All About Sheen!

Color isn’t the only thing to select when deciding on new paint for the interior of your home. Paints come in varying levels of “sheen” – and that may have more of an impact on your decision than you realize!

Before we get too far into specific uses, let’s cover the basics. The sheen of a paint is first, of course, an indicator of the glossiness of the look. The higher the sheen, the shinier and more glossy the paint will appear after drying. This is just one piece of the puzzle, though. Higher sheen paint is also more durable – an important factor depending on the room you’re planning to paint (or have painted).

There are several levels of sheen. From the highest to lowest, they most common are: high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and matte. Some paint manufacturers make “low-lustre” paints with a sheen between eggshell and matte, and true “flat finishes” with even less sheen than typical matte paint. You can also work with paint providers to create custom sheen levels.

Technically speaking, higher sheen paints have higher binder levels, and as a result, provide a glossier look, more flexibility, resistance to weathering, and overall toughness. On the opposite end of the spectrum, matte and flat sheen mean higher pigment levels and often coarser granules within the pigment. With lower levels of the binders that reinforce sheen and strength, matte finishes are duller, less glossy, and less durable.

It’s important to consider booth look and functionality when choosing paint sheen, and the room you’re painting makes a big difference! Let’s take a closer look with that in mind.

Kitchen

Your kitchen is a high traffic area of your home, prone to messes, spills, guests, and the general chaos of day to day life. High gloss is often the best choice here, simply for the durability and ease of cleaning (in case the kids take crayons to the walls). Depending on the look of your countertops and fixtures, the extra shine might also be the perfect look! For a slightly subtler look, semi-gloss will also provide excellent durability. And if you’re specifically thinking of painting your kitchen cabinets, make sure you take into consideration the cabinet painting process before diving in.

Bathroom

Again an area for durable, high gloss or semi-gloss paint, bathrooms see a lot of moisture, the occasional spill, and a lot of traffic. A more durable sheen choice will help your paint last, and protect the walls underneath.

Common Areas

Some parts of your home see quite a bit of traffic, but not nearly as much potentially damaging activity. Family rooms, foyers, hallways, and so on are excellent candidates for satin paint. The moderately high sheen offers toughness, but the softer look better fits the aesthetic of such parts of the house.

Bedroom

While you may spend a fair amount of time in your bedroom, it’s not exactly a high traffic area. For adults, matte or flat paint offers a cozy look, and actually serves to soak up (instead of reflect) light. You won’t have to worry too much about durability here, so a lower sheen option works great!

For kids’ rooms, however, it’s a good idea to consider a satin finish. The higher sheen level will provide some protection but retain a softer look.

Dining Room and Living Room

For medium traffic areas that get some, but not necessarily daily use, eggshell paint is a flatter look than satin, but provides more durability than matte paint. The lower luster often fits the decor of such rooms, especially in darker colors.

Accents and Trim

Trim, window frames, railings, molding, and the like are all likely candidates for scuffs and scrapes, and may be touched for more often than the walls of your home. Because they are also the accents of the room, you want them to stand out and look nice! For both of these reasons, many people choose to use semi-gloss or high gloss paint for such areas, combining high durability with a bright, eye-catching look.

As you’re selecting the sheen level of your paint, consider durability and look, as well as the amount of the light in the room, its size, and the kind of daily traffic it’s likely to see. The lower the sheen, the softer the look, and in general, the less durable it will be – but you don’t always need the toughest paint for low touch, low traffic areas!

If you have any questions about choosing the right sheen of interior paint, need help with a project, or anything else, contact CertaPro Painters of Metrowest today at 781-296-6044, or fill out our online estimate scheduler.

Looking for more Home Exterior tips? Check out our other home improvement articles! Or read this article about Paint Primer to better know the different paint options out there.