Clark and Kensington Interior Paint: 5 Powerful Happy Reasons 2025
Why Clark and Kensington Interior Paint Creates Happier Homes
Clark and Kensington interior paint offers homeowners a premium paint-and-primer solution that delivers professional results without the premium price tag. This Ace Hardware exclusive combines superior coverage, exceptional durability, and over 1,300 colors to transform any space into something special.
Quick Facts About Clark & Kensington Interior Paint:
- Paint-and-Primer in One – Eliminates separate priming step on most surfaces
- Coverage – 350-450 square feet per gallon depending on surface
- VOC Level – Low at 40 g/L or less for better indoor air quality
- Finishes Available – Flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss
- Warranty – Limited lifetime warranty backing the quality
- Where to Buy – Exclusively at Ace Hardware stores nationwide
The paint features ceramic microsphere technology that creates exceptional scrubbability – even in flat finishes. With a one-hour recoat time and mild odor, it’s designed for both DIY enthusiasts and professional painters who want efficiency without sacrificing quality.
Our helpful team at Lowcountry Ace has extensive experience helping customers select the right Clark and Kensington interior paint for their specific projects, from high-traffic family rooms to dining spaces. We’ve seen how the right paint choice can completely transform a home’s atmosphere and make daily life more enjoyable.
Clark and kensington interior paint terms to know:
What You’ll Learn
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Clark and Kensington interior paint. You’ll find the specific benefits that make this paint special, understand which finishes work best for different rooms, learn how to use Clark & Kensington’s color tools effectively, get professional application tips that ensure beautiful results, understand the pricing and value proposition, and read real-world reviews from both DIY homeowners and professional painters.
Whether you’re painting one accent wall or changing your entire home, this guide will help you make informed decisions and achieve the results you’re dreaming of.
Clark and Kensington Interior Paint: Why It Makes Homes Happy
What makes Clark and Kensington interior paint special? It was engineered to solve real problems homeowners face every day. Developed with input from seasoned paint pros, the line uses ceramic microsphere technology for reliable performance whether you brush, roll, or spray.
The paint-and-primer formula covers roughly 350-450 square feet per gallon, depending on wall texture and application. With VOC levels of 40 g/L or less, it meets strict environmental standards while still offering the rich coverage and durability you need. A limited lifetime warranty underscores the brand’s confidence.
Why does that ceramic technology matter? It delivers outstanding hiding power that often allows one-coat coverage over similar colors, and it makes every sheen —even flat—remarkably scrubbable.
Because odors are minimal, many customers tell us they can sleep in freshly painted rooms the same night—something unheard-of with older high-VOC paints.
Pros consistently praise the paint for its smooth leveling and uniform finish. Although it’s DIY-friendly, it delivers professional-quality results.
Interior & Exterior Paint – Clark + Kensington
Is Clark and Kensington Interior Paint Really Paint-and-Primer?
It is—on most surfaces. The formulation contains enough titanium dioxide and binders to stick well and hide previous colors when walls are already sealed and in good shape.
Use a separate primer on new drywall, heavily stained areas, glossy surfaces, or when making dramatic color changes. Our Charleston customers get the best results by always priming brand-new drywall first.
How Does Clark and Kensington Interior Paint Stand Up to Daily Life?
Durability is where this product shines. The ceramic microspheres create a paint film that resists scuffs, stains, and everyday wear. Even flat finishes can be scrubbed clean—ideal for homes with kids, pets, or lots of foot traffic.
Common marks—crayon, food splatter, fingerprints—wipe off with mild soap and water. Because the paint levels so well, touch-ups blend in seamlessly, preventing the patchy look cheaper paints can leave.
Color retention is excellent, even in sunny rooms, and that lifetime warranty covers chalking, cracking, and peeling under normal use.
Color & Finish Guide for Every Room
Choosing the perfect color and finish for your home can feel overwhelming, but Clark and Kensington interior paint makes it surprisingly straightforward. With 1,367 available colors in their collection, you’ll find everything from whisper-soft neutrals to bold statement hues that make rooms come alive.
The beauty of Clark & Kensington’s color palette lies in its thoughtful balance. The 2024 collection includes both warm and cool tones, ensuring there’s something perfect for every taste and design style. Whether you’re drawn to timeless grays, earthy greens, or vibrant blues, the colors are formulated to look rich and true in various lighting conditions.
The brand offers four main finish options: flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. What makes these finishes special is how they perform beyond typical expectations. Even the flat finish offers exceptional scrubbability thanks to that ceramic microsphere technology.
Flat finish creates beautiful, rich color without any sheen, making it perfect for ceilings and low-traffic areas. Eggshell finish provides just a hint of subtle sheen while maintaining excellent washability – ideal for living rooms and bedrooms. Satin finish steps up the durability for kitchens, bathrooms, and kids’ rooms where easy cleaning matters most. Semi-gloss finish delivers maximum durability and the easiest cleaning, making it the go-to choice for trim, doors, and high-moisture areas.
