Are you tired of constantly touching up the paint in high-traffic areas of your home? Do you wish there was a better solution for maintaining those busy spaces? In this blog post, we’ll explore Sherwin-Williams’ top paint finishes specifically designed for high-traffic areas in your home.
Sherwin-Williams Company is a renowned name in the industry, known for its high-performance coatings, extensive color collections, and quality paints.
By the end of this post, you’ll be armed with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision on the best paint finish for your needs.
Let’s start by reviewing the different finishes that Sherwin-Williams offers and their suitability for high-traffic areas.
Flat
- Best for: Low-traffic areas like bedrooms and ceilings
- Features: Non-reflective appearance, hides surface imperfections, soft ambiance
Flat finishes, also known as matte finishes, provide a non-reflective appearance that helps hide surface imperfections and create a soft, cozy ambiance.
While not as durable as other finishes, they can still be a good choice for low-traffic areas like bedrooms and ceilings, where a subtle, elegant look is desired.
In short, you should avoid flat finishes for high-traffic areas.
Satin
- Best for: High-traffic areas like hallways, living rooms, and playrooms
- Features: Smooth, velvety appearance, excellent durability, subtle sheen, easy to clean
Satin finishes, also known as eggshell finishes, are a popular choice for high-traffic areas due to their smooth, velvety appearance and excellent durability. They offer a subtle sheen that falls between a flat and semi-gloss finish, providing just the right amount of shine without being too glossy.
Satin finishes are easy to clean and able to resist scuffs, stains, and mildew, making them a perfect choice for hallways, living rooms, and playrooms.
Semi-Gloss
- Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work
- Features: Sleek, polished appearance, higher level of shine, easy to clean and maintain
Semi-gloss finishes offer a higher level of shine than satin finishes, reflecting more light and giving a sleek, polished appearance.
They’re ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work, as they’re easy to clean and maintain. Their increased durability makes them more resistant to moisture, mildew, and stains, ensuring your walls look fresh and clean.
Gloss
- Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, doors, trim, and cabinetry
- Features: High shine, mirror-like finish, most durable and reflective option
Gloss finishes are the most durable and reflective option, providing a high shine and mirror-like finish. They’re perfect for areas that require frequent cleaning or are prone to moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Gloss finishes are also suitable for high-impact areas like doors, trim, and cabinetry, as they can withstand scuffs, scratches, and other signs of wear.
Pearl
- Best for: High-traffic areas like hallways, dining rooms, and bedrooms
- Features: Soft, luminous sheen, adds depth and sophistication, easy to clean
Pearl finishes offer a unique balance between a matte and semi-gloss finish, with a soft, luminous sheen that adds depth and sophistication to a space.
They’re an excellent choice for high-traffic areas such as hallways, dining rooms, and bedrooms, where a touch of elegance is desired. Pearl finishes are easy to clean and durable, making them a practical option for busy households.
Flat Enamel
- Best for: Family rooms, children’s bedrooms, and hallways
- Features: Non-reflective appearance, enhanced durability and washability
Flat enamel finishes are similar to flat finishes in their non-reflective appearance but offer enhanced durability and washability.
This makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like family rooms, children’s bedrooms, and hallways where a matte look is desired, but increased resistance to wear and tear is necessary. Flat enamel finishes can also be cleaned easily, helping to maintain their original appearance over time.
Matte
- Best for: Living rooms and bedrooms
- Features: Soft, non-reflective surface, warm, inviting atmosphere
Matte finishes provide a soft, non-reflective surface that creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. While not as durable as some other finishes, they can still be suitable for areas where a subtle and sophisticated look is desired, such as living rooms and bedrooms.
Matte finishes are more challenging to clean than higher-gloss options, so they may not be the best choice for high-traffic areas prone to scuffs, stains, and moisture.
To sum up, you should generally avoid matte finishes for high-traffic areas.
Eg-Shel
- Best for: Living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms
- Features: Slightly higher sheen, beautiful, smooth appearance, easy to clean
Eg-Shel finishes are a variation of the eggshell finish, offering a slightly higher sheen that falls between satin and semi-gloss.
