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Let me give you yet another perspective, studies show that most folks repaint the interior of the home every 6 years. An interior paint doesn't have to deal with rain, direct sun usually everyday, major temperature changes, freeborn dirt, it just has to look clean and pretty. Even El Cheapo interior paints will last that long. Most folks repaint, per studies, due to being tired of the color. If you fit the average mold, why spend more than you have to on paint you'll be covering up in a few years anyway?
I respectfully disagree. When I used cheap paint, scuff marks didnt come off easily and I ended up repainting every 2 yrs. I did change the color but it was more or less an excuse because the walls needed to be painted anyway. Since switching to quality paint, Im currently going on my 6th year. The house was painted 2 yrs before I moved in. Scuffs come off rather easily. I still like the color so I haven't had the urge to repaint yet.
Let me give you yet another perspective, studies show that most folks repaint the interior of the home every 6 years. An interior paint doesn't have to deal with rain, direct sun usually everyday, major temperature changes, freeborn dirt, it just has to look clean and pretty. Even El Cheapo interior paints will last that long. Most folks repaint, per studies, due to being tired of the color. If you fit the average mold, why spend more than you have to on paint you'll be covering up in a few years anyway?
It's not always about how long paint will last as it is the quality of the paint. Your "El Cheapo" paints will usually require multiple coats,remember labor is 97% of the paint job. Yes,even if you're doing it yourself time is $. Unless you're just "freshening up" your house to sell it why skimp. The average bed rm requires 2 gals. to finish the walls so even if a good quality paint was $10.00 more per gal. is it worth cheapening out for $20.00
Also when painting deeper colors, cheaper paint will burnish ( white marks ) when rubbed up against where quality paints won't. Touching up scuffs will also blend much better and you won't have to repaint the entire wall.
While interior paints aren't susceptible to the weather,they still need do be durable enough for kids,pets,vacuums bumping into the walls,food, & wine stains....Use a cheapo paint and those wine stains are going to need to be primed then repainted. With a paint like Cashmere or Aura,if you get to it fairly quick it'll wipe rite off.
Are you implying that only BM colors will do for you?
Because any paint supplier can mix a BM color for any brand of paint. They all use the same tints. So, when it comes to color I'd just assume go to WallyWorld and pay $15/gal instead of paying a BM retailer $39.50/gal.
I don't paint for a living but I've painted quite a bit. As a teenager I had odd jobs where I would paint, but I'll just share my experience with my first two homes that I owned.
My first house I used Behr because I didn't know any better. Even after two coats I didn't have good coverage and I noticed walls weren't entirely uniform. The paint was mixed properly and the color was fine, but the sheen wasn't even. After purchasing my second house, I painted the entire upstairs with Sherwin Williams. I also finished the basement and used SW paints and primers for the basement. I'll never go back to Behr again. The paint is much easier to work with, requires fewer coats, and is more uniform. My first purchase at the SW store was around $700 and they set me up an account and I get a discount. I don't know how much, I think it's the same discount that a farm co-op would get. I know I've taken the internet coupons into the SW store and my discount is better than those, so it wouldn't at least hurt to ask.
Right now we're having our third house built. Our builder uses SW, but I've seen others that use Benjamin Moore, Pittsburgh, etc. You will never find one that uses a big box paint.
I actually like the Valspar line of paint from Lowes and i have used both BM and SW in the past. I have been able to paint both my living room and bedroom in one coat with Valspar and the SW an dBM both needed 2 coats. I wasn't doing a drastic color change either.
I tend to have Lowes match the paint colors.
The ACE hardware Royal line also got good reviews as a "budget" paint from many websites. I am currently repainting my mom's old house, and am doing a lot of painting and priming.
Most of the painters that I speak to seem to think that the quality paint sold in Home Depot and Lowes are not as good as those from the specialty stores like Sherwin Williams or Duron paint. Does anyone know what percent of that argument is true? If you had to buy interior paint would you feel comfortable buying a brand sold by Lowes or Home Depot?
First of all, most professional painters buy Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and/or Pittsburgh paints. One reason is because those companies cater specifically to the professionals. Even so, the paint is good.
Also, there is a difference between the durability requirements of exterior and interior paints. Interior paint does not have to stand up to extreme elements, including direct sun. You can get by with a lesser quality interior paint, though I would certainly steer clear of the very bottom-end stuff.
Let me give you yet another perspective, studies show that most folks repaint the interior of the home every 6 years. An interior paint doesn't have to deal with rain, direct sun usually everyday, major temperature changes, freeborn dirt, it just has to look clean and pretty. Even El Cheapo interior paints will last that long. Most folks repaint, per studies, due to being tired of the color. If you fit the average mold, why spend more than you have to on paint you'll be covering up in a few years anyway?
You have described my wife to a T. Actually, she's more apt to go ever 3-4 years.
She likes to paint, and does a fantastic job of it. Over the past 30 years, I've learned to just shut up, get out of the way, and let her do what she wants. The results are always good, regardless of what paint she uses.
I respectfully disagree. When I used cheap paint, scuff marks didnt come off easily and I ended up repainting every 2 yrs. I did change the color but it was more or less an excuse because the walls needed to be painted anyway. Since switching to quality paint, Im currently going on my 6th year. The house was painted 2 yrs before I moved in. Scuffs come off rather easily. I still like the color so I haven't had the urge to repaint yet.
Part of that has to do with the sheen, as well as the quality.
Most professional painters prefer using flat paint for interior walls. It's the "standard," but it also hides imperfections. But flat paint is a little harder to clean.
I prefer satin finish on interior walls, and semi-gloss for trim. In bathrooms & kitchens, however, we prefer semi-gloss on the walls as well.
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It's not always about how long paint will last as it is the quality of the paint. Your "El Cheapo" paints will usually require multiple coats,remember labor is 97% of the paint job. Yes,even if you're doing it yourself time is $. 
Unless you're just "freshening up" your house to sell it why skimp. The average bed rm requires 2 gals. to finish the walls so even if a good quality paint was $10.00 more per gal. is it worth cheapening out for $20.00 
