There are primarily two kinds of decorative paints for interiors.
a) Oil based paints: These paints are as the name suggests oil based. These come in primarily three types.
1) Flat finish: No sheen, matte finish. Used usually on walls and doors for those not wanting sheen or in areas where light reflection from walls is not desired. Eg: photo studio
2) Semi gloss: Slight sheen. The sheen level varies from the soft ‘satin finish’ to the semi gloss ‘Lustre finish’ In common parlance, there exists A satin paint and a Lustre paint, both are variants of the semi gloss oil based paint. These are used on walls and wooden surfaces like doors/partitions.
3) High gloss: The most common type and oldest type of oil paint. It’s super glossy and shiny. This type of paint s used on metal surfaces like grills and railings.
B) Water based Acrylic paints: These paints are acrylic based and are diluted with water while painting. They are quick drying as the water dries up quickly. These are of the following kinds
1) Acrylic distemper: This is the most common and economical paint. It has a matte finish and is available in limited shades. Most new flat owners would get their homes with walls painted in acrylic distempers. It’s economical, quick to dry but is non washable.
2) Economic emulsions: These are one grade above the distempers in terms of finish. This paint is smoother to touch; looks better on the walls but can’t resist stains and can’t be washed. Tractor Emulsion, Dulux promise and Berger Bison emulsion are some of the examples.
3) Washable Emulsion: These are paints developed a decade ago and are quick drying and washable at the same time. These paints have a smoother finish than distempers and emulsions and have a paint film which has abrasive resistant compounds. Hence these paints have a soft sheen like oil based ‘satin’ finish. They area available in thousands of shades. Eg: Berger easy clean, Dulux 3 in 1.
4) Luxury emulsions: These paints have a mix of the best. Rich sheen, washable and quick drying. These are the newer paints and have been doing really well in the interior decorative segment: eg: Asian’s Royale series, Berger’s Silk series, Dulux’s Velvet Touch series and Nerolac Impressions series
5) Specialty paints: There are certain interior paints manufactured for specific areas like labs, hospitals, food processing units. These paints have no odor or very less odor or very less of chemical compounds that can cause irritation. Eg: royal Heathsheild, Jotun’s fenomastic hygiene and Berger’s Easy clean Fresh