The right paint depends on the room, the surface and the light. In Miami it also depends on humidity inside and on sun, salt and rain outside. These are the questions we hear most.
Paint prices on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes.
What sheen should I use for walls and trim?
Use a low sheen on walls and a higher sheen on trim. The common choice is flat or matte on ceilings, eggshell or satin on walls and semi-gloss on trim and doors.
Shinier paint is easier to wash, but it shows every flaw in the surface. Miami's strong daylight through large windows makes that trade-off matter.
Eggshell or satin for living room walls?
Eggshell is the usual choice for living room walls. It has a soft low shine and wipes clean. Satin is a step shinier and tougher, and suits homes with children, pets or rental use.
If the walls have many patches or waves, choose eggshell or lower, because satin will show them.
Is flat or eggshell better to hide bad walls?
Flat paint hides bad walls best. It does not reflect light, so dents, patches and tape joints fade from view. Eggshell reflects a little and shows more.
The cost of flat paint is that it marks more easily. Modern washable flat and matte paints close much of that gap.
Should trim be satin or semi-gloss?
Semi-gloss is the standard for trim, doors and baseboards because it is hard and easy to clean. Satin is a good choice on older trim with dents and brush marks, since it hides more.
Both work. Use the same sheen on all the trim in a room.
What is the best paint for a bathroom or kitchen?
The best bathroom or kitchen paint is a washable acrylic made for damp rooms, with mildew resistance, in satin or semi-gloss. In South Florida the mildew resistance matters most.
Paint alone does not beat steam. An exhaust fan and running the air conditioning do as much as the paint.
What is the best paint for a high-traffic hallway?
A hallway needs a scrubbable paint in eggshell or satin. Halls, stairs and children's rooms get touched, bumped and wiped far more than other walls.
Spend on a better grade of paint here before anywhere else in the house.
What is the best paint for exterior walls in Miami's climate?
The best paint for exterior stucco in Miami is a top grade 100% acrylic masonry paint, or an elastomeric coating where the stucco has many hairline cracks. Exterior paint in this climate has to handle strong sun, salt air, mildew and driving rain.
Acrylic resists fading and lets the wall breathe. Elastomeric is thick and stretchy and bridges fine cracks, but it costs more and needs a sound, dry wall under it. Ask for mildew resistance on the label either way.
Can I use the same paint inside and outside?
No. Interior paint on the outside of a house fails fast, because it is not made for sun and rain. Exterior paint inside is also a poor idea, since it is made with additives for mildew and weather that you do not need in living spaces.
Use each where its label says.
Does expensive paint last longer than cheap paint, and is one brand better?
Usually yes. Expensive paint has more resin and pigment than cheap paint, so it covers in fewer coats and holds color longer. HomeGuide publishes paint at $20 to $80 per gallon.
The grade matters more than the brand. Every major maker sells a cheap line and a top line, and a top line from one is closer to a top line from another than to its own budget can. Since labor is most of a paint job, saving a little on paint rarely pays.
How many coats of paint do I need?
Two coats is the standard, inside and out. One coat can work for a same-color refresh over paint in good shape. A big color change, bare surfaces or stucco may need primer and two coats.
A quote should state the number of coats.
How do I cover dark paint with a light color?
To cover a dark color with a light or white one, prime first with a high-hiding primer, then apply two finish coats. Going straight on with white paint often takes three or four coats and still looks gray.
Deep reds, blues and greens are the hardest to hide.
Why does the same color look different in different rooms?
The same color looks different because the light is different. A north room gets cool, even light. A west room turns warm in the afternoon. Floors, furniture and the green of trees outside also reflect onto the walls.
Paint large samples on two walls of the actual room and look at them morning, afternoon and night before you decide.
What white will not look yellow?
A white with a neutral or slightly cool base will not look yellow. Whites with cream or beige in them turn yellow in warm light and beside cool tile or gray floors.
Old oil-based white paint also yellows with age, most of all in dark spots such as closets. Modern waterborne enamels stay white.
How do I pick an exterior color that matches my roof and brick or stone?
Start with what will not change: the roof, the pavers, any stone or brick and the window frames. Then pick a wall color that sits well with those fixed colors.
In Miami the fixed item is usually a barrel tile roof in terracotta or a flat white or gray roof. Warm whites and sand tones sit well with terracotta. Very dark colors fade faster in our sun and make walls hotter. HOAs and the City of Coral Gables limit the choice, so check their lists first.
How much paint do I need?
One gallon covers 300 to 400 square feet in one coat, by the published figures. HomeGuide lists 2 gallons for one coat on an average room with 800 square feet of wall, and 4 gallons for two coats.
Stucco needs much more. HomeGuide says a gallon of acrylic covers 100 to 175 square feet of stucco in two coats. Rough or unpainted stucco drinks paint.
Should the painter supply the paint or should I buy it?
In most cases let the painter supply the paint. The painter knows the amount, picks the right product for each surface and is responsible if it fails.
If you buy the paint yourself, agree the exact product and quantity first, and understand that problems with the paint are then yours. Either way, ask for the product names on the quote and keep the leftover cans for touch-ups.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (786) 745-7109.