The Honest Painter's Guide to Interior Paints (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Home Depot, Lowe's)
November 25, 2025
Painting your home should be simple — pick a color, pick a paint, and get it done.
But every brand has multiple product lines, every paint store swears theirs is the best, and online advice is usually written by people who haven't actually used the paint.
This guide is the real-world breakdown of everything I've personally used: Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Home Depot (Behr), and Lowe's paints. It's organized so you can jump directly to what you need:
Quick Navigation
- Sherwin-Williams (my go-to brand)
- Benjamin Moore
- Home Depot (Behr)
- Lowe's (Valspar & HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)
- General Buying Advice
Sherwin-Williams (My Everyday Brand)
Sherwin-Williams is the paint I use the most — not necessarily because it's always the "best" on the market, but because they treat painters extremely well and they are available everywhere.
They're fast, supportive, good with issues, and they consistently deliver what I need. When something goes wrong, they fix it immediately. As a contractor, that matters a lot.
Sherwin-Williams — Ceiling Paint
Best Standard Ceiling Paint: ProMar Ceiling Paint My absolute favorite ceiling product for normal, non-moisture ceilings.
Why I love it:
- Super flat finish (no weird sheen)
- Very forgiving
- Hides imperfections better than most ceiling paints
- Reliable and predictable
If I can only choose one ceiling paint for the rest of my career, this is it.
Best Bathroom Ceiling Paint: Duration (Matte or Satin) Bathroom ceilings need durability and moisture resistance. Duration checks all the boxes.
Why it works so well:
- Designed for moisture-heavy environments
- Doesn't flash or sheen-shift
- Easy to apply
- Long-lasting
Perfect for bathrooms, laundry rooms, or anywhere humidity is a constant enemy.
Sherwin-Williams — Wall Paint
Best Overall Wall Paint: Emerald Emerald is the premium line and it absolutely delivers.
What stands out:
- Beautiful finish
- Great durability
- Washable without burnishing
- Great for homes with kids
- Colors look rich and deep
It's expensive — but the quality is worth it.
Reliable Mid-Grade: SuperPaint If someone wants something good but not high-end pricing, SuperPaint is the sweet spot.
Pros:
- Very respectable durability
- Good coverage
- Looks better than most mid-grade paints at other stores
Not recommended:
- ProMar 200
- ProMar 400
- Property Solutions
Those are "rental-grade" paints — not good for long-term living spaces.
Sherwin-Williams — Bathrooms
Top Bathroom Wall Paint: Duration on walls in bathrooms is rock-solid.
Why:
- Moisture-resistant
- Tough finish
- Cleans well
- Doesn't flash in humid rooms
If a client wants a durable bathroom paint but doesn't want to jump into Emerald pricing, Duration is my go-to.
Sherwin-Williams — Trim & Doors
Best Trim Paint: Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel This stuff is incredible for trim, doors, and cabinets.
Why it's elite:
- Hard, durable finish
- Levels extremely well
- Professional cabinet-like results
- Doesn't scratch easily once cured
Benjamin Moore (Amazing paint — I'd switch if price/service made sense)
If price, store availability, and overall convenience were equal, I would strongly consider switching to Benjamin Moore full-time. Their products are extremely solid — consistent, rich finishes, and beautiful color quality. The only real barrier for me is pricing and the convenience/support that Sherwin-Williams offers contractors.
Benjamin Moore — Ceiling Paint
Best Ceiling Paint: Waterborne Ceiling Paint This is genuinely one of the nicest ceiling paints I've ever used.
Why it's top-tier:
- Ultra-flat finish
- Virtually zero sheen
- Hides imperfections extremely well
- Smooth and consistent application
If Sherwin-Williams disappeared tomorrow, this would be my immediate ceiling paint replacement.
Benjamin Moore — Wall Paint
Best Premium Wall Paint (my favorite): Regal Select Regal Select is my go-to for Benjamin Moore walls.
Why I prefer it:
- Great coverage
- Beautiful, clean finish
- Easy application
- Reliable durability
- Extremely consistent sheen
It's premium, but it feels worth the price — it's honestly a joy to work with.
