The Lustre is in the Finish

So here we are. You have defined your style and chosen your preferred colours but wait a minute, how about the final finish of your paint job? Do you want it flat or glossy? What do I mean? Well, traditionally, paint finish is described in terms of appearance and texture of the painted surface. Different products offer varying degrees of sheen, durability and ease of cleaning.

Truth be told, there are so many names that paint manufacturers use to describe the sheen level of their products that they can make your head spin: flat, matte, eggshell, silk, satin, low-gleam, semi-gloss, gloