Consumer Reports: Top paint for any room

How much do you have to spend to get a good can of paint? Consumer Reports has tested 20 different paints and can tell you the best choice no matter which room you're painting.

A new coat of paint can really freshen up a room. But it takes time and - if you hire a professional - money.

"So why throw all that away by buying a paint that won't last for a long time?" asked Rico de Paz, Consumer Reports.

Rico recently tested paints ranging in price from under $20 per gallon to more than $100.

"It's important that you get the right paint for the right job. A kitchen would require a paint that's stain-resistant and scrub-resistant, while mildew-resistance would be great for a bathroom," de Paz said.

Consumer Reports tests for all of that. For example, Rico drops oil- and water-based substances on paints to see how well they resist staining. This test checks to see how well they cover existing paint.

"You can see here the black stripe. If you paint it with this paint right here, you can still clearly see the black stripe behind it. But if you use this other paint, you can see the strip is completely gone," de Paz said.

The $17 Color Place Interior Paint from Walmart landed at the bottom of Consumer Reports' ratings.

But Consumer Reports did find a paint that would be a good choice for any room in your house. It's the top-rated Behr Marquee from Home Depot for $43 per can.

Home Depot sells another recommended paint that costs even less.

"Overall it's not as good as the top-rated Behr Marquee at resisting stains, but it's still among the best in a satin or semigloss finish," de Paz said.

It's Behr Premium Plus Ultra for $36 per gallon.

If you're not a Home Depot shopper, Consumer Reports also recommends Lowe's Valspar Reserve paint for $44 a gallon or the more economical Clark and Kensington for $32 a gallon at Ace Hardware stores.

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