"Typically, I tell people to pick any color that they want," said Travis Nolan, the founder of Old Crow Painting. Nine times out of 10, he said both companies can match it. 

However, he explained that Benjamin Moore's Aura line seems a little trickier to get just right. ​​Both Matt Kunz, president of Five Star Painting, and Michael Camper of M&M Precision Painting said Sherwin-Williams has superior color-matching software and mixer.

When we asked interior designers and color experts for recommendations on paint colors for living rooms, they offered a mix of the two companies but generally suggested more choices from Benjamin Moore.  

"Different brands have different strengths in terms of their colors," said color consultant Amy Wax. "If I'm going more towards earthier grays and beiges and slate blues, I'm going to look more towards Sherwin-Williams. With Benjamin Moore, sometimes they have a little bit brighter colors, a little bit more colors that are energized," she said. "So to me, it's a matter of what I'm trying to accomplish as to what paint company I'm going to use."

Painting your own cabinets is a laborious process. Cupboards are also subject to slamming, grease, steam, and other hazards. 

Water-based alkyd paints cover and dry hard like oil-based paint but are easier to clean and less hazardous, like latex paint.    

Camper suggested Sherwin-Williams ProClassic and Benjamin Moore Advance, which are both water-based alkyds.