You’re ready to paint your walls. You have the perfect vision in mind: a shiny blue room that catches all the sun’s rays when the windows are open. 

There’s only one problem: you bought flat paint. It was the cheapest option, and you wanted to keep your painting costs low. What difference does it make? It’s all blue paint, isn’t it? Wrong. 

The type of paint finish you choose plays a major role in the final look of your paint job. If you’re about to start a house painting project, you need to know the types of paint finishes and how each one differs from the others. You’ll learn all that and more in this article.

What is A Paint Finish?

Paint finish or paint sheen is how paint looks when you’re finished painting. Finish tells you how shiny or dull paint will look once it’s fully dry. 

Sheen or finish is determined by the level of light reflectivity paint has. Light reflectivity is measured in pigment volume concentration (PVC). The higher the PVC, the duller a paint’s sheen will be. 

A good interior design tip is to consider finish just as important as color. If you want a shiny blue room and you choose flat paint, you’ll end up with a dull blue living room.

Common Types of Paint Finishes

1. Flat

   

   This is the dullest paint finish with no light reflectivity. Flat paint is the easiest finish to work with because it completely covers all imperfections.

   The texture of flat paint is smooth and velvety but very porous, making it easy to trap dirt.

   Pros:

   • Hides imperfections on a wall the best
   • Absorbs the most glare from light

   Cons:

   • Most difficult to clean
   • Most susceptible to moisture damage

   Best For: 

   • Living rooms
   • Adult bedrooms
   • Studies

2. Matte

   

   Considered one of the most elegant paint finishes, matte has a high PVC that makes it less dull than flat paint, but not as bright as eggshell. 

   Matte paint has low luster and low light reflectivity. Its texture is soft and smooth like flat paint, but slightly chalky.

   Pros:

   • Hides imperfections almost as well as flat
   • Absorbs the glare from light almost as well as flat

   Cons:

   • Almost as difficult to clean as flat
   • Susceptible to moisture damage like flat

   Best For: 

   • Adult bedrooms
   • Dining rooms
   • Living rooms

3. Eggshell

   

   Eggshell is one of the most used finishes in modern interior design styles. It’s widely recommended by interior designers as a compromise between a shiny and dull finish. 

   It has a higher light reflectivity than flat or matte yet is not as shiny as satin or semi-gloss. Eggshell sheen gets its name from the same texture as the surface of an eggshell.

   Pros:

   • Hides imperfections moderately
   • Less dull than matte and flat

   Cons:

   • Almost as difficult to clean as matte and flat
   • Almost as susceptible to moisture damage as matte and flat

   Best For: 

   • Hallways
   • Family rooms
   • Adult bedrooms

4. Satin

   

   Satin finish has a pearl-like, almost glossy appearance that’s halfway between eggshell and semi-gloss. It has a lower light reflectivity, which makes it ideal for painting interior floors and walls. 

   Satin has a smooth, glass-like texture that makes it easier to clean than eggshell, flat, and matte finishes.

   Pros:

   • Easy to clean
   • Resistant to moisture damage

   Cons:

   • Highlights imperfections on a wall
   • Increases the glare of light

   Best For: 

   • Kids’ bedrooms
   • Kitchens
   • Bathrooms

5. Semi-gloss

   

   Semi-gloss finish has a very high light reflectivity that makes it perfect for painting accent walls and furniture. 

   It has a smooth, radiant texture that makes it easy to clean, so it’s also ideal for areas that need regular cleaning, like kitchens and bathrooms.

   Pros:

   • Easier to clean than satin
   • More resistant to moisture damage than satin

   Cons:

   • Highlights imperfections more than satin
   • Increases glare more than satin

   Best For: 

   • Kitchens
   • Bathrooms
   • Laundry rooms

6. High-gloss

   

   This is the shiniest, most reflective paint finish. High-gloss paint easily catches and increases the glare of light, making it unsuitable for interior walls. 

   Instead, it’s often used to paint furniture, trim, and doors to accent them. High-gloss paint is the easiest to clean of all paint finishes. 

   Pros:

   • Easiest to clean
   • Most resistant to moisture damage

   Cons:

   • Clearly highlights imperfections on surfaces
   • Too bright to use on interior walls

   Best For: 

   • Trim
   • Cabinetry
   • Doors

How to Choose The Right Finish for Each Room

Here’s what you need to consider when picking a paint finish:

• Aesthetics: Matte and eggshell are considered elegant, so they might be more suitable for bedrooms and living rooms. However, your personal taste determines which finish you’ll prefer.
• Durability: Areas like the bathroom and kitchen that are more exposed to moisture and heat need stronger finishes like satin or semi-gloss. Bedrooms can get less durable finishes like eggshell or matte.
• Viewing: If you’re not getting a professional house painter, you should consider imperfections in the painting. Flat and eggshell paints will cover up any imperfections. They’re generally preferred for areas where you’ll be receiving guests, like the living room. For areas like the kitchen or bathroom that won’t be seen as much, satin or semi-gloss paint are good options.
• Occupancy: Little kids are likely to get stains on their bedroom walls while playing. So lower sheens like flat or matte paint that are difficult to clean are okay for an adult’s bedroom, but satin paint is more ideal for kids’ bedrooms.

Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Paint Finish

1. Not Considering Lighting

   Lower sheens, like matte, will absorb light, making a room look darker. Higher sheens, like semi-gloss, will catch the glare of light, making a room look brighter. Evaluate how much natural and artificial light gets in a room before picking a finish.

2. Not Considering Functionality

   A flat finish may look nice for a rustic-style kitchen; however, cleaning would be difficult. Satin finishes are a lot easier to clean, so they are better for kitchens.

3. Not Testing Before Committing

   Just like you would if you were choosing wallpaper designs, it’s important to test paint finishes before committing. Always swatch your paint finishes before making a final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

• Do all paint finishes dull over time?

  Yes, all paint finishes will get dull over time. This is caused by natural wear and tear.

• What is the longest-lasting paint finish?

  High-gloss finish is the strongest and most durable paint finish.

• Can you change the sheen of paint?

  Yes, you can change a paint finish by adding gloss agents.

• Can you apply eggshell paint with a roller?

  Yes, you can use a woven polyester roller to apply eggshell paint in place of a brush.

Paint Your Home Like a Pro

Want your home to look like it was designed by a professional interior designer? You should probably take a crash course in interior design. 

Topics like paint finishes are usually ignored, but they significantly impact your home’s final look. Learning as much as you can about every element helps you get the best results.