Six Paint Finishes and When to Use Them

Walking into the paint store after deliberating for days, weeks, or even months about paint color, the last thing you want to be surprised with is the question of which finish you want the paint in. Here is a break down of the types of paint finishes, or sheens, how they look, and surface(s) that they work best on.

FLAT-

Pretty much as it sounds, there is no shine to this paint. This is typically what builders use because it is easy to work with and it is great at hiding imperfections.

PROS: Imperfections hide because there is no light reflecting and highlighting any inconsistency in surface texture. Can work well on ceilings, media rooms and areas you want to downplay. Easy to touch up.

CONS: Due to its porous nature, dirt can get trapped and this paint can stain easily. If you try to scrub it clean, you will either remove the paint or burnish the surface. Burnishing is leaving a spot that is a little glossier than the surrounding area. That means a lot of touch ups in high traffic areas; especially in homes with children or pets.

Flat Paint: Notice there is minimal light bouncing off the painted wall. Photo taken in natural light.

I removed the cover for the light switch and held up some white card stock to demonstrate how flat paint absorbs oil and dirt. Not great in my son’s room. We’ll be painting in there soon, yuck!

MATTE-

Similar to flat, but with just a bit of shine that is almost unnoticeable unless you are my husband. Fortunately a near crisis was averted in the media room by painting over the matte paint with a flat to eliminate the reflection on the walls. Yes, I’m being cheeky.

PROS: Pretty much the same pros and cons as the flat paint, with the exception of being a little more scrub friendly.

I put this in my main living spaces, ceilings, entryways and hallways because I was hopeful that my boys were less grubby handed now that they are older. So far so good. I like the subtle sheen that brings a little light in the hallways without too much shine.

Matte Paint: Same room and time of day as the Flat Paint picture, but a different wall. Natural lighting. Notice the subtle light reflecting off of the wall as compared to the flat paint.

EGGSHELL-

The name pretty much describes the finish; it has the same low luster of an actual eggshell.

PROS: Easy to wipe clean, better at resisting stains, reflects light so it’s great in low light areas, and more durable than flat paint in areas with moderate traffic or moisture. Good in living rooms, kitchens or hallways.

CONS: Be sure to mix thoroughly and consistently while painting to keep the shine evenly distributed. With that said, consistent mixing for an even shine is not as critical as the higher gloss paints.

Eggshell Paint: Slightly more shine than matte paint. This is in our kitchen where the dark cabinetry and low natural light during the afternoon benefit from a higher sheen to help bounce light around the room. Plus, it’s easier to wipe clean.

SATIN-

You’re probably noticing a trend at how each paint listed has a slightly higher luster than the previous one. Due to the higher sheen, this paint will reflect more light and give a greater depth to the painted surface which can change throughout the day depending on the light. If you are going to paint with a satin finish, definitely get a sample of this sheen of paint to test in your area to see how the light affects the color choice. It may seem like a pain to spend around $5 on a sample can, but consider the savings over all if it keeps you from having to repaint down the line.

PROS: Great for higher traffic areas and areas with exposure to moisture. Kitchens and bathrooms in particular are ideal locations for satin paint. Reflects light and is easy to wipe off. Much more durable than flat or matte paint.

CONS: Be sure to stir thoroughly to mix all particles evenly. You do not want one coat to have more shine than the next (this is true for pigment distribution as well). Much more reflective. If you get direct sunlight at certain times of the day, it can seem a bit too shiny. Test patches are making more sense now, aren’t they?

SEMI-GLOSS-

Much higher shine and definitely is more reflective than satin paint. Again, proper mixing is key. Semi-gloss is great for areas that get high traffic like trims, doors, cabinets, or areas with a lot of moisture. The higher gloss finish will definitely reflect the light, so use appropriately because if you paint a low light room with a higher gloss finish you may regret that decision once the lights are on at night and you have a lot of glare bouncing off the walls.

PROS: Easy to wipe down, can highlight and show off detail like on trim, brings more light to an area and is great in high traffic areas.

CONS: Mix well. Be mindful of where you use this paint too much light reflecting off surfaces can be distracting.

GLOSS-

This has a highly reflective surface and almost a glass-like appearance if applied to a perfectly smooth surface. It is the most durable of any paint sheen listed. However, with great glossy power comes even more responsibility. If you applied this all over the walls, you would probably blind people when the light shines in during the day. Others may question your sanity when you made this design choice. Just kidding. But seriously, use wisely. This would look amazing on a buffet or side table that you want to highlight, or used on accent pieces.

PROS: Great on high use surface or applied to accent pieces.

CONS: Consistent mixing is required to maintain an even distribution of the shine. Very reflective and will highlight any imperfection. Use in well thought out areas. Less is more type of placement.

Gloss Paint: I don’t have anything painted with a high gloss paint, but this is what your life would be like if you had shiny walls. I wonder if high gloss walls would work like a tanning booth…or perhaps like an Easy Bake oven?

**It is totally possible to mix two sheens together if you want something in between. Just be sure to keep your ratios consistent and to test it out before committing to an entire room. I would recommend having a larger, clean paint bucket (like a 5 gallon) to pour the two smaller paint cans, of different sheens, into. Then mix them together thoroughly.

Have a fun time picking out paint as you work towards making a house a home!💙

6 thoughts on “Six Paint Finishes and When to Use Them”

Janet Robertson says:

June 18, 2019 at 1:11 PM

Thanks, Lisa! Now I know I need a flat paint for the ceiling in my sunroom, semi gloss for the dark, ugly 70s kitchen cabinets. Now I just have to figure out when I will have the time! Want to come up for a painting weekend? 😉

1. Lisa Nielsen says:
  
  June 18, 2019 at 5:50 PM
  
  I am glad that this post was so helpful for you! Yes, that darn component of time is a tricky one. I would love to come up and help you paint, I just need to find the time. No!!! The time bandit strikes again. Ha ha.
  
Lora says:

June 18, 2019 at 3:05 PM

I learned some new things about paint sheen I didn’t know. It makes sense now why paint can look so different in various light.

1. Lisa Nielsen says:
  
  June 18, 2019 at 5:52 PM
  
  Light really does impact the color of the paint. I am so glad this post was helpful for you. Thank you for being a loyal follower for this blog!
  
Karen Gianatasio says:

June 19, 2019 at 6:22 PM

Love all the information! I have pretty much followed all of this in the painting of my home, but it is nice to get a review. I need to get some of the trim painted as the previous owner’s family was hard on some of the door frames and a dog worked over some of the window sills. Maybe this summer …

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