Choose Your Perfect Sheen
Selecting the right sheen makes all the difference in how your paint looks and performs over time. Our helpful team at Lowcountry Ace has guided countless Charleston homeowners through this decision.
Ceilings should always get flat finish to minimize imperfections and prevent glare. Clark & Kensington’s flat ceiling paint is specially formulated to avoid those dreaded lap marks.
Bedrooms shine with eggshell finish, which provides subtle elegance while being easy to maintain. Master bedrooms especially benefit from this choice because it creates a sophisticated atmosphere.
Living areas work beautifully with either eggshell or satin, depending on your family’s lifestyle. Homes with active children often find satin’s extra durability worth the slightly higher sheen.
Kitchens need satin finish to handle the daily reality of grease splatters, steam, and frequent cleaning. For backsplash areas that see the most action, semi-gloss provides even more protection.
Bathrooms require satin or semi-gloss to resist moisture and allow thorough cleaning. The mildew-resistant properties of Clark and Kensington interior paint are particularly valuable in our humid Charleston climate.
Trim and doors look best in semi-gloss, which provides maximum durability while creating beautiful contrast with your wall colors.
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Smart Color Tools & Samples
Clark & Kensington offers smart color selection tools that have saved our customers from countless color regrets over the years.
The color visualizer lets you upload actual photos of your rooms to see how different colors will look in your specific lighting conditions. This is incredibly helpful because colors can look dramatically different in natural Charleston sunlight versus artificial lighting.
Sample sizes come in 8-ounce containers that cover 88-119 square feet – perfect for testing colors on your actual walls before committing to full gallons. We always recommend painting samples in different areas of the room to see how they look throughout the day as light changes.
Our color matching service can replicate virtually any color you bring in. Whether it’s a fabric swatch, a piece of artwork, or even a flower from your garden, our advanced colorant system can create a custom match.
The paint calculator takes the guesswork out of quantity planning. Simply enter your room dimensions and the number of windows and doors, and it calculates exactly how much paint you’ll need.
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| Sheen Level | Best Rooms | Durability | Cleanability | Light Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | Ceilings, bedrooms, dining rooms | Good | Excellent (unique to C&K) | Minimal |
| Eggshell | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways | Very Good | Excellent | Low |
| Satin | Kitchens, bathrooms, kids’ rooms | Excellent | Outstanding | Moderate |
| Semi-Gloss | Trim, doors, cabinets, high-moisture areas | Outstanding | Maximum | High |
Application & Performance Tips
Getting the most from Clark and Kensington interior paint starts with knowing how it behaves. While it’s designed for DIY ease, a few basics make any job smoother.
Coverage averages 350-450 sq ft per gallon. Plan on the lower number unless you’re coating a similar color on smooth drywall.
You can recoat in just one hour under normal conditions, so finishing a room in a single day is realistic. The paint is dry to the touch within 2-4 hours and reaches full hardness in 14 days.
With low VOCs (40 g/L), odor is mild—perfect for bedrooms and nurseries.
Keep the room between 50-85 °F with humidity below 85% and avoid painting surfaces that are hot to the touch.
Use the Paint Calculator Before You Buy
Measure each wall (length × height) and add them together. Subtract doors (about 21 sq ft each) and windows (about 15 sq ft each). Divide the final number by 350 to find gallons needed, then round up and add 10% for touch-ups.
Pro Techniques for a Flawless Finish
- Prep thoroughly. Wash walls, lightly sand glossy spots, and fill nail holes. Prime new drywall or stained areas.
- Use the right tools. A 1/2-inch nap roller is perfect for smooth walls; textured surfaces need a 3/4-inch nap. High-quality synthetic brushes make cutting-in easier.
- Maintain a wet edge. Cut in first, then roll in large “W” or “M” strokes within 4×4-foot sections. Back-roll the edges so sheen stays uniform.
- Apply two coats. The first seals; the second delivers full color depth and durability.
Brush or roller marks will self-level as the paint dries—avoid over-working it and let the formulation do its job.
Real-World Reviews & Value
Clark and Kensington interior paint earned Consumer Reports’ #1 spot in 2012 and 2013 and still ranks highly with pros and DIYers. At our Charleston store we’ve seen similar feedback—customers routinely report great coverage and long-lasting color.
Prices run $35-46 per gallon, depending on base and sheen. When you consider the built-in primer, strong one-coat hide, and limited lifetime warranty, the cost per finished square foot is hard to beat.
Praise From DIYers & Pros
- “Easy to apply—brush, roll, or spray.”
- “Great hiding; covered a dark red wall with two thin coats.”
- “Levels beautifully; touch-ups disappear.”
Users also like that colors match the sample chips accurately, reducing unwelcome surprises.
