We have young kids - how do we pick a paint finish that can handle fingerprints and crayon marks?

With young children in the house, your paint finish matters as much as the colour. For walls in hallways, playrooms, and any room the kids use regularly, satin finish is your best friend. It has a gentle sheen that resists stains and can be wiped down with a damp cloth and mild soap without damaging the surface. Semi-gloss is even more washable and works well on baseboards, door frames, and chair-rail areas where little hands make the most contact.

Avoid flat and matte finishes in kid-heavy zones. While they look beautiful and hide wall imperfections well, they absorb marks and stains and are very difficult to clean without leaving shiny rub marks. Save flat paint for adult bedrooms and formal spaces the children do not use daily.

The paint quality matters too. Higher-end paints with more resin content form a harder, more stain-resistant film when cured. Some brands offer scrubbable formulas specifically designed for high-traffic family use - ask your local Vancouver paint supplier about these options.

For crayon specifically, a satin or semi-gloss finish lets you remove most crayon marks with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or a paste of baking soda and water. On flat paint, crayon often has to be primed over because cleaning damages the finish.

Colour choice helps too. Very light whites show every mark immediately, while soft warm tones, light greys, or greiges are more forgiving between cleanings.

A good next step is to ask your painter to use satin on all walls below four feet (kid-contact height) and your preferred finish above. Some painters can blend the transition so it is virtually invisible, giving you durability where you need it most.

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