Paint Sheen Differences And The Rooms They Are Best For

Using The Best Type Of Paint Sheen For Certain Areas Can Make Your Ann Arbor Home Look Better For Longer
Pouring paint into a bucket

If you don’t use the best paint sheen (also known as paint finish) for a certain room, it can cause problems. You may see your paint peel, crack, fade, stain, or face other damages. This is where knowing paint sheen differences helps.

Miss out on peeling paint, continuously cleaning walls, and regret by knowing the differences between the types of paint finishes.

There are 5 to choose from, each with their pros and cons that allow them to work better in certain areas than others. You can find out the differences and where they’re best used in the post below.

What Is Paint Sheen?

Paint sheen tells you how much light the paint reflects. Higher sheen paints are shinier, while lower sheen paints reflect less light. This happens because higher sheen paints have more enamel in them. This makes them shinier, more durable, and easier to clean. Lower sheen paints are easier to look at.

5 Paint Sheens, Their Differences, And What Rooms They Work Best For

Freshly painted living room

Each of these types of paint finishes works better in certain rooms of the house. Some paints stand up better to moisture and heat, others are easier to clean, and some just plain look better in certain areas.

1. Flat Paint Sheens

Flat paint sheen on bedroom walls

Flat paints are the least shiny and are easy to touch up but are harder to clean. They’re also great at hiding imperfections in walls.

This makes them best for low-traffic areas like master bedrooms and dining rooms.

But, this paint sheen is hard to clean without taking it off with whatever you’re cleaning. The longer the stain or smudge stays on there, the harder it will be to remove. What’s worse is if you scrub too hard, you’ll hurt the paint. This is why it’s a good idea to find out how to best clean walls.

2. Eggshell Paint Sheens

Eggshell paint sheen on basement walls

Eggshell paints are slightly shiny, easier to clean, and more durable. It gets its name from having about the same amount of shine as a chicken egg.

Eggshell paints are one of the most popular sheens for walls. It’s great for medium-traffic areas like hallways, entrances, living rooms, and family rooms. It’s not quite shiny but not quite flat either, making it easier to clean and more durable.

Many people say it has a soft, velvety kind of look.

3. Satin Paint Sheens

Satin paint sheen used for gray kitchen cabinets

Satin paints are easy to clean and mildew resistant.

You can use satin paints for walls, trim, and cabinets. Its durability and mildew resistance make it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kid rooms.

The problem is any application flaws, like brush strokes, show up more easily. When done by a professional, you’ll give your room a velvety shine!

4. Semi-Gloss Paint Sheens

Bathroom painted with semi-gloss paint

Semi-gloss paints are pretty shiny and water-resistant but can show imperfections in the wall.

Semi-gloss paints are great for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. It’s very easy to clean and can stand up to moisture quite well. It’ll show imperfections on walls and ceilings more easily, though.

5. High Gloss Paint Sheens

Glossy paint sheen for white kitchen cabinets

High gloss paint finishes are the shiniest and most durable but show imperfections easily.

Glossy paints are ideal for cabinets, doors, trim work, and most places that get touched a lot. Its shininess makes it a less popular choice for walls because of the glare.

Contact Tribble Painting For Your Painting Needs

Knowing the different types of paint finishes can help you make the best decision for painting your home. Your next step could be finding out the popular interior paint colors for Ann Arbor homes. Then, you’ll get the look you want for your home!

Painting cabinets, rooms, and other areas isn’t a job for everyone. Many people don’t have the time, energy, or professional knowledge to paint their homes. It may seem easy, but if a DIYer messes up, they have to start all the way over.

Contact Tribble Painting today through our contact form so we can start talking about your painting project.

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