You have finally decided to start that pesky painting project you’ve put off for so long. Picking a color is hard enough with all the different variations of shades, cool tones, warm tones…the list goes on! BUT now you have to decide on the right paint sheen for your project…high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, & flat. I wish it were as simple as picking a color and slapping it on there, but there’s a whole process & I am here to help!
What does “sheen” mean?
The paint “sheen” just means the amount of gloss that’s in your finish. The “shine” if you will. So the more shiny your paint finish is the easier (or more scrubbable) it is to clean! So high traffic areas (the things you touch the most or come in contact with dirt often) you would more than likely want a semi-gloss! For example…kitchen cabinets, exterior doors & trim!
What sheen do I use?
- Gloss– High sheen (shine) This will reflect light. Which means it can show “flaws”. It is ideal for high traffic areas & can be easily scrubbed clean. Perfect for trim, molding, doors, & kitchen cabinets.
- Semi-gloss– Noticeable sheen which will still reflect light. Ideal for high traffic areas & can easily be wiped clean. Perfect for kitchen cabinets, trim, moldings, bathrooms, doors, utility rooms. I use this for my exterior doors and kitchen cabinets.
- Satin– Medium sheen. Great for kids bedroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, playroom, bathroom, laundry room. Pretty much any wall in your house! It can still be wiped clean. This is my go-to sheen of choice for walls!
- Eggshell– Low sheen. Still good to use for walls but I wouldn’t use it in a kid’s room. It isn’t as durable and not as easy to clean as higher sheen alternatives. You could use this sheen in the same places as satin…I just wouldn’t place it in a playroom or kid’s bedrooms. It will not reflect light making it easy to hide imperfections!
- Flat or matte– No sheen & also doesn’t reflect light. Great for low-traffic areas. Mostly used on ceilings and inside of closets. This is not easily cleaned. You would more than likely scrub the paint off as your trying to clean it.
Quick Guide
I hope this guide will help! Sometimes all it boils down to is preference. Just remember the higher the shine the easier it is to clean. The less shine means it won’t reflect light and will hide imperfections very well…it is harder to clean though. Now pick your color and sheen & get started on that project! Happy painting!