Types of Paint Finishes: Choosing the Right Sheen for Every Room

As a real estate agent, I get the opportunity to go into many homes. The quality of interior paint jobs can vary greatly from home to home.

Getting a professional-quality paint job relies on several things. One step that can differentiate a bad paint job from a good paint job is using the types of paint finishes correctly throughout your home.

Different types of paint finishes have different sheen or reflective qualities that can range from flat matte to high gloss. Each paint sheen has its pros and cons and should be chosen carefully for each area of your home.

Today, many homeowners are also paying closer attention to paint finishes because the right sheen can improve both appearance and long-term durability.

One big mistake that the DIY painter can make is choosing the wrong sheen or finish for a particular area of their home. But an average homeowner can learn to paint correctly. If you are not willing to put in the time or effort, consider hiring a professional paint contractor for your next painting project.

So when should you use Eggshell vs Semi-gloss or Flat vs Eggshell?

Types of Paint Finishes or Sheens

While there is no right or wrong paint finish to use and it is a personal choice, there are reasons to select one paint finish over another. And while it may be the same color, your choice in paint sheen can have a drastic impact on the look and durability of your finished paint job.

Different paint companies will have slightly different names for their various paint finishes but let’s cover the different paint sheens you will commonly see.

What is A Paint Sheen?

The sheen is the amount of light a paint finish will reflect or absorb. Flat paint absorbs more light than it reflects, giving almost no reflection of light. Gloss paint is highly reflective and reflects most of the light hitting it.

The amount of sheen can also influence how large, bright, or clean a room feels once the paint project is complete.

Why Does The Type of Paint Finish Matter?

A matte or flat finish will absorb most of the light leaving no reflections in the finished paint jobs. It gives a smooth, luxurious appearance.

A gloss finish will give a ton of reflections and highlight any flaws if used on a wall.

That begs the question of why not use matte finish everywhere? There are trade-offs to be had when choosing the types of paint finishes you will use for your job.

The duller the paint sheen, the more forgiving it is on flaws in the wall but the more prone it is to scuffing and difficult to clean without leaving a mark. Flat or Matte paint is easier to apply and touches up easier than a gloss finish.

Higher gloss finishes are far more durable and can be easily cleaned and scrubbed without damaging the finish. They are more labor-intensive to apply and are harder to touch up.

Many homeowners prefer balancing durability and appearance, especially in busy areas like kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms.

While a semi-gloss paint finish can create very distracting reflections on the wall, the shiny finish can help brighten a room.

When you compare flat paint to gloss paint there are pros and cons to each. That is why they make a handful of finishes in between.

What Paint Finish Should I Choose?

Ideally, you want to use the lowest sheen you can get away with for the best looking job. But you also want to choose a paint finish that holds up well over time.

Before you pick a paint finish for an application consider how dark the color is, the wear and tear, the traffic, who is using the room, and the moisture levels.

A laundry room might warrant a satin finish or semi-gloss finish due to the wear and tear and moisture levels. A matte or eggshell finish may be more suitable for a very little-used guest room.

Most baseboard, door, and window trim work best with a Semi-Gloss or High Gloss finish due to its washability and durability.

For many modern homes, eggshell and satin finishes remain the most commonly used choices because they provide a good balance between softness and durability.

Matte or Flat Finish Paint

• Matte or Flat finish paint absorbs all the light leaving no reflections at all.
• It is perfect to hide imperfections in a wall.
• It is easier to apply and requires fewer coats than paint with a glossier sheen.
• It can be easily touched up and blend with the original paint coat.
• It scuffs and stains the easiest of all paint finishes.
• It can be washed, but cannot handle any scrubbing at all.
• A Matte or Flat paint finish should be considered in low traffic areas.

Eggshell Finish Paint

The Eggshell finish mirrors its namesake, the egg. The sheen is a very soft glow that is almost nonexistent.

• It is still easy to apply and touch up and the finish is soft enough to hide many imperfections.
• It is scuff and stain-resistant and can handle a little scrubbing.
• It is the perfect mid-traffic finish and probably the most popular paint finish for walls overall.

It is great for bedrooms, hallways, living rooms, and almost anywhere in the house.

Eggshell continues to be one of the top choices for homeowners preparing their homes for sale because it creates a clean and welcoming appearance.

Satin Finish Paint

Satin finish paint can also be categorized with Pearl or Soft Gloss finishes.

