Picking the Perfect Paint Sheen

Picking the Perfect Paint Sheen

Let’s be honest. Paint color trumps a lot of the other more finite details in a design. It’s what you see first and often the item that covers up the most surface area in a room. It is undoubtably one of the tougher choices to make as most know the right color is hard to nail down and it can be daunting moving forward with a decision if you have even the slightest bit of reservation that it might be “too dark or too orange or too green, etc.”

But aside from the actual color, when it comes to deciding on paint for a project, the decisions don’t stop there. You then must decide on the sheen or finish as each option serves a purpose based on functionality and decorative prowess.

Here, we list the five most common paint finish options and the benefits and uses for each. Hopefully, this will give you a little designer guidance on choosing the right paint sheen for your own painting project at hand.

Flat or Matte – Flat paint sheen is the best option for walls that are full of character as it soaks up light rather than reflects it like the glossy sheen options. With flat paint, it is easy to conceal minor imperfections within the wall thus recommended for older homes or areas that need a little “TLC.” The best areas to use flat paint are areas that don’t see a lot of traffic or are easily accessed by kids as it is difficult to clean matte painted walls without also removing the paint in the process. Instead, it is recommended for formal dining areas, closets, or master bedrooms.

Eggshell – More durable and easier to clean than a flat paint option, eggshell sheens are recommended for moderate traffic areas such as living rooms, family rooms or bedrooms. As the in between for flat and satin finishes, eggshell finishes produce a no-shine finish that is like the shell of an egg and works well to cover minor surface imperfections.

Satin – One of the more practical options in the painting realm, satin sheens are known for their level of durability making them ideal for easy clean up and high traffic areas such as kids rooms, kitchens or entryways. With satin, there will be a noticeable shine when applied  on a wall and because of this, the painting process can be trickier as the “bloopers” or brush strokes may show easier.

Semi-Gloss – Used primarily for its durability level, semi-gloss sheens work well in highly trafficked areas and are the top choice for areas that see high moisture like bathrooms or kitchens. Trim and cabinetry are often painted in semi-gloss as its resistance makes cleaning easier. Note with it’s higher sheen level it will be more reflective; thus, will highlight any surface imperfections.

High-Gloss – At the top of the “gloss” chain, high-gloss sheens are extremely reflective and perfect for highlighting architectural details like decorative moldings or fireplaces and is a great option for kitchen cabinets, doors or trims as it is the most durable and easy to clean.  Often, high-gloss sheens offer too much shine for interior walls and as it is the most reflective option, it will display all imperfections in a room painting make the prep work the most important process prior to painting.