Trying to choose what sheen paint you should use on your project may not have been something you’ve given much thought to, but it can make a huge difference in how the final product looks. Not only are there a bunch of different sheens to choose from, but every paint company has a different name for their sheen levels. So, what do you choose and why so many sheens?
Different sheens of paint have different uses. Glossy paints hold up to traffic better and are easier to clean. Flat paints can’t really be cleaned at all, but they hide surface flaws better than anything. So, deciding what sheen paint to use is more a question of where, and less of when or why. I’ll go through each type of sheen and where you should use it for the best results.
Not only do you want to learn how to paint a room properly, but choosing the right paint sheen is just as important as technique.
Flat/Matte Paint
Flat paint is the perfect way to hide rough walls or textures that you don’t like. It helps the wall have a uniform appearance and doesn’t highlight surface imperfections at all. Flat paint belongs in only low traffic areas where there won’t be a lot of hands touching it. Stay away from using flat paint on railings, doors, windows, and the like because they all get lots of hand traffic.
The reason it doesn’t work well with traffic is that is doesn’t have as strong of a grip and can often be scraped off very easily, as well as the fact that cleaning is not really an option. Any paint other than flat can usually be cleaned with a damp cloth to get dirt, crayon, pen, or scuffs off. Not flat paint. Cleaning with a damp cloth mostly smears the offending mark making more of a mess.
Flat paint excels when used on ceilings and rough textured walls as long as it is not used in damp or high traffic rooms like in bathrooms or kitchens.
Eggshell
The next step up on the paint sheen ladder is eggshell. Aptly named because it is about the same sheen as an eggshell (clever, huh?). Eggshell is a good all around paint for walls where it is probably the most popular paint sheen. It still hides like flat paint (though a little less) and has decent clean-ability. If your walls aren’t in rough shape, then an eggshell paint sheen won’t make you cringe at the flaws it reveals.
It’s not glossy enough for use on doors, windows, or trim, so keep it on walls only for the best results.
Satin/Low-Luster
Satin paint is a good all around paint and it can honestly work just about anywhere you want. Satin is best reserved for walls in bathrooms and kitchens because of its very good clean-ability. The high moisture levels in bathrooms can wreak havoc on flat paints and so the minimum I recommend in these rooms is satin.
Satin is also sometimes used on trim, windows, and doors. This is the bare minimum level of sheen I would recommend for these high traffic elements. It is cleanable enough and gives an attractive appearance, especially if you have rough surfaces on your woodwork. Satin will help hide trim imperfections compared to its higher gloss cousins below.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss is a great all around paint for trim, windows, and doors. It is very cleanable and holds up to heavy traffic over years of use. The reason for its popularity is that it gives that high performance look of high gloss paint without showing every single solitary flaw. It’s relatively easy to apply compared to high gloss paint too, allowing it to hide brush marks better. Check out the video at the end of the post for some tips on avoiding brush marks!
Places that semi-gloss paint absolutely does not belong are ceilings and walls. Even the best drywaller or plasterer will leave marks on their work that would normally not be an issue when painted with eggshell or flat paint, but when you apply semi-gloss paint to a large flat surface, you will see every flaw distinctly. In addition, it causes issues with light reflection on walls due to its higher sheen, creating all kinds of ugly shadow lines. Don’t do it.
High-Gloss
For the greatest impact, nothing beats a high-gloss finish. It shines like the sun and is extremely durable, but requires exceptional skill to apply properly. High-gloss paint is not forgiving of surface imperfections and shows every single brush mark like a secret posted on Facebook. There is no escaping the flaws that high-gloss shows.
But, when applied well to things like a front door, high-gloss paint is a beauty to behold. And there are really only two places I recommend it. Exterior doors and cabinets. It takes extensive prep and often a spray-on application to get it just right, but if you have the guts, then go for it because it is something special.
Final Thoughts
I hope this helps you discover what sheen paint you should use and where. One other little tip about paint sheens is that paint prices usually go up about a dollar a gallon for each increase in sheen. So, you can save a little money by only using the higher sheen paints when you need them. Good luck and now go paint something!
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I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance.
A different POV.
I have a 1947 house with textured (not knock-down) rock lath & plaster walls and I used satin paint on some of them and think they look great and are easy to clean. The one room where I used an eggshell looks dull and boring to me. I also used high gloss on my trim that I’d stripped and love it, despite the imperfections.
I’ve learned that ceilings painted with a slight sheen give the illusion that they’re higher. Unfortunately we painted ours according to the conventional wisdom in a flat. When we repaint, there will be sheen!
Our two clapboard houses are painted in semi-gloss and we’d never use anything else because it stays cleaner and is much easier to get the dirt and dust off. Our neighbor regrets painting his in less then semi-gloss and says never again!
This is in S. FL.
is there any way to dull down an already applied paint? I have a room that is painted semi gloss, and would like to bring it down a notch or two, but I like the colour and would prefer not to repaint…..(sanding is not an option as the walls are quite rough texture)
cheers!
There are chemical deglossers you could test in an inconspicuous area. It might give you the look you want.
I probably have a couple hundred dollars of high quality Purdy brushes tucked away, but have found that I get the best results with inexpensive Wooster foam brushes. I don’t want a sprayed on look but dislike heavy brush marks, so I have found that the foam brushes give a very super smooth, even look with ever so light brush marks. It gives it a “touched by hands” look that I feel is important to a renovation project. The foam brushes do require more coats and thus takes longer, but since I am not a professional painter I feel this gives me the security and confidence to get the results that I’m after. Thanks for your very insightful videos!
Thanks so much for your input, Angie, so glad you find the content helpful and enjoyable!
-Alyssa at The Craftsman Blog