Learn what paint sheen is and how it impacts durability, functionality and design!
The right paint finish is so important when you’re trying to get a specific look and make sure your paint lasts. I actually think that selecting a paint sheen is just as important as selecting the color because it can change how the color looks! In this post, I’ll explain paint sheens, their differences, how to select the right one for your home and I’ll share some real life pictures from my home!
The main takeaway from this post is: The shinier the paint sheen is, the more durable and cleanable it is but it also becomes less good at hiding imperfections of your painted surface (think unevenly textured walls or damaged cabinets).
So let’s get into the details!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, you can find more information in my disclosures here.
What is Paint Sheen?
Paint sheen is the level of gloss/shine in a paint finish. It impacts not just the appearance but also the performance and durability of the paint. Different paint sheen levels can either enhance the look of your paint or take away from its appearance so it’s important to pick the right one for your paint project and space!
Types of Paint Finishes
Let’s do a quick paint sheen comparison!
Here’s an overview of the most popular paint sheens:
- Flat: Completely non-reflective surface and hides imperfections extremely well. However, flat paint can be challenging to maintain, as it is prone to scuffs and stains and it’s difficult to clean. It’s most commonly used for ceilings, walls that need are uneven or show lots of imperfections, and formal spaces.
- Matte: Minimal shine and richer in color than flat paint. It’s great for hiding imperfections, while still being washable. Matte is most commonly used on exterior siding and in living rooms and dining rooms in homes without small children or animals.
- Eggshell: Slight sheen and more durable and cleanable than matte or flat paint. Eggshell has a smooth finish and is great for high-traffic areas (that are prone to scuffs) due to its durability and beautiful finish. Works well for hallways, kids rooms, family rooms, and exteriors.
- Satin: Pearl-like sheen, slightly more durable and cleanable than eggshell. Perfect for high-traffic areas. Works really well for hallways, kids rooms, family rooms, exteriors, and cabinets.
- Semi-Gloss: Visible shine and easy to clean. It’s a popular choice for kitchen cabinets, bathroom walls, utility areas, doors and trim.
- Gloss: The shiniest paint finish option, perfect for surfaces that need a striking appearance and durability. Will show imperfections and best used surfaces in excellent or new condition such as new cabinets, doors and trim.
Paint Sheen Chart
Here is a visual for you with the different levels of paint sheen, and when to use the different paint finishes. Feel free to save it so you can refer to it any time:
How to Choose the Perfect Paint Sheen
To choose the perfect paint sheen for your space or paint project, consider the following factors:
- Design: What vision do you have for your space? A modern space might call for matte walls while a more traditional space might call for eggshell walls with semi-gloss trim.
- Functionality: What purpose does the room serve? Different rooms have different needs. A bathroom for example needs a paint finish that can withstand moisture.
- Durability: Do you have an area that gets high traffic? Those areas require more durable finishes.
- Condition: Does your wall have a lot of imperfections? Some paint finishes can help hide those while others can draw attention to them.
- Cost: Typically, the glossier the sheen, the more expensive the paint will be and if you’re hiring someone for the paint job, their fee may also be higher. If you’re painting a large area and you’re on a budget, you may want to take the cost into consideration.
Paint Finishes for Walls
It’s time to go over the best and most popular interior paint finishes!
- Ceilings: The best paint sheen for ceilings is typically flat. It helps hide imperfections and keeps the ceiling out of focus.
- Bathrooms: The best paint sheens for bathrooms are matte, eggshell or satin.
- Bedrooms: The most popular paint sheens for bedrooms are flat, matte, eggshell and satin.
- Dining rooms: The most common paint sheens for dining areas are flat, matte, eggshell and satin.
- Garages: The best paint sheen for your garage will depend on the condition of your walls and what you use your garage for. Generally, you can use anything from flat to satin on garage walls.
- Hallways: The best paint sheens for hallways are flat, matte, eggshell and satin. If you have a lot of traffic, young children or pets, it’s best to go with eggshell or satin.
- Kids rooms: Satin and eggshell are great options for kids rooms. Although the owner of the paint company that we’ve used to paint our current home and the Hills House, said that he paints all his kids’ rooms semi-gloss just to be safe haha!
- Kitchens: The best paint sheens for kitchens are matte, eggshell and satin.
- Laundry rooms: Popular paint sheens for kitchens are matte, eggshell and satin.
- Living rooms: The paint sheens that are most popular in living rooms are flat, matte, eggshell and satin.
- Offices: Flat, matte, eggshell and satin are great paint sheen options for office walls!
I typically use flat on ceilings and eggshell on walls!
Here is a photo of our eggshell walls against the semi-gloss door and trim and satin cabinets. The walls are Alabaster and the trim, door and cabinets are Accessible Beige:
Here’s a photo of our eggshell living room walls, satin built-in cabinets, semi-gloss crown moulding and flat ceiling:
The paint color here is Ancient Marble by Sherwin Williams.
Paint Finishes for Trim, Millwork & Doors
The best paint finishes for trim, millwork and doors are the ones that are durable and easy to clean like satin, semi-gloss or gloss. My favorite paint sheen for trim and doors is semi-gloss and satin or semi-gloss for other millwork.
Paint Finishes for Cabinets
There are a few painted cabinet finishes you can choose from. Typically, durable and easy to clean paint finishes like satin, semi-gloss or gloss are recommended for cabinets and especially kitchen cabinets. My favorite paint sheen options for kitchen cabinets are satin and semi-gloss.
I used satin in the Hills House kitchen:
I used semi-gloss in both the California Cottage kitchen and the Roofline Residence kitchen:
Cabinet paint finishes can dramatically change the look of your cabinetry and impact the paint durability so don’t just focus on the color (I know that’s already a time-consuming and daunting task!) but also consider the paint finish. A gloss sheen might look stunning on a modern cabinet door but could look out of place on a traditional cabinet door.
Paint Finishes for Furniture
If you’re looking for the perfect paint finish for your furniture paint project, you have lots of options depending on your piece of furniture and how it will be used.
If it’s a piece that will be used frequently and needs a durable finish that can be easily cleaned, I recommend satin, semi-gloss or gloss. However, if it’s more of a statement piece that won’t be opened and used every day you could consider some of the less shiny paint finishes like matte or eggshell.
Paint Finishes for Exteriors
The best paint finish for exteriors really depends on a few factors like the surface material (e.g. wood or vinyl siding, stucco, etc.), the climate (e.g. humid or dry) and the condition of your exterior (shiny finishes will highlight imperfections).
We used semi-gloss on the exterior siding, trim and doors at the California Cottage:
Our painters used eggshell on the exterior stucco of the Hills House and semi-gloss on the front doors.
We have yet to paint the exterior of the Roofline Residence but I recently used semi-gloss to paint the front door:
I hope this was helpful and feel free to reach out with any questions!
Tina
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