Choosing the Right Paint Finish for the Job

Painting is a great way to refresh and revitalize just about any object or room in your home. Before you buy paint for your job, though, you need to consider what type of paint finish is going to give you the best results. For the purpose of this article we will be looking at 4 basic types of paint finishes: Flat, Satin or Eggshell, Semi-gloss and Gloss.

Flat Paint
Flat paint has a dull, almost rough surface. One of the biggest benefits to using flat paint is that it is excellent at hiding flaws in the surface of the object that you are painting. The surface of flat paint is more porous than other paint finishes which means that stains can more easily work their way into the finish of the paint.

Flat paint is a good choice for master bedrooms, livingrooms or ceilings. Because it can be easily stained it should not be used in high traffic areas or in locations like bathrooms, kitchens, or children's rooms which tend to get dirtier than other rooms in the home.

Satin or Eggshell Paint
A satin paint finish is nearly identical in sheen to an eggshell finish, so I have included them both in this category. Satin is slightly shinier than eggshell, however they both have many of the same characteristics. These paint finishes are shinier and less porous than fat paint and have a sheen that is similar to the shell of an egg (hence the name "eggshell").

They stand up to scrubbing better than flat paint and are fairly easy to clean. These paint finishes are a good choice where you want low sheen but still need to be able to clean the walls. However, these paint finishes probably are not the best choice for the kitchen or bathroom.

Semi-Gloss
A semi-gloss paint finish has a shinier surface than eggshell or satin which makes it easier to clean and more resistant to stains. Semi-gloss paint is probably the most versatile paint finish since it can be used in pretty much any room of your home and still be able to be cleaned easily. A semi gloss finish will stand up well to scrubbing making it a good choice for even rooms that are prone to stains and messes like kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms.

Gloss
Of all the paint finishes, gloss provides the slickest, shiniest surface. Just as its name implies, a gloss finish will be glossy. Because the surface is slick gloss paint is easy to clean and is a good choice in messy rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Gloss paint is a great choice for kitchen cabinets which are notorious for getting greasy fingerprints as well. The downside to gloss paint is that because the surface of the paint is so shiny it will show even the slightest flaws on the surface beneath.

No matter what painting job you have to tackle, choosing the right paint finish for the job will give you better, longer lasting results that will look beautiful for a long time to come. If you have any doubts about what paint finish is most appropriate for your painting job be sure to ask the person who helps you with the paint mixing. They should be able to advise you on the proper finish for your particular needs.