Painting involves many decisions, ones that most homeowners aren’t aware of. We tend to focus on picking the right paint color. What’s right has more to do with the colors you like or coordinating wall colors with other furnishings.
We rarely think about the paint’s sheen or understand how it affects the way we see the color. Even more important is picking the right sheen or gloss level to make sure the paint continues looking good for years to come. The sheen you pick will change depending on the room(s) being painted and the amount of activity that occurs in each room.
Selecting the Right Paint Sheen
A paint’s sheen or gloss level is usually chosen based on the requirements for durability. The higher gloss a paint is, the harder the finish which makes it better at withstanding wear and tear. At the other end of the spectrum are flat paints. The surface of flat paint is more porous so it can trap dirt and be more difficult to clean.
First we’ll review the pros and cons of each type of paint – high gloss, gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell and flat paint. There’s a table below to make your selection of paint finish easier, to meet the requirements of the room you are painting.
- High gloss paints – offer the highest sheen and the hardest finish making them easy to clean. At the same time they reflect light and reveal every surface imperfection making them difficult to apply well (hint: leave this paint to the pros). High gloss paint is good for areas exposed to heavy traffic and prone to fingerprints. High gloss paints are also good for accent trim you want to make pop.
- Semi-gloss paints – are less reflective than high-gloss paints and offer good resistance to stains. They’re a good choice with small children, i.e. for hallways and playrooms.
- Satin paints – have a softer sheen and won’t glare like high-gloss and semi-gloss paints. They are still washable and fairly durable making them practical to use throughout the house.
- Eggshell paints – have a soft sheen, like an egg. This paint finish works well for walls but not trim around doors, windows, etc. You can wash eggshell paints with harming the surface.
- Flat paints – are non-reflective which allows them to conceal surface imperfections better than other paints. Flat paints are fine for low-traffic areas like bedrooms and useful where walls are rough or damaged. Flat paints are also a good choice for ceilings.
| Room | Recommended Finish | Requirements |
| Kitchen | Semi-gloss | Washable & durable paint for areas subject to dirt, grease & moisture |
| Bathroom | Semi-gloss | Washable & durable paint for areas subject to dirt, grease & moisture |
| Hallway | Satin | Washable & minimize dirt pick-up |
| Dining/Living Rooms | Eggshell or Satin | Eggshell has a rich look but minimal washability; Satin has a rich look & washability |
| Family/Play Rooms | Satin or Semi-gloss | Satin has washability & some semi-gloss very washable; perfect for high traffic areas exposed to dirt, grease, moisture |
| Bedrooms | Satin | Washable & minimizes dirt pick-up |
| Garage | Flat | Minimize visibility of surface imperfections; less washable |
| Ceilings | Flat | Minimize visibility of surface imperfections |
| Trim/Baseboards | Gloss/Semi-gloss | Strong, washable surface |
Note: No discussion about oil versus latex paints has been included here as there are numerous problems with oil paints, with numerous states no longer allowing their sale. The pros and cons of oil and latex paints:
- Latex paints – dry quickly, only need water for thinning and cleanup and have fewer fumes and odors than oil-based paints
- Oil paints – provide an extremely durable finish BUT they dry slowly, require mineral spirits for thinning and cleanup and have strong, smelly fumes.