Choosing The Right Paint Sheen.

You think choosing the right color for your paint job is hard? Try picking the  right sheen.

With 5 or 6 paint finishes to choose from, you should learn the benefits of each and determine the right one for your job.  Should you use flat or satin and why?  The higher the sheen, the higher the shine. Flat paint  has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and  semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.

In the painting world, very shiny translates to very  durable. High sheen can take a lot of abuse and a lot of scrubbing. The lower  the sheen, the silkier the effect; but, like silk, scrubbing will damage it.

High gloss:

The most durable and easiest to clean of  all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting.  Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for area that sticky  fingers touch—cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine  for interior walls. And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and  roll, so don’t skimp on prep work.

• Practical application: kitchens, door and window trim

• Durability: very high

Semi-gloss:

Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease  stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of abuse.

• Practical application: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, chair rails

• Durability: high

Satin:

Has a yummy luster that, despite the name, often is  described as velvety. It’s easy to clean, making it excellent for high-traffic  areas. Its biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky.

• Practical application: family rooms, foyers, hallways, kid’s bedrooms

• Durability: high

Eggshell:

Between satin and flat on the sheen (and  durability) scale is eggshell, so named because it’s essentially a flat  (no-shine) finish with little luster, like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell covers wall  imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don’t get a  lot of bumps and scuffs.

• Practical application: dining rooms, living rooms, libraries

• Durability: medium

Flat or matte: 

A friend to walls that have something to  hide, flat/matte soaks up, rather than reflects, light. It has the most pigment  and will provide the most coverage, which translates to time and money savings.  However, it’s tough to clean without taking paint off with the grime.

• Practical application: adult’s bedrooms and other interior rooms that won’t  be roughed up by kids

• Durability: medium-low

More fun sheen facts

• Dark, richer paint colors have more colorant, which boosts sheen. If you  don’t want a super-shiny wall, step down at least one level on the sheen scale.  Ditto if you’re painting a large, sun-washed or imperfect wall.

• Adding sheen also adds price: Valspar Ultra Premium eggshell costs $32,  satin $33, and semi-gloss $34.