Sharing everything about paint sheen as a Designer and True Color Expert®!
Selecting your sheen of paint depends on the function of the room and the look you are trying to achieve.
The advanced materials and formulas that are used in paint today have completely changed the old rules of how to pick paint sheen!
This helpful paint tips guide shows you exactly How To Pick The Perfect Paint Sheen to ensure your walls, cabinetry and trim are washable and hardwearing in the places they need to be.
Choosing the finish of your paint is just as important as picking the color!
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What is Paint Sheen?
Paint sheen is the measure of how much light that paint reflects.
Paints with a sheen reflect light.
Paints without sheen absorb light.
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Things to know about paint sheen:
- There are 5 standard paint sheens ranging from Flat (which has no sheen) to High Gloss (which has the highest sheen).
- Flat paint has a gorgeous soft velvet look to it because it has no reflection. High Gloss has a very shiny look to it.
- Generally flat, eggshell and satin paint are the best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss, gloss and high gloss paint are best for trim and baseboard.
- The glossier the paint, the less pigment in it.
- The glossier the paint the more moisture resistance it has.
- The more flat the paint is, the less resin it has in it.
- Flat paint is great for walls with surface imperfections like the walls of historical homes. Flat sheen paint disguises imperfections whereas high gloss will magnify imperfections.
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The best way to sample paint? Peel & Stick paint samples!
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So why does it even matter which sheen you pick?
Because it impacts the washability of the walls in your room.
For spaces like hallways, if you have little kids or pets, deal with fingerprints and grime, you’ll definitely need to use a paint that has some sheen to it in order to wash it.Â
Thankfully today’s paint formulas have become more advanced than they used to be, so even Flat paint is washable to a certain degree.
How to Pick the Perfect Paint Sheen and a list of Paint Finishes:
There are 5 sheen levels.
1. Flat (no sheen).
Some paint companies call it ‘Matte finish’. Flat paint is designed for low traffic areas such as the living rom, dining room and master bedroom. Because there is more pigment in this paint it will require fewer coats to cover! So it can be a money saver to use flat paint where you can. It’s also the best type of paint to use if your walls are textured. Flat paint will hide orange peel textured walls and walls with imperfections, bumps ect. Matte paint is very much on trend right now too! Flat paint provides a gorgeous matte velvety look to a room. We’ve used Sherwin Williams Flat sheen paint in our entryway, hallways, stairway walls, bedrooms, family room, living room and dining room. We love the elegant look of this flat paint! Our boys do leave fingerprints on our walls and the Sherwin Williams flat formula is very washable so fingerprints are easy to wipe away! I would never use flat paint unless I checked with the manufacturer first to make sure it is durable. Flat sheen is the best choice for ceilings.
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2. Eggshell (low sheen paint)
Eggshell paint has a low luster, or low sheen. It’s designed for medium traffic areas such as the bathroom, hallway, master bedroom, dining room and living room.There is a bit more resin in this sheen which makes it more washable and durable than flat paint. Eggshell paint will reflect the light in a room more as well, so it will brighten up a dark room more so than flat paint can. You can’t go wrong with eggshell finish – when in doubt use eggshell! Eggshell paint is really on trend for cabinetry right now since it’s both durable and has a subtle sheen.
3. Satin (medium sheen)
Satin finish is a pearl like finish and is designed for medium to high traffic areas such as kids’ rooms, the laundry room, mudroom and bathroom. Satin is more durable than eggshell. This is another sheen that’s great for cabinetry for it’s washability and durability.
4. Semi-Gloss (medium to high sheen)
Semi Gloss is designed for medium to high traffic spots and is recommended for woodwork, trim, baseboards, doors that require harder scrubbing and for extra durability in kid’s bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens if needed. If your woodwork, trim and baseboards have a lot of dings and nicks be aware that they will be noticeable with semi-gloss paint.
5. Gloss and High Gloss (high sheen)
High Gloss paint is the most durable. Gloss and High Gloss paints have a high amount of reflection and are stain-resistant. They are designed for high traffic areas such as trim, woodwork and doors that get frequent scrubbing. High gloss paint can be used on walls if you are looking for a trendy glossy look and if you want the light to really be reflected in the space.
High gloss paint looks fabulous on furniture and gives furniture that amazing ‘lacquered’ look.
High Sheen Navy Paint on Walls:
Paint Tips and IdeasÂ
1. For each room to be painted use this FREE Printable Paint Sheen Chart to determine the paint sheen required for the amount of traffic the room gets. In this chart select the room you are going to paint then select the sheen suggested. Buy paint with that sheen. 2. Refer to my Favorite Painting Tips and Tools for Interiors  before you start painting! 3. How to Prepare a Room For Painting – is a handy guide and checklist to print out to make your painting job quicker and easier!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What are the different levels of paint shine? Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss and Gloss 2. What sheen of paint should I get? Decide how much washability you want (do you have kids? Pets) and the amount of reflection/gloss. Then pick the sheen that matches that. 3. What do paint sheen levels mean? They are the 5 levels of reflection a paint has. 4. What sheen level of paint is most washable? Gloss and High Gloss paint are the most washable. 5. Do designers use flat or eggshell paint? As a Designer and True Color Expert I recommend washable matte paint for clients that don’t have young kids or pets. I recommend eggshell and satin paint sheens for clients that have kids and pets, due to their washability.
I hope you like my paint tips and How To Pick The Perfect Paint Sheen!
What gloss level is your favorite to use? Tell me in the comments below!
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Norma Rolader says
Thank you for great the great tips and information
heather says
You’re welcome Norma! I’m glad you enjoyed my tips and info! xo Heather
Margaret says
Thank you for the great tips.
I like eggshell for walls and semi gloss for trim, doors, etc.
We used Sherwin Williams paint in these sheens and our
walls and trim still look good after 12 years.
heather says
Thanks for sharing what you use Margaret!! I love that you’ve had such an amazing experience with Sherwin Williams paint – it really is fabulous quality!
Deb says
I live in West Texas and it is very windy and dusty. I love having windows open most days but find buildup of dust on door frames and any other surface that is flat. Currently we have flat beige color that disguises dirt but I’d really like a grey color. I was thinking eggshell maybe since might need to be wiping down more often. Or would Saturday be better option?
heather says
Satin or eggshell might be better for wiping off a lot of dust often – gray is a gorgeous wall color!
Georgiann says
Hi- I love the kitchen picture above with the coffered ceiling. We are putting in a coffered ceiling in our TV Room with super high ceilings. The rest of the trim in that room is semi-gloss. We are trying to figure out what sheen paint to use on the ceiling and coffered molding. I like the look of that picture above. What do you suggest?
heather says
Hi Georgiann –
I can’t advise you of a paint sheen until I see pictures of your space. Email me [email protected] and I’ll tell you more about my online decor services!
Mary Hritz says
IHello,
want to paint my wooden mantel surround with a soft white color. I have already primed it.
Can you recommend a classic soft creamy white paint and what type of sheen to use for a wooden mantel surround. My baseboards & crown moldings is white but we’re painted by previous owner so unfortunately I do not know the paint brand or color name.
Thank you!
heather says
Hi Mary – yes I do online paint color consults! I can’t recommend a color without looking at your flooring and other fixed elements in the space. You can email me to book a consult!