They provide a beautiful, smooth appearance ideal for high-traffic areas like living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, where a balance of elegance and durability is needed. Eg-Shel finishes are easy to clean and withstand moisture, stains, and scuffs, making them a practical choice for busy homes.
Low-Lustre
- Best for: High-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms
- Features: Subtle sheen, adds depth and richness, easy to clean
Low-lustre finishes provide a subtle sheen that adds depth and richness to a space without being overly glossy. They’re an excellent choice for high-traffic areas such as hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms, where a touch of refinement is desired. Low-lustre finishes offer good durability and are easy to clean.
Medium-Lustre
- Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work
- Features: Pronounced sheen, sleek and sophisticated appearance, easy to clean and maintain
Medium-lustre finishes offer a more pronounced sheen compared to low-lustre finishes, creating a sleek and sophisticated appearance.
They’re ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work, where increased durability and resistance to moisture, stains, and scuffs are necessary. Medium-lustre finishes are easy to clean and maintain, helping to keep your walls looking their best for years to come.
Ideal Paint Qualities For High Traffic Areas
When choosing a paint finish for high-traffic areas in your home, consider these essential qualities:
Contains Antimicrobial Agents
Paints with antimicrobial properties can help prevent mold and mildew growth, especially in areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Hides Old Stains And Allows New Ones To Be Wiped Clean
High-quality paint finishes can effectively conceal existing stains and allow you to easily clean new ones, keeping your walls looking new.
Highly Durable
Choose a paint finish designed to resist scuffs, chips, and scratches to maintain a clean and polished appearance.
Protects Surfaces
A good paint finish should provide a protective barrier for your walls, guarding against moisture, dirt, and other potential damage.
Easy To Apply, Maintain, And Clean
Opt for paint finishes that are simple to apply, require minimal maintenance, and can be cleaned easily without damaging the surface.
It Can Be Applied In Fewer Coats
Save time and money by choosing a paint finish with excellent coverage in fewer coats.
Quick-Drying
A fast-drying paint finish allows you to get back to enjoying your space sooner and reduces the chances of smudging or dripping.
Spatter-Resistant
Spatter-resistant paint finishes make the application process less messy and more efficient.
Best Paint Colors for High Traffic Areas
When choosing paint colors for high-traffic areas, consider the diverse color collections offered by Sherwin-Williams Company.
They provide a wide range of paints, coatings, and color combinations to suit any interior design style. By selecting the right palette, you can create a relevant and cohesive look throughout your home while maintaining the durability needed for high-traffic spaces.
For more tips on choosing the perfect color, check out our guide on how to choose a paint color.
Lighter colors like off-white, beige, and soft gray can make spaces feel larger and brighter while still hiding dirt and smudges.
Darker colors like navy blue, deep green, or charcoal gray can add depth and sophistication to a space while concealing scuffs and stains.
Additionally, consider using colors that complement your existing furnishings and décor, creating a cohesive look throughout your home.
Earthy tones, such as warm browns and greens, can provide a calming and inviting atmosphere, making them a great choice for busy family areas.
For a more vibrant and energetic space, consider adding pops of bold colors like red, orange, or yellow.
Ultimately, the best paint color for your high-traffic area depends on your personal style and the overall aesthetic of your home.
Tribble Painting Company Are Your Local Painting Experts
By now, you should have a solid understanding of Sherwin-Williams’ top paint finishes for high-traffic areas in your home and the ideal qualities to look for in durable, long-lasting paint.
Sherwin-Williams Company is one of the leading companies in the industry, providing high-quality paints, supplies, and services for homeowners and professionals alike.
With this knowledge, you can confidently choose the right paint finish and color for your space, ensuring a beautiful and resilient result that stands up to daily wear and tear. Moreover, you can get creative with your choices, knowing that Sherwin-Williams offers a wide variety of options to suit your specific needs.
If you’re ready to transform your high-traffic areas with a fresh coat of paint, the team at Tribble Painting Company is here to help. Our experienced professionals can handle all your interior painting needs, providing expert advice and exceptional results, including the use of Sherwin-Williams’ high-quality products.
Before starting your painting project, make sure you’ve properly prepped your house for painting and learned how to use painter’s tape to achieve the best results.
Don’t hesitate to give your home the makeover it deserves – fill out our contact form today or give us a call!
