How to choose the ideal paint sheen for each room?
Discover the uses for each sheen.
There is more than choosing a color when it comes to painting a room. The sheen of the paint can also make a huge difference in your painting project. The finish will determine how easy the surface will be to clean and how noticeable blemishes appear.
Read our guide to picking up the ideal paint sheen for every room.
WHY IS THE SHEEN IMPORTANT?
Choosing the right paint sheen is an important decision.
There is more than choosing a nice color.
Most people think that paint selection is over once they’ve picked the color. This is a mistake.
Many consumers neglect the importance of picking the proper sheen. They don’t even think about it until the person at the paint counter asks them.
– “What sheen would you like your paint in?”
An awkward silence usually follows that simple question. The overworked paint salesperson then tries to explain (for the 50th time that day) the differences between the sheens.
You try to pick one, not sure if you’re making the wrong decision or not.
Be decisive. Discover all the information you need to make the right decision!
WHY I DON’T LIKE FLAT PAINTS?
Flat paints are hard to clean.
As a designer, I realize how much of a problem flat paint can be.
I’ve experienced its nuances in my own life. Your child smears sticky hands on a wall. You try to wipe down the wall and now your flat painted wall has a smudge on it. After letting the cleaned area dry, you go to put some touch-up paint on it. The result looks worse than ever.
This is why I’m not a fan of flat paint.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAINT FINISHES.
It is important to choose the right paint sheen.
The right sheen can ensure a longer lasting paint job. You will enjoy your beautiful room for years to come. No need to stress about the cleaning or the maintenance. Paint finishes affect the durability and ease of cleaning over the life of your paint.
Sheen is the luster or shininess of your paint. The higher the sheen, the higher the shine. The higher the shine, the more durable it will be.
Let’s review the various paint sheens and explore the pros and cons of each option.
SELECTING A PAINT FINISH.
Select the right finish to avoid paint maintenance.
The paint sheen.
Choosing a paint finish for you home depends on the amount of shine and durability you want.
Let’s discover the most common interior paint finishes (paint sheen).
- FLAT PAINT.
Flat paint is a popular sheen.
It is budget friendly and hides imperfections on surfaces. This is why many contractors choose to work with flat paints. While flat paint is cheaper on the short term, it may cost you more in the long run.
I avoid flat paint because the headaches outweigh the benefits. I am a designer and a mother to three children and one dog. For me flat paint shows every smudge, every fingerprint and all the dirt! If you try to clean it, you’re left with a smudged up wall that almost looks as though it has grease stains. If you try to patch paint it, the discrepancy will show.
Flat paint is a suitable option for surfaces that aren’t touched such as ceilings. It is great to customize light fixtures or accessories. Save your sanity, though, and avoid flat sheens on walls. Let me show you some other alternatives. - EGGSHELL.
Eggshell and satin sheens are my absolute favorites for interior walls.
These sheens are particularly well suited to bedrooms, hallways and living rooms. They are easy to clean and have little to no shine. The eggshell and satin sheens do not reflect the light like the glossy sheen. It makes it an ideal choice for an entire house paint. These sheens also hide imperfections pretty well. It’s a good choice for home renovations. - SEMI-GLOSS.
Semi-Gloss is the next level of sheen.
Semi-gloss is perfect for the rooms where you need a higher level of cleanliness. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and children rooms (especially nurseries) are great places to use semi-gloss paints. These are the rooms you clean the most. Semi-gloss walls wipe clean time after time. There is a bit more luster than eggshell or satin sheens. But that is the price to pay to get a higher level of cleanliness.
The use of semi-gloss paints will add years of beauty and reliability to your walls. - HIGH-GLOSS.
High-Gloss sheen is durable and shiny.
Most people stay clear of them because of the high level of shininess. The higher the gloss, the greater the shine and the more you’ll see imperfections on your surface. I only choose high-gloss sheen for trim works (like floor and ceiling moldings and door casings). I also use high-gloss sheen for work surfaces suck as tabletops or desks. I love to pair walls with an eggshell finish with elements painted in a high-gloss sheen. The result is reminiscent of the old and large Southern Americana homes.
The reflective quality of high-gloss paint creates a high-end and modern look on furniture. One can’t beat how easy it is to clean surfaces painted with a high-gloss finish.
You can use high-gloss finishes to achieve a modern and neat look.
THE VERDICT.
Which paint sheen is good for you?
Big paint brands offer more sub-varieties. But this basic list will allow you to make better design decisions.
Remember: “the higher the gloss, the higher the shine”.
With technological break-throughs every year, the future of paint holds more choices for us. Stay tuned!
CHOOSING THE PERFECT PAINT FINISH.
Pick the sheen that best matches your needs, you won’t regret it.
Next time you buy a paint, pick up the right sheen. The few dollars you invest today will pay back triple-fold over the life of the paint job. The years of durability, the beauty and ease of cleaning are worth the extra bucks!
DESIGN CONSULTANT. OFFICIAL CONTRIBUTOR.
Stephanie Jones is a designer and artist for PaperCanvasEtc in Burke, Virginia.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
Stephanie creates abstract art from various media such as watercolor, oil, acrylic & found materials. She integrates her art, vintage finds and furniture that she refinishes to achieve updated aesthetics for her clients. Stephanie Jones is married to Greg, has three children, and a dog -named Scarlett.
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