guide to Trendy Paints

America is a country of choice. We like choice in everything we do – from our breakfast drinks to our appliances, our jobs and to our modes of transportation. In fact, we insist on it. Choice drives the economy! One can sometimes wonder if perhaps we don’t have too many choices on occasion. Take, for instance, paint. Those paint companies seem to never run out of subtle differences in shades that make it possible to offer a hundred variances on the simple color ‘white’ if we are so inclined to opt for them. But then try comparing them side by side. It can be overwhelming.

Indeed, the savvy consumer can quickly become bogged down with the intricacies of something as simple as picking out a paint color. There are dozens of brand names that all compete for the title of highest quality and most exclusive. Some paint companies prefer to market to the public as having the ‘greatest value’, ‘wear-ability’ or ‘durability’. So, you can see, that choosing paint is not nearly as simple as it might have been even twenty years ago. Is there anything out there that can help make the decision process easier?

Actually, there is. Consumer Reports, a magazine long respected for its thorough examination of many market niches, takes the time on occasion to test a wide variety of paints for multiple factors including, but not limited to, the very ones we spoke of in this blog. While we would not tout one paint over another for any reason in our blog – even if it has the Consumer Reports seal of approval – we would point you in their direction and advise you to take the time to read their research before making any final decisions. An educated consumer makes better choices.

However, we will second one of their most astute observations. As noted in a Consumer Reports study regarding paint options, it is a good idea to stay away from the cheapest brands. They will likely not provide the ‘wear-ability’, ‘durability’, or thorough covering you can expect from the more popular, and usually more expensive, brands.

It’s usually true what they say – you get what you pay for.

Need more hints about painting? Contact the experts at Universal Painters, Inc. Our goal is to provide the best service for your home.