How To Select An Appropriate Paint Sheen

After searching through hundreds and hundreds of paint swatches and lining up countless colors on your walls, you’ve finally decided on the one. While the toughest part is over, you still have another choice to make—which finish will you choose?

 

To give you some guidance we’ve laid out the most common interior paint finishes and their characteristics.

 

Flat. This finish is the least shiny of them all.  Also referred to as matte, a flat finish is used to soften the appearance of a room. Use a flat finish if your walls have any blemishes or cracks that you’d like to hide. Try it on the ceiling, in the formal living room or dining room. Keep in mind that a flat finish is difficult to clean so it’s probably not suited for the children’s bedroom.

 

Eggshell. Just like its namesake, an eggshell finish has just the slightest bit of shine. Similar to flat, eggshell can also be used to hide slight wall blemishes, while adding that reflective element.

 

Satin. A satin finish is used primarily for trim, windows, doors and ceilings although it can also be used on walls. This finish is soft like eggshell, but has a more glossy appearance. Satin can also withstand a moderate scrubbing so consider using this finish in children’s rooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

 

Semi-gloss. When using glossy paints like semi-gloss, it’s important to properly prepare your surface since glossy walls can call attention to imperfections. Semi-gloss is also very easy to clean, making it a good choice for highly trafficked rooms like the kitchen and bathroom.

 

Gloss.  A gloss finish is best to be used for furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors and trim because of its extremely durable properties. While you can add it to your walls, keep in mind that a gloss finish is very shiny and will draw out any flaws.
To learn more about paint sheens or for help selecting the best paint for your home, call us or click here for a quote! At Big Brush Painting we’re happy to provide expert advice as well as our high quality, professional painting services.