Taubman's Living Proof from Place Makers is really nice paint for walls. I used the silk sheen everywhere except the bathroom, I can't remember what paint I used in there, it was specifically for wet zones. I used a roller except at the edges where I used natural bristle brushes and the finish is excellent plus it washes well (have dogs).
Edit: silk is one up from mat, one down from semi gloss.
The mineral oil enamel paints are very good as paints but they are expensive and you may be smelling the powerful oil smell for months afterwards. The acrylics smell less but they can have really unhealthy fumes too. You can buy low VOC or no VOC acrylic paints which are safer. There are also oil enamel paints with the mineral oil swapped for linseed oil to make them much less toxic.
You should have the ceiling tested for asbestos to make sure. Anything that is textured and decades old can have asbestos in it, even paint.
Some of the budget paints from third world countries have been shown to contain heavy metals so it's worth paying the extra for New Zealand made paints.
Even unprepped with bumps I would rather have a clean looking semigloss or glossier than a always dirty and worn looking matt finish. Gloss with a thick roller so its really textured can look ok too, but when I tried it could never get it consistant enough.
Matt walls is as bad as that annoying trend of dirty brownish beige that people still do.
lxsw20: If you read my post, I am not recommending flat. I worked in a paint dept 3-4 years and the norm is low sheen in living areas.
Flat and low sheen are not the same thing.
^This.
The info. below is edited from Resene's website:
Flat paints conceal surface imperfections. Good for general use on walls and ceilings. Have a micro rough texture that may trap dirt and make cleaning more difficult.
Low sheen paints are an ideal choice where some sheen is desired and good cleaning properties are necessary, such as in living areas, hallways, bedrooms and playrooms.
Satin paints impart more warmth and depth to surfaces than flat paints. They are more stain resistant than flat paints.
Semi-gloss paints offer good stain resistance and are easy to clean. Ideal for walls and woodwork that is subject to wear and on weatherboards and exterior cementitious surfaces.
Gloss paints have a highly reflective smooth surface and are easier to clean. They are ideal for areas exposed to heavy use, especially where fingerprints, grease or grime are common. Colours appear cleaner and more intense than flat paints.
I have painted a lot of house interiors in my time and always use low sheen on the walls in living areas (lounge, hall, bedroom) and semi-gloss for skirting, door/window frames, etc. For wet areas (bathroom, kitchen) use a proper paint intened for this purpose, which will generally have a higher gloss level.
In general, shiny, reflective walls in living areas look awful.
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richms: I am never using the water based enamels again. Took months to lose the softness compared to a short time for solvent based stuff.
same here. those water based enamels were terrible(*). hard to work with, gave a substandard finish, and haven't lasted well. I'm back to oil based again next time!
I found that even when well past the suggested curing time they were still pliable, and stuck to themselves better than the primer so chunks pulled off the window where it closed up. Car paint FTW
invest in a GOOD QUALITY 40 or 50mm tapered brush. you can paint just about anything with it and cutting in is easy, dont be tempted to get those silly little 25mm brushes. they just dont get the finish thats acceptable.
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