Why sheen matters as much as color
Sheen is how much light a dried paint reflects. It changes how a color looks, how well a surface hides its flaws, and how well it stands up to cleaning. Two walls in the same color but different sheens can look like different paints. Names differ a little from brand to brand, and one maker's eggshell can be shinier than another's, so look at a painted sample before deciding.
Flat and matte
Flat and matte finishes reflect the least light. They hide bumps, patches and uneven walls best, and they make colors look soft and even. They're often the choice for ceilings and for walls that aren't touched much. The trade-off is cleaning: many flat paints mark or burnish when scrubbed, although some newer products are made to be washable. Ask how the paint you're choosing holds up to wiping.
Eggshell and satin
Eggshell and satin sit in the middle. They have a soft glow, clean better than flat paint, and show a little more of what's under them. Many homes use them on walls in living areas, hallways and bedrooms, especially where hands, pets or furniture touch the walls.
Semi-gloss and gloss
Semi-gloss and gloss finishes reflect the most light. They're the hardest-wearing and easiest to clean, which is why they're common on trim, doors, cabinets and sometimes bathroom walls. They also show every flaw. A glossy finish over a poorly prepared surface will highlight dents, brush marks and patches, so preparation matters even more.
Room by room
- Ceilings: usually flat, to hide flaws and avoid glare.
- Living rooms and bedrooms: often flat, matte or eggshell, depending on how much the walls get touched.
- Hallways and kids' rooms: often eggshell or satin, for cleaning.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: often satin or semi-gloss, or a paint made for moisture, because of steam and splashes.
- Trim and doors: often semi-gloss or gloss.
These are common choices, not rules. Ask the painter what they recommend for each room and why.
Exteriors
Exterior paints come in their own range of sheens. Flatter finishes hide siding flaws but may hold dirt. Glossier finishes shed water and dirt better and are common on trim, doors and shutters. Stucco is usually painted in a flat or low-sheen finish. Ask what the paint maker recommends for your siding, stucco or trim.
Light, color and sheen together
Sheen and light work together. A wall across from a big window, or a hallway lit from the side, shows every ripple in a glossy finish that would look smooth in a dim room. Deep colors usually look richer in a slightly higher sheen but show scuffs and touch-ups more. Before committing, paint a large sample on the wall you're choosing for, or on a board you can move around the room, and look at it in the morning, in the afternoon and under the lamps you use at night.
Touch-ups
Touching up a small spot works best with flatter finishes. On glossier walls, a touch-up can stand out as a shiny or dull patch, even with the same paint. Keep a labeled container of each paint used, with the room, color, sheen and product written on it, so future touch-ups match as closely as possible.
What to ask
- What sheen do you recommend for each room, and why?
- Can I see the color in that sheen on my wall before you paint?
- How washable is the paint you're recommending?
- What sheen will go on the trim and doors?
- Will you leave labeled leftover paint for touch-ups?