Choosing the paint color for your home can be one of the hardest choices. However, once you pick the color, you aren’t out of the woods yet! Now you need to decide on the paint finish and texture.
This can be pretty simple, but I often find this decision stumps everyone when the question is asked. There are different textures for different paint manufacturers, but basically, there are 4 different finishes.
We are going to jump into those today, so pay attention and don’t neglect this decision!
Matte or Flat paint finish
This is a dusty, modern finish paint. It doesn’t have any reflection or shine, and it creates a soft backdrop. It is perfect for bright spaces and highlighting art. Flat also has the most pigment, so it will show color differently than other finishes. If you have bumps or poorly finished walls, the flat is a great choice because it can help disguise those imperfections.
The downside of the flat is that stains or finger marks are difficult to remove. Some paint manufactures boast the cleanup power of flat paint, but the makeup of flat paint is different than the other finishes.
I always spec flat for a ceiling because the ceiling lights will bounce off any sheen. I don’t recommend this unless that is the specific look you are going for.
Eggshell paint finish
This is one step up from matt or flat. Truly, this is similar to the sheen of an egg, hence the name. This offers a slight hint of a shine and holds up well to touch-ups and cleaning. Beware, some manufacturers eggshell is a little bit shinier than others!
It has a smooth finish and is more washable than flat. It is ideal for bedrooms, hallways, home offices, and family rooms.
Satin or Semi-gloss paint finish
This finish is ideal for doors and heavily steamed bathrooms. Satin tends to be a bit smoother of a finish and semi-gloss is a bit shiny. Both are also a good choice for cabinets but I would not use this finish on a wall unless doing a creative treatment.
Our home was painted with semi-gloss paint when we moved in and it was not good! Too much sheen reflects poorly and just doesn’t look good on walls.
High gloss paint finish
Typically, this finish is used on baseboards or trims, cabinets, and mantles. While this finish is shiny at first, it will eventually soften over time.
Again, I do not recommend this for walls for the same reasons I wouldn’t recommend semi-gloss.
To review, the four types of paint finishes are matte/flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Unless you know what to look for, many people won’t consider paint finished when doing their home. I hope this post has given you some education as well as actionable do’s and don’ts.
Are you still stuck on what paint finish to choose? I am a certified color consultant and can help you do just that! I do local consultations in Denver, Colorado, and virtual consultations for anywhere else in the world. Be sure to contact me here.
