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What to Paint Where. Choosing the Right Paint Sheen

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Colour Confidential offers these useful tips for choosing which paint sheen will best suit your needs...

Differences Between Paint Sheens

With so many paint finishes to choose from, you should learn the benefits of each and determine the right one for your job. Durability is very important. While most manufacturers have developed all paint finishes with good cleaning qualities, a general rule is that the shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to washing and cleaning. Here are some tips on which paint finishes are best for which interior home applications:

Matte: This type of interior paint is the least shiny, and is commonly used on interior walls. It's especially good if you have to camouflage minor wall imperfections, since a matte finish does not reflect light. While some flat paints are advertised as washable, you may still need to touch up scratches or marks by covering with a bit more paint, so be sure you keep some on hand after you've finished painting.

Eggshell: Envision the low sheen of the shell of an egg, and you have an idea of how an eggshell paint finish will appear. With only a slight hint of sheen, it's good for interior walls and holds up better to cleaning than a matte finish paint. This finish is good for powder rooms, living rooms, family rooms, bedrooms and hallways.

Satin: This finish has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, and trim but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for areas which get a lot of traffic such as the walls of kids' rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Paints with a satin finish are formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing. This sheen is considered the most versatile because its surface has good scuff resistance and scrub ability.

Semi-Gloss: This finish has a slightly glossy appearance but is not wet looking. It is used most often in high-moisture areas like laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and frequently used on doors, trim, and cabinets. It is easily cleaned and lays down a nice, subtle shine, without being too flashy. Semi-gloss surfaces offer maximum durability. It is a good choice for walls and woodwork that get heavy use and need frequent scrubbing.

Glossy: This finish has almost a reflective quality, as it's shine mimics the look of enamel or plastic. It is the easiest paint finish to clean. Glossy finishes are good for heavily used areas where fingerprints, grease, or grime are common. The durable smooth surface is highly moisture resistant. However, this finish is not widely used in home interiors since it will magnify any surface imperfections. Careful preparation and sanding is essential before painting with high gloss paints. Glossy is most often used for trim work or on cabinets, banisters, doorframes, windowsills, and window frames.

High Gloss: Rather than choosing a high gloss paint for an entire room, use it sparingly in select locations, such as doors and trim. The brilliant surface can appear cold and uninviting. Remember to spend extra time preparing the surfaces to be painted glossy, as this finish will expose any surface imperfections.

What area are you painting?

For Ceilings: If you're looking for a basic white ceiling, you can buy pre-mixed, matte finish paints off the shelf at almost any paint or home improvement store. Some high quality ceiling paints make painting ceilings easy by rolling on pink and drying to a brilliant white in 30-60 minutes. This way, you can easily see where you've already painted, whcih makes it simple to paint white over white. This paint ensures a uniform and even finish in one coat because you won't miss a spot, saving you time and money. Its matte finish also prevents glare and masks surface irregularities.

For Kitchens & Bathrooms: Any room that will be exposed to water, splashing, or steam is best painted with a satin or semi-gloss paint. A guest bath or powder room, which will have less-frequent use, could be painted with lower-gloss paint, such as eggshell finish or even a matte.

Kid-Friendly: When painting children's rooms, many painters recommend using an eggshell or satin paint on the walls and semi-gloss for doors and moldings. These finishes are formulated to better withstand repeated cleanings.