Being knowledgeable about the different types of paint finishes is paramount before starting a new project. Each one serves a unique purpose and can dramatically influence the ambiance, durability, and maintenance of your space. It may seem like a small detail, but choosing the right finish ensures your paint job fits your aesthetic and practical needs, resulting in an interior that stands the test of time.
High-Gloss
Using paint that has a high gloss finish results in beautiful, shiny, and highly light-reflecting surfaces. Additionally, it’s the most durable type of finish that doesn’t require frequent touch-ups or repainting. It also allows for easy cleanup, as it can usually be wiped down with just water. Due to that, this type of finish is most commonly used for high traffic surfaces such as cabinets, trim or doors.
Though you can use a high gloss finish anywhere, it’s very hard to cover any imperfections like chips, rolls, or cracks because it just makes them more visible. Many people choose not to paint large surfaces like walls with high gloss to avoid highlighting such flaws.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss finish is like the little brother of high-gloss finish paint. It’s not as shiny as high gloss but still offers moderate reflectivity. It is highly durable and easy to clean, making it ideal for various spaces. A semi-gloss finish is also resistant to mildew, ensuring it lasts in damp environments like kitchens and bathrooms.
Much like its older brother, due to the reflectivity, semi-gloss tends to highlight imperfections and requires extra surface preparation prior to painting. Despite this, the durability and moisture resistance make it a sensible option for areas where both functionality and appearance are important.
Satin
When completing a bigger interior painting project like whole walls or rooms, a satin finish is recommended for many reasons. Being less reflective than any gloss finish allows for easier application and hiding any surface imperfections. And even though its reflectivity is lower, it’s still easy to clean and significantly durable.
Out of all different types of paint finishes, satin is the most recommended for spaces like bedrooms, living rooms, playrooms and other areas that are frequently used but the walls or other painted surfaces aren’t high traffic.
Eggshell
When you think about the texture and surface of an egg, an eggshell finish is very similar to it. It has low reflectivity and is the perfect middle ground between glossy and matte finishes. Paint with this kind of finish is easily applied, and unlike its more expensive counterparts, it hides surface flaws very well.
Using paint with a satin finish is recommended for areas such as hallways, largely due to the fact that a satin finish is fingerprint-resistant. And if it does get dirty, it’s nothing that a melamine foam sponge can’t handle.
Flat/Matte
If a high-gloss finish is on one side of the paint spectrum, flat and matte finishes are on the completely opposite end. A flat or matte finish has ultimately no shine or reflectivity, isn’t very durable, and is recommended for very low-traffic areas. Due to its low durability, it’s hard to upkeep paint jobs with a matte finish as most cleaning products and methods will completely damage the paint.
A lot of people tend to use flat finishes on hard-to-get surfaces and ceilings to avoid the cleaning problem, but also due to its easy application! Though most other finishes only highlight surface imperfections, a flat finish paint usually only needs one layer to cover an entire area and its flaws!
For any other interior painting questions you may have, or to schedule an appointment with our painting team, contact us today!
