Welcome to the whole wide world of paints, you're
likely to feel like a kid in a candy store while wandering the color aisle—or
like you are drowning in a sea of options, we are here to help!
Color is not the only way to add character to a room—there are also paint finishes. In fact, the same paint color can look completely different based on the finish.
What are the different types of interior
paint finishes?
Choosing a
paint finish for interior walls depends on the desired amount
of durability and shine or reflectivity- referred to as paint “sheen”.
1.Flat/Matte:
It works great on interior walls and ceilings. As the
least shiny finish available, it doesn't clean well and isn’t suited for
kitchens, baths, or children’s bedrooms.
2.Eggshell:
An eggshell finish is often used for decorative finishes because
it provides a low sheen. It cleans up better than a flat finish, but probably
not as well as you would want in a kitchen or bathroom.
3.Satin:
The most popular paint sheen is a satin finish. It has more sheen
than eggshell and cleans better too. This finish is a good choice for woodwork,
walls, doors, and hallways. It's also great for bedrooms and dining rooms.
4.Semi-gloss:
A semi-gloss paint will give your room a subtle shine. It’s
scrubbable and good for moldings, doors, windows, kitchens, and baths.
5.High-gloss:
A high-gloss finish has a shiny, polished look. It’s also
stain resistant and very scrubbable, which makes it a good choice for the areas
of a home that get the most wear and tear, such as kitchens and baths.
How do I choose
a paint finish?
Every
paint out there will have a sample, Get as many samples as you can, and get
some poster board. Play around with those samples—examine how easily they cover
and spread an area, and how easily you can clean them once they’re dry. While
browsing through photographs or reading information online will give you a
general idea of how different finishes look, it is only until you test a paint
in your desired space that you can get a true sense of how it will work. The reason you want to do a piece of poster
board instead of the wall is because you can move your poster board around the
room to look at it with your furnishings in different lights at different times
of the day, this way, you can really feel good about your choice because you’re
taking all the guesswork out of it.
When you’re deciding on which sheen you want to use, remember the higher the sheen, the darker and more intense the color will be. Also, high-gloss paint reflects light — and makes imperfections in your walls more noticeable. So before you apply this paint finish, take the time to prep your walls and make them extra smooth.