Best Mid-Grade Wall Paint: BEN Line The Ben line is Benjamin Moore's mid-grade offering, and it's a great "value meets quality" product.
Why it works:
- Good durability for the price
- Solid coverage
- Easy to apply
- Great option for homeowners wanting high-end look without the high-end cost
It sits comfortably between budget DIY paints and the Regal/Aura tier.
Benjamin Moore — Best Bathroom Paint
Premium Bathroom Paint: Aura Bath & Spa Aura Bath & Spa is one of the best bathroom-specific paints available — but it comes at a premium cost.
What makes it elite:
- Designed to handle moisture and steam
- Excellent longevity in high-humidity spaces
- Luxurious, high-end finish
If someone wants the best bathroom paint Benjamin Moore offers, this is the one.
Notable Mention: Advanced Trim Paint I've never actually used it, but this product I would also trust because of its great reputation. Dry time/recoat time is a little much for me but heard it levels very well and is a fine product.
Benjamin Moore — Trim & Doors
Top Trim Paint: Scuff-X (Satin or Semi-Gloss) Scuff-X is still an outstanding trim paint.
Why I like it:
- Extremely durable
- Excellent leveling
- High-performance finish
- Great option for high-traffic areas
Home Depot (Behr)
I'm not as well-versed with Home Depot products as I am with Sherwin-Williams, but I've used them more than the average homeowner. Here's what I've noticed from real-world experience.
Home Depot — Ceiling Paint
My Honest Take: Not My First Choice Home Depot's main "premium" ceiling paint (the 2-gallon bucket version) is not my recommendation.
Issues I've had:
- It dries with a slight sheen (ceilings should be dead-flat)
- It never passes a one-coat test in my experience
- Laps and centers can look patchy
- Almost always requires two coats
It's fine — but for professional ceilings, I don't trust it.
Home Depot — Wall Paint
Best Wall Paint: Dynasty Dynasty surprised me in the best way. I've painted super bold colors with Dynasty and watched it cover in one coat — deep greens over vibrant colors. I still always recommend two coats, but the one-coat ability shocked me.
Marquee Marquee is also excellent — but personally, I think Dynasty edges it out.
Mid-Grade Behr Products Their mid-grade lines technically work fine, but:
- They don't feel as nice as Sherwin-Williams
- The finish feels more "rubbery" or latex-y
Hard to describe, but noticeable if you paint a lot. Still — Dynasty and Marquee are genuinely beautiful paints.
Home Depot — Trim Paint
Urethane Trim Enamel Home Depot does offer a urethane trim enamel, and I've had pretty good results with it. This is another product I would consider switching to full time if Sherwin disappeared tomorrow.
- Levels decently
- Dries hard
- Better than expected
It's not on the same level as Emerald Urethane or Scuff-X, but for the price, it performs solidly.
Lowe's (Valspar + HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)
My experience with Lowe's paint is more limited. However, it is worth noting that Sherwin-Williams now owns Valspar. While I cannot confirm exact formulas, the technology between the brands is likely shared, meaning the quality at Lowe's has improved significantly in recent years.
How to shop Lowe's paints:
- $35–$45 range = Mid-grade.
- Higher-end products = Better durability.
Avoid the cheapest line if you want washability or longevity.
When low-grade paints are fine:
- Quick color changes
- Repainting soon anyway
- Rooms guests never see
- Rental refreshes
Just know the trade-offs: Lower durability, more touch-up issues, and a less rich finish.
General Buying Advice
Every brand has winners — and some products I wouldn't use again. If you want the simplest breakdown:
My Top Picks by Category
- Ceilings (normal rooms): Sherwin ProMar Ceiling Paint
- Ceilings (bathrooms): Sherwin Duration Flat
- Walls (premium): Sherwin Emerald or Benjamin Moore Regal Select
- Walls (mid-grade): Sherwin SuperPaint or Benjamin Moore Ben
- Bathroom walls: Sherwin Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa
- Trim: Sherwin Emerald Urethane or Benjamin Moore Scuff-X
- Home Depot walls: Dynasty