• It is shinier than Eggshell finish paint but still provides a soft glow to the reflections.
• It is more durable and stain-resistant than lower paint sheens and provides good scuff resistance.
• This is a good mid to high traffic paint finish.

Perfect for playrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and even hallways and bedrooms that may receive higher traffic.

Satin finishes have become increasingly popular in family homes because they are easier to maintain while still offering a softer appearance than semi-gloss paint.

Semi-Gloss Paint Finish

Semi-Gloss paint shows a hard reflection with very little light absorption.

• Because of its reflective nature, it is hard to hide flaws and blemishes on the surface to be painted.
• It is very durable and scuff resistant.
• It is easily cleanable and can be scrubbed quite hard.
• Semi-gloss paint is perfect for high moisture areas.

Semi-Gloss paint is perfect for trim, doors, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

This finish is especially useful in homes with children or pets because it stands up well to repeated cleaning.

High-Gloss Paint Finish

High-Gloss paint finish creates a mirror-like surface with hard harsh reflections.

• It is extremely durable, scuff resistant, and very easy to clean and scrub.
• High-Gloss is best for trim.
• It is the most unforgiving of the paint finishes and highlights every flaw.

Not very suitable for walls in your home except for specialized uses.

High-gloss finishes are often used as decorative accents on doors, cabinets, and custom trim work to create a bold visual impact.

Dark Paint Colors and What To Know About The Finish You Use

While I have laid out a good overview of the different paint finishes and where to use them, it is a bit of a generalization.

Dark paint colors will be prone to highlight the reflections in the sheen you choose. Reflections are generally white or light and in contrast to a deeper paint shade, they will be far more obvious.

Consider going down in paint sheen in a darker color to minimize distracting reflections.

Testing paint samples under both daytime and nighttime lighting can help avoid unwanted glare and reflection issues.

The Exception To Every Rule

Like everything, paint technology is always changing. Many strides have been made over the past 20 years in paint technology.

One area paint companies are trying to perfect is the durability and washability of matte or lower sheen paints.

The Sherwin Williams Emerald line of acrylic latex paint and the Benjamin Moore Aura Bath and Spa paint offer matte finish paint that is more stain-resistant, mildew resistant, and offers high washability.

You can get the luxurious feel of a matte finish with the durability of a higher sheen finish.

These newer paint products have made it easier for homeowners to use lower-sheen finishes in kitchens and bathrooms without sacrificing durability.

A Word On Paint Primers

A primer is meant to be a bottom coat that seals and gives a uniform base for a topcoat.

Finish paint is made up of resins and pigments. The pigments are what give the paint its hide. A high-quality paint job starts with good priming.

Skipping primer can lead to uneven color coverage and reduce the overall lifespan of the paint job.

Priming is a must if you are painting new wallboard and previously unpainted finishes or need to seal a different finish.

Carefully consider if you should prime first. If you are in question… prime!

Paint Finishes For Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets has been a popular option when renovating a kitchen. Nothing takes a beating like your kitchen cabinets so it is important to get the right finish for durability.

Semi-gloss is probably the most popular choice for kitchen cabinets. Secondary choices are satin and high-gloss.

Cabinet refinishing continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to modernize a kitchen without a full renovation.

Consider using a specialty paint product that is oil enhanced to flatten out and slow down drying time for a smoother finish.

Paint And Selling Your Home

One of the single best investments you can make when selling a home is a quality paint job in a neutral color.

Not only is color important but so is selecting the right type of paint finish. Using glossy paint on walls is usually a bad idea. If you are an inexperienced painter, a glossier paint finish will show every flaw and mistake.

Choosing the right paint finish is a big step in getting a quality paint job in your home.

Fresh neutral paint remains one of the easiest ways to make a home feel cleaner, brighter, and more move-in ready to potential buyers.

Choose the type of paint finish carefully based on the needs you have for the area.

Your local paint store or paint contractor will be a great resource to help choose the right finish and answer any questions you may have.

Other Real Estate Resources:

• Selling a home isn’t always easy. Taking the right steps can go a long way as Paul Sian explains.
• Fresh paint can go a long way in enticing home buyers.
• Not every home sells easily. Deferred maintenance like peeling paint should be addressed before listing.
• Preparation is everything when selling a home, and nothing freshens up a space quite like new paint.