A Guide to Choosing the Correct Sheen for Interior Paint

Once the decision is made on the type of paint for your interior walls, the next step is choosing the correct sheen for the paint. Each sheen for interior paint is available in both water/latex and oil/alkyd-based paint. Paint's sheen is simply a description for the amount of shine (gloss) or lack thereof (flat) on the paint surface when dry.

Keep this paint guide in mind when you're ready to tackle a paint job and you'll know exactly what paint should go in which room in your home.

Flat Paint

Flat paint is the least durable sheen but it's also the most forgiving of imperfect walls. The surface of flat paint doesn't shine or reflect light but instead has a tendency to absorb light. This lack of shine helps to disguise dents, dings or otherwise rough surfaces on the wall. But this lack of gloss can affect its ability to be cleaned.

Use flat paint on ceilings and low traffic rooms such as an adult's bedroom. A high traffic hallway, bathroom or a child's room will most likely need the walls to be washed frequently, which makes flat paint a poor choice. The lack of gloss or shine on the surface makes it more susceptible to stains penetrating the surface of the paint. And once the flat paint has gotten dirty, it can actually rub off the wall with repeated scrubbing. Flat paint usually requires less coats of paint for good coverage, as long as the paint is good quality.

Satin/Eggshell Paint

This sheen is sometimes referred to as satin and other paint brands refer to it as eggshell. The sheen is almost the same for each and they have comparable performance. Satin or eggshell paint is a step above flat paint but not as shiny as semi-gloss. It's actually the best all-around wall paint and my personal favorite for most wall applications.

Most rooms in the house can be painted with satin because it is easier to wash than flat but not so shiny that it shows every tiny imperfection in the drywall. Sunlight or interior lighting will slightly show a refection on the surface of satin or eggshell paint. This sheen is ideal for most rooms in the home because it has a more elegant finish but is less susceptible to stains and fingerprints and can be lightly scrubbed if necessary.

Semi-gloss Paint

This paint sheen is by far the most popular for interior woodwork. It is extremely durable and dirt won't penetrate into the surface of the paint. When semi-gloss paint does get dirty, it's extremely easy to clean. It can be scrubbed rather vigorously and doesn't rub off the surface. It can last for several years if applied properly.

Semi-gloss paint is the perfect choice for baseboards, doors, trim and other interior woodwork. This paint sheen covers all woodwork in my home. Doors and baseboards are inevitably going to get dirty, so flat or satin paint is not an option for those surfaces. Semi-gloss paint is the perfect application and is still attractive. It has a shiny surface that reflects light but it's not as shiny as high-gloss paint. But semi-gloss can easily be restored to a pristine clean anytime it gets dirty. It is sometimes used for high traffic hallways, kitchens or baths but its glossy surface will show imperfections on walls.

High-gloss Paint

Last on the list of paint sheen choices is high-gloss. It's not as popular as semi-gloss paint although its uses are the same. It's just so shiny that it's more difficult to apply perfectly. The same imperfections that become visible with semi-gloss are magnified with high-gloss to the point where the application can even be difficult. Patience and several thin coats are necessary to keep your brush strokes from becoming part of the imperfections visible in this paint.

If you can get this high-gloss application correct, it is extremely durable once dry. It has the highest durability and cleaning ability. If shine is what you're looking for, then high-gloss paint is the perfect sheen choice for woodwork, cabinets and even furniture.