What paint to use in my rental property?

✅ What kind of paint to use

For walls in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, etc.: go with a water-based (latex or acrylic) interior paint — it’s low-odor, easy to clean, and dries fast.
For trim, doors, baseboards, cabinets: you might consider oil-based paint (or durable acrylic trim paint), because these areas take more knocks and need tougher finishes.
If you want to speed up jobs between tenants, paint-and-primer-in-one products are often worth it — especially if the surfaces are already painted.

🎯 What sheen/finish works best

Area / Use case Recommended finish Why Walls — living rooms, bedrooms, hallways Eggshell or Satin They offer a balance: washable and more durable than flat, yet still soft-looking and broadly appealing. Kitchens, bathrooms, high-traffic or moisture-prone areas Satin or Semi-Gloss More moisture- and stain-resistant; easier to clean. Trim, doors, baseboards, cabinetry Semi-Gloss or Gloss Harder, wipeable surface that resists scuffs. Ceilings or low-touch areas Flat or Matte Helps hide imperfections and gives clean, non-reflective look.

🖌️ Recommended paints (popular for rentals)

Why these stand out

BEHR PREMIUM PLUS Interior Paint — frequently recommended for rentals because it’s a paint-and-primer combo, low-odor, washable, and balances quality with price.
Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige Interior Paint, Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray Interior Paint — neutral colours that appeal to many tenants and don’t show dirt easily, which helps between turnovers.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter Interior Paint, Behr Silver Drop Interior Paint — versatile greige/light-gray tones that work in modern rentals and coordinate with various flooring and design styles.
BEHR Mold & Mildew Resistant Bathroom Paint — ideal for bathrooms or humid areas, where moisture resistance and easy cleaning matter most.

💡 My recommendations (for a rental you manage in Toronto)

Use a neutral, widely appealing colour (beige, light gray, greige, or soft white) for walls.
Choose eggshell or satin finish for walls — this gives you a good balance between aesthetics and durability.
For bathrooms, kitchens, trim and doors, go with satin or semi-gloss to resist moisture and frequent cleaning.
For ceilings or low-touch areas, flat/matte is fine (and may hide imperfections)