Paint sheens. What are they?

Paint sheen is a measure of the reflected light from various types of paint. Paint that has a higher sheen contains more enamel, making it harder, easier to clean, and more resistant to scratching, scuffing, and staining. So paint like Gloss and Semi-Gloss contain more enamel that make it thicker, more shinier and easier to clean.

There are 5 types of paint sheens: Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss, Gloss.

All these sheens have a different purpose and is used in different ways.

Flat & Matte Paint Finish

Flat and matte paint finishes are non-reflective and are typically good for low-traffic areas of your home. They’re ideal for surfaces with slight imperfections, but also ones that won’t get scuffed up too often, as it’s hard to clean.

Ideal places for either a matte or flat finish would include formal living rooms, dining rooms, ceilings, or a formal office.

 Eggshell Paint Finish

This low-luster sheen appears slightly velvety and soft, similar to the actual surface of an eggshell…almost like the name means something!.

It bounces light around the room ever so slightly and can resist stains and fingerprints better than a matte finish. An eggshell finish is a good option for family rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and entryways.

Satin Paint Finish

A satin finish has pearl-like sheen and is slightly more reflective than eggshell finish. Since it’s more reflective, it’s also more durable to withstand dirt and grime, therefore, easier to clean.

It’s perfect for moderate to high-traffic areas like family rooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, kids’ rooms.

Semi-gloss and High Gloss Paint Finishes

Both finishes have a shiny finish that stands out and makes an impression. If you’re thinking about painting your walls with a glossy finish, you might want to think about hiring a professional because the paint will end up showing every tiny imperfection in your wall.

Glossy finishes are ideal for areas that get a lot of wear and tear, like kitchens, bathrooms, millwork, moldings and baseboard since it’s easy to clean and has a resistance to dirt, stains, and mildew.