You're using the wrong types of paint for your DIY projects

Spray Paint

Rust-Oleum Hammered Spray Paint, $12.96

Rust-Oleum 7214830A2 7214830-2PK Stops Rust Hammered Spray Paint, 12 Oz, Gray, 2 Pack, 2 CountRust-Oleumamazon.com$31.96Shop Now

Ahhh, everyone’s personal favorite: spray paint. Let’s be honest, the best thing about spray paint is simply how easy it is to use.Just shake, point, and spray. Voila. But you don’t want to use it everywhere. For example, can you imagine seeing someone just spray painting the walls inside their home? Of course not!

Spray paint is ideal for many DIY projects, especially outdoor projects or things that have complex shapes, such as a bicycle frame or a mailbox, for example. Spray paint, especially Rust-Oleum brand like this option, is known for being able to stand up to the elements to protect the surface underneath.

Spray paint can be used on most surfaces since there are so many different types of spray paint out there. Metal, wood, plastic, no matter what you’re working with on your project, chances are high that there's spray paint out there that will work for you.

Oil-Based Paint

KILZ Odorless Oil-Based Primer/Sealer/Stain Blocker, $30.59

KILZ Odorless Interior Oil-Base Primer/Sealer/Stainblocker, White, 1-QuartKILZamazon.com$37.00Shop Now

When it comes to most home renovation projects, you’ll need to decide between oil-based paint, acrylic paint, or latex paint. First up, let’s talk about oil-based paint, which is typically regarded as offering the best-looking finish of any type of paint on the market.

Due to the way it's made, oil-based paint is the richest type of paint available.This means that it covers more area in one coat and looks smoother and fuller at the same time. The drawback to oil-based paint is that it can take twice as long to dry, so make sure you account for that.

This kind of paint can be used in just about every room in the house, regardless of what project you’re working on. Just make sure you have the right paintbrushes!

Latex Paint

Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint — Flat White, $17.61

Rust-Oleum 1990502 Painter's Touch Latex Paint, Quart, Flat WhiteRust-Oleumamazon.com$12.98Shop Now

If you were wondering where water-based paint was on this list, it’s actually hidden here within latex paint. Because latex paint is water-based, it’s just not typically referred to in that way. Latex paint is made from an acrylic resin and of course its watery base, which is what differs it from the acrylic paint that you’ll see below.

Able to be used on most surfaces in your home, latex paint is by far the most common type of paint used during renovations or DIY projects. Doors, trim, walls, furniture, floors — all are regularly painted using latex paint. It’s easier to apply than acrylic and dries faster and is easier to dispose of than oil-based paint.

So more often than not, you’ll want to use latex paint for most of your DIY projects.

Acrylic Paint

FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint, $10.99

FolkArt Matte Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors, 16 oz, Wicker White 16 Fl OzFolkArtamazon.com$11.99Shop Now

Lastly for the big three, we have acrylic paint. This paint is made by suspending a color pigment in an acrylic polymer solution and resin. That’s a confusing way of saying it's made using chemicals at their base instead of oil or water. This composition actually makes acrylic paint resistant to water, so it’s easy to clean up any spills or accidents on it once dry!

Just like the others, acrylic paint can be used on most surfaces in your home when you’re doing a DIY project. But it dries super fast, which can make it difficult to use on bigger areas. It also cannot be used to paint over surfaces previously painted in oil-based paint, so keep that in mind.

Chalk Style Paint – 16oz, $22.95

Chalk Style Paint - for Furniture, Home Decor, Crafts - Eco-Friendly - All-in-One - No Wax NeededCountry Chic Paintamazon.com$25.95Shop Now

Just like you can probably guess from its name, chalk paint is a special type of paint that provides a finish that looks like, well, chalk. This type of paint is designed in such a way as to provide a matte finish that looks almost like someone colored over the surface with actual chalk. Like a dry, grainy finish.

Chalk paint is best used in only certain situations, i.e. on projects that you want to have that rustic, vintage look that a chalky finish can provide. It’s also super easy to use, as it can be applied directly to surfaces without much prep work, just right on top of existing paint. This is perfect for changing the way that desk in your office looks, or sprucing up the furniture in your living room.

Although it’s easy to use and fairly versatile, chalk paint does not do well on metal or laminate, so you’ll want to figure something else out for these types of surfaces.