Paint sheen guide for your home
There are a few important factors to consider when choosing the paint sheens for your next project. This paint sheen guide for you home is going to help! The paint sheen is determined based on the look, style and durability you will want in your home.
After choosing the paint color, paint sheen is the next most important task.
Sharing everything you need to know here so you can make the best decision for your next paint project.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Whether you plan to paint the project yourself or hire a professional to do the job, you will need to choose the right paint sheen. Knowing how to paint a room top to bottom is my favorite way to transform any space on a budget.
Unlike the endless amount of paint color options, there are only a select amount of paint sheen choices. Knowing how each sheen functions will help make this a much easier process. The sheen isn’t just for looks.
Have you seen my best black paint blog post? Maybe our painted kitchen backsplash or painted tile fireplace makeover?
For my home I use eggshell and satin on walls, semi-gloss on trim, millwork, cabinetry, and flat on ceilings. I prefer less light reflective qualities but something I can wipe down if needed. If you are ever in doubt choose eggshell.
How to choose the perfect paint sheen for you project
The room
Different rooms have different lighting and usage, which can affect the sheen you choose. For example, a high-gloss finish may work well in a bathroom or kitchen where there’s moisture and the walls need to be wiped down frequently, but may not be ideal for a bedroom or living room unless it’s the trim work or built in cabinets.
The surface
The finish of the paint can also depend on the surface you’re painting. For example, a high-gloss finish may look great on smooth surfaces like kitchen or bathroom cabinets but not on rougher surfaces like plaster or bumpy walls.
The style
Your home style can also dictate the the paint sheen you choose. For example, a matte finish may be best for a farmhouse or boho look, while a satin or semi-gloss finish may work better for a modern or contemporary style.
As with all home interiors these rules are made to be broken. When you mix flat wall paint with high shine wall art you can still have a luxury look.
Most common use of flat paint finish
One reason you may see flat paint finish the most is because it can be easily touched up. You will see this in apartments and rental homes most often. However, they damage easily and aren’t wipeable.
Landlords don’t really care about that part, they just want easy when it comes to touching up the paint.
When using a shiny paint finish, it is much harder to touch up. Flashing occurs when you try to touch up or repaint part of a wall. Flashing is an uneven look to the paints surface. Basically, you will be able to see exactly where you touched up the paint.
If you even need to repaint part of a wall that is satin finish or glossier, you will more than likely need to paint that entire wall in order for no flashing to appear.
Your personal preference
Ultimately, your personal preference should always be at the front of paint finish decisions. Whether you prefer an easy to clean gloss paint or a cozy flat finish, make it what you like.
The choice of paint sheen depends on the surface and the environment where the paint will be applied. Testing a few different sheens on a small area of your walls before making your final decision may be helpful.
Paint Tip
When choosing a paint sheen, keep in mind the prep work involved in painting over it. You can easily paint over matte and eggshell finish with any other sheen. Less reflective sheens such as matte and eggshell can’t be painted over semi gloss and high gloss without priming first.
The Exterior
Choosing your exterior paint finish should follow the same tips as for interiors as far as care. You will want your exterior to hold up well to the elements as well as be easily cleaned.
The most common choice for exterior paint sheen is eggshell, satin (sometimes referred to as low-luster) for the body and semi-gloss for the trims, doors and windows.
Tips for choosing the right paint sheen for different surfaces
High-gloss paint
This type of sheen is highly reflective and is suitable for areas that require high durability and frequent cleaning. It will change the appearance of your paint color so keep that in mind.
- doors
- trims
- cabinets
Note: Designers love using dark paint colors in high gloss sheen. This adds drama to a space. If you prefer cozy, less dramatic spaces in your home, avoid that combination. We painted our bedroom Sherwin Williams Sable and it is so cozy now.
Semi-gloss paint
Semi-gloss sheen is slightly less reflective than high-gloss sheen but still offers good durability and washability. It’s a good choice for high-moisture areas but if you don’t prefer the shine, satin will work in high moisture areas too.
- bathrooms
- kitchens
- laundry rooms
- millwork / trim
Satin paint
This type of sheen has a smooth, velvety appearance and offers good durability and washability. Especially use in kids rooms and play areas.
- walls
- ceilings
- trims
Eggshell paint
Eggshell sheen has a low-luster finish and is a popular choice for anyone who doesn’t love the shine or reflective nature of gloss finish paint. It offers good durability and is easy to clean.
- walls (living, dining, bedrooms)
Matte paint
Matte sheen has a flat finish (commonly referred to as flat by many brands) and is the least reflective of all the paint sheens. It works well on walls and ceilings in low-traffic areas that don’t require frequent cleaning.
- ceilings
I personally only use flat finish for ceilings. You will see flat paint used lots in apartments or rentals. While flat finish does wash or clean up well it does hide wall imperfections.
Remember that the higher the sheen, the more imperfections will be visible on the surface. So, it’s essential to prepare the surface properly before painting to achieve a smooth finish.
When looking for the most durable yet not high shine go with satin or low luster.
Low luster is another name for eggshell and satin. While all three of these sheens are close in light reflectiveness, they can vary some. Depending on the brand of paint you choose they may use a different name.
Personally I have found that eggshell and low luster are most similar and satin finish is a bit more shiny. Why each brand wants to complicate things by making them slightly different is beyond me.
My best advice, stick with one brand of paint and you will know what each sheen looks like every time you pick a paint color.
I hope these descriptions and tips help you learn how to choose the right paint sheen for your next project. I’d love to hear about what you’re painting.