Paint Sheen—What is it? Why does it matter?
Q: I’m painting my house and its taken me a while to pick a color, now I have to pick a sheen? Help!!!
A: This is a great question, and I'm here to help! So, what is paint sheen & why does it matter?
If you’re looking to freshen up the interior of your home, you likely have the question—what is paint sheen?
The paint industry has technical measurements for reflectivity and the ratio of resins to pigments, but in its basic form, sheen refers to the shininess of the paint. The higher the luster, the more light reflects off the surface of the paint.
What are the different paint sheens?
Gloss
Semigloss
Satin
Eggshell
Flat or matte
Most brands of paint come in several sheens. Gloss sheens have the highest light-reflective characteristics. Next would be semigloss sheens followed by satin and eggshell which are low luster sheens. Lastly, you have flat or matte finishes.
How do I know what paint sheen to use?
There’s a rule of thumb to follow when picking paint sheens. The higher the sheen, the higher the shine. The higher the shine the more durable the paint. High gloss sheens are a good choice for areas that sticky fingers will touch such as cabinets, trim, and doors. But high gloss is too much shine for most interior walls.
Satin finishes are the most commonly used paint for interior walls. They are easier to clean than flat and eggshell paints, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, and playrooms.
While both eggshell and satin are a little less durable, they are both excellent choices for your living room areas. Spills and drips can be easily cleaned or wiped off with a rag.
You should think about using flat or matte sheens on walls or areas that tend to have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes because it can hide these blemishes and imperfections really well.
Best Sheen for painting a brick fireplace
When painting a brick fireplace, you will want to start by using an indoor acrylic-latex blend paint. The paint needs to be able to withstand high temperatures. As far as what sheen to go with, eggshell is a lower sheen and gives off a warm glow. It is easy to apply and is great at concealing imperfections. Also, purchase a paint roller designed for textured surfaces. This will help cover the likely rough and porous surface of the brick.
Which paint sheen is best for painting bathrooms?
Satin is the best go-to sheen for bathrooms. It is more durable and shinier than eggshell, which makes it easier for you to keep clean. Use it for walls, ceilings, and even the trim, because many satin finishes are tougher than they once were. Paints with shinier finishes are the best choice for bathroom spaces that are notorious for large amounts of moisture and potential mold and mildew. A common mistake then is choosing a flat finish for your bathroom walls.
What paint sheen works best for kitchen cabinets?
Most people find satin or semi-gloss paint works best for kitchen cabinets or any woodwork in your kitchen. This will give your cabinets a soft sheen that doesn’t look flat. It is also very resistant to scrubbing, making it the perfect choice. Easy maintenance is essential for high-touch areas like cabinets.
The most used sheen of interior paint
So which sheen is used most often when it comes to interior paint overall? Semi-gloss and eggshell are the most popular. They are a good choice for walls, woodwork, doors, and hallways and meet in the middle with a moderate sheen that isn’t too extreme.
Summary
Hopefully this helps you understand how to choose a paint sheen/finish.
Just remember—the higher the shine the more durable the paint. High gloss sheens are a good choice for areas that sticky fingers will touch such as cabinets, trim, and doors. But high gloss is too much shine for most interior walls. Satin finishes are the most commonly used paint for interior walls.
Choose your sheen based on how much traffic the area receives. Flat is a low-sheen paint with a non-reflective finish that touches up well and hides minor surface imperfections. It's ideal for low traffic areas, interior walls and ceilings.
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections. However, it's the least durable choice and doesn't usually stand up well to scrubbing.
If you are thinking about painting and want help with colors and sheen, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
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