Choosing The Right Paint Sheen

Choosing the right paint sheen can be quite daunting. Am I the only one at the paint counter who answers each of their questions with “whichever is the cheapest”? Well, that answer doesn’t always hold up when they ask you what finish you want because the price is the same regardless.

What paint sheen is best for a High traffic area?

When painting a high traffic area in your home it’s important to try and use either a high gloss paint or a semi-gloss. The reason is that its shine is higher on these two finishes and this makes the surface easier to clean. That is unless the surface you are painting is not the highest quality.

What paint sheen should you use if your wall is in rough shape?

If the surface that is being painted has been painted maybe a million times in the past and there are a never-ending number of layers chipping off, then picking a paint finish that will not highlight your flaws is the better solution.

For instance, my staircase is about 200 years old and has probably been painted a hundred different times. Paint with a higher sheen is only going to show every uneven surface and highlight all the imperfections.

Here, you can see the difference between my first picture and the second one. The first picture shows the stairs in a high gloss black and the second shows it in a matte flat black paint. The first highlights all its paint flaws and the second hides them all!

Does the higher the paint sheen mean more durability?

Yes, essentials. The downside to using flat paint is it’s less durable. The basic rule of thumb is that the higher the sheen the more durability and the lower the sheen the less durability.

When to use a high paint sheen and when to use a low paint sheen?

Really anything in the Kitchen you want to either be a high gloss or a semi-gloss. The kitchen needs the most durable because the surfaces get washed often.

The family room is also a high traffic area and needs to stand up to lots of action. A satin finish would be great. The dining room can get away with an eggshell because it’s a low traffic area.

The goal is for clean smooth looking walls. For bedrooms you can use matte or flat paint because it’s a low traffic area. Ceilings are another area where flat paint is recommended, but also keep in mind that several manufacturers make paint blends specifically for ceilings.

Thanks so much for reading along,

Much love,

Kori ~ From the Farmhouselife