If you need some extra paint to cover a fault in your living room, you’re probably considering kitchen paint. While the paint looks very similar to the one in the living room, it has a peculiar kitchen mark. If you only have kitchen paint available, can you use it to paint your living room?
There’s no harm in painting your living room with kitchen paint as long as they’re the same color. Kitchen paints are only special due to their durability and useful quality for living room paint. Unfortunately, while kitchen paint will work well in the living room, the reverse is rarely the case.
In this article, you’ll learn some of the major differences between kitchen paint and living room paint. Also, I’ll show you why it’s okay to paint your living room with your kitchen paint, but not vice versa.
What’s The Difference Between Kitchen Paint And Regular Paint?
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If you were involved in choosing paint for your home, you should’ve noticed that some were marked “kitchen paint.” Since every wall around your home looked somewhat the same after painting, you may think: what’s the difference?
As you might have guessed already, there is no such thing as “kitchen paint.” However, some paints handle moisture better, making them better for rooms like the bathroom and the kitchen. However, these paints aren’t specifically made for and are certainly not exclusive to your kitchen.
Most people prefer to use satin or semi-gloss finishes in a kitchen since they repel heat and steam better. Satin paint is best on walls, but cabinets and other wooden kitchen furniture work better with semi-gloss finishes.
The primary reason these kinds of paints aren’t as common as they’re good is their price. While they’re unequivocally better than the alternatives used for living rooms, they also cost significantly higher. Using satin paint across your home isn’t only expensive, it’s also unnecessary, as your walls don’t need that durability level.
One reason you may want to hold off on using kitchen paint for your living room is the reflective finish. Since the satin or semi-gloss makes the room looks glossy, you may want to only use it as a last resort. On the other hand, the matte look that people avoid for kitchens is the perfect finish for your living room walls.
Should The Kitchen Paint And Living Room Paint Be Of Different Colors?
While the type of paint may seem like the most important discussion here, the color is just as essential. The cohesion between your living room and kitchen colors can make or break your entire home design.
Generally, it’s recommended to use the same color paint for your living room and kitchen. While a subtle difference is allowed, you shouldn’t make the difference too obvious. Use very contrasting colors, and your kitchen will look like it belongs in a completely different home.
The decision to use the same or different colors for both rooms should depend on what colors you’re choosing. While some colors work excellently when used in your kitchen and living room, some will work best with another color.
Here are some of the best paint colors that would work for a living room and a kitchen in the same apartment:
White
White is the most prevalent color for living rooms, and it’s only getting more popular. Coincidentally, a disproportionately large amount of kitchens are adopting white paints, making the color a perfect hue for both rooms.
If you’re looking to get the same color for your living room and kitchen, you should consider using white exclusively. It won’t make either your kitchen or your living room look odd, even when used for both rooms.
Yellow
If white looks repetitively boring to you, you may want to try a yellow shade for your living room and kitchen. Pale yellow creates a warm space that doesn’t look out of place, even when used across the home abundantly.
The fact that semi-glossy paint typically comes in yellow makes it a very compelling option for universal paint. It also matches well with most pieces of furniture, creating a cohesive and lively look in the home.
Can You Use Kitchen Paint in the Living Room?
There are reasons why there are different recommendations for kitchen and living room paints. While kitchen paint typically works in the living room, there are many reasons why you don’t want to use them.
Here are some factors to consider when using kitchen paint in your living room to determine if it’s worthwhile.
Cost
In most cases, the cost is the main rationale behind using (or not using) kitchen paint in the living room. Why bother using a costlier alternative when you don’t get any added benefits. Since your living room doesn’t get exposed to moisture or steam, getting a satin or semi-gloss finish will be unnecessary.
This point becomes even stronger considering that the average kitchen paint can cost up to twice that of regular paint. So while a gallon of regular paint costs about $20, semi-gloss paint may set you back up to $50 per gallon.
However, using kitchen paint for your living room may be cost-effective in very specific instances. For example, if you have leftover kitchen paint, it’s more cost-effective to use it for minor jobs instead of buying extra paint.
Sheen
Even though a matte finish might be the preferred finish on living room walls, it’s not everyone’s favorite. The glossy and smooth look of kitchen paint is exactly what some people want on their living room walls. Since you’ll need satin or semi-gloss paint, it’s just the same as using kitchen paint in the living room.
On the other hand, you may want your kitchen to have almost no sheen. In that case, you’ll need to use matte paint on your kitchen, which is likely what you’ll replicate in your living room. So technically, you’re replicating your kitchen paint in your living room, or the other way round.
If you want a custom look for your home, you’ll also want a uniform design. Satin, silk and semi-gloss finishes are the most commonest for people looking for a uniform look, as they work across most surfaces without glaring disadvantages.
Reasoning
Aesthetics may be the primary reason people go for glossy finishes, but it’s far from the only one. There are many reasons, unrelated to aesthetics, why you may want to choose kitchen paint over regular paint.
When people notice mold growth on their walls, they usually switch to a gloss-based finish. It’s an effective technique since the glossy sheen naturally suppresses mold growth. However, there might be more cost-effective ways to check mold growth other than redoing your paint job.
If the mold results from some uncontrolled factors, kitchen paint can only do so much to prevent it. To be fair, hindering mold growth isn’t the only reason people choose sheeny paint over regular ones.
Semi-gloss and satin paints last longer than other kinds of paints on average. They also do well under the impact of moisture and are way easier to clean than regular paint. While it’s unlikely that you’ll need these kinds of benefits in your living room, everyone is different, aren’t they?