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
- Thin consistency: This is intentional for self-leveling. Stir well but don’t add thickener.
- New drywall soak-in: Prime fresh joint compound first, then paint.
- Visible brush marks: They vanish as the paint dries—avoid going back over partially dried areas.
- Slight ammonia-like odor: Normal and fades quickly thanks to the low-VOC formulation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clark & Kensington Interior Paint
What rooms and surfaces are best for this paint?
Clark and Kensington interior paint shines in every room of your home, but choosing the right finish makes all the difference. We’ve helped hundreds of Charleston homeowners transform their spaces, and here’s what we’ve learned works best.
For ceilings and formal spaces like dining rooms, the flat finish creates that perfect matte look without sacrificing durability. Unlike other flat paints that show every mark, Clark & Kensington’s ceramic technology means you can actually clean scuff marks without damage.
Living areas and bedrooms come alive with the eggshell finish. It gives you that subtle glow that makes colors look rich and inviting, while still being tough enough for daily life. Our customers with teenagers especially appreciate how easy it is to wipe away fingerprints from light switches and doorways.
When it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, satin finish is your best friend. It handles steam, splashes, and frequent cleaning like a champ. The paint’s moisture-resistant properties make it particularly valuable in our humid Charleston climate.
For trim, doors, and cabinets, semi-gloss delivers maximum durability and creates beautiful contrast with your wall colors. It’s also the easiest to keep spotless, which matters when you’re dealing with door handles and baseboards that get touched constantly.
The paint works beautifully on properly prepared drywall, previously painted surfaces, and wood trim. Just remember – it’s designed for interior use only and shouldn’t be used on floors or anywhere with standing water.
How low are the VOCs and what about odor?
Here’s something that makes Clark and Kensington interior paint special for families: it contains just 40 g/L of VOCs or less. That’s significantly lower than traditional paints, which means better air quality for your home and less worry about harmful fumes.
The practical difference is remarkable. Most of our customers tell us they can sleep in freshly painted bedrooms the same night – something you definitely couldn’t do with older paint formulations. The mild odor dissipates quickly, usually within a few hours of application.
You might notice a slight ammonia-like smell while you’re painting, but it’s much gentler than the harsh chemical odors of conventional paints. This makes it perfect for painting children’s rooms or when you can’t leave the house for days while paint cures.
The low-VOC formula also means you’re doing something good for the environment while creating a healthier indoor space for your family. It’s one of those win-win situations that makes choosing the right paint feel even better.
Where can I buy Clark+Kensington paint locally or online?
Clark and Kensington interior paint is exclusively available at Ace Hardware stores – you won’t find it anywhere else. That exclusivity actually works in your favor because it means you get knowledgeable service from people who really understand the product.
At Lowcountry Ace Hardware, we stock the complete range of Clark & Kensington interior paints at our Charleston area locations. Our helpful team at the Riverland Market location on Folly Road has extensive experience helping customers choose the perfect colors and finishes for their specific projects.
You can order online for convenient in-store pickup, or we offer home delivery service throughout the James Island and Folly Beach areas with a minimum one-gallon purchase. This is especially handy when you’re tackling a whole-house project and don’t want to load gallons of paint into your car.
Our team can also custom-mix any of the 1,367 available colors and provide expert advice on everything from coverage calculations to application techniques. We’ve seen what works in Charleston’s unique climate and can help you avoid common mistakes that waste time and money.
Give us a call at our Riverland Market location to check availability on specific colors or to schedule delivery. We’re here to make your painting project as smooth and successful as possible.
Conclusion
Clark and Kensington interior paint stands out as a smart choice for homeowners who want professional results without the premium price tag. The paint-and-primer technology saves time and effort, while the ceramic microsphere formulation delivers the durability and scrubbability that busy families need.
What really makes this paint special is how it handles real life. Whether you’re dealing with muddy paw prints, crayon masterpieces on the wall, or just the everyday wear that comes with an active household, Clark & Kensington’s unique formulation keeps your walls looking fresh longer. The low-VOC formula means you can sleep in your newly painted bedroom the same night – something many parents appreciate when doing quick weekend makeovers.
The helpful team at Lowcountry Ace has seen countless Charleston area homes transformed with this paint. We understand the challenges of our coastal climate – from humidity that can affect drying times to the salt air that demands durable finishes. Our experience helps us guide you to the right sheen and color choices for your specific situation.
Local service makes all the difference when you’re taking on a painting project. We’re here at our Riverland Market location on Folly Road with color matching services, expert advice, and the convenience of home delivery throughout James Island, Folly Beach, and the greater Charleston area. No need to wrestle paint cans in your car or make multiple trips to the store.
Whether you’re freshening up a single accent wall or giving your entire home a new personality, we’ll help you choose the perfect Clark & Kensington products and make sure you have everything you need for success. Stop by or give us a call – we love helping neighbors create homes that make them smile every time they walk through the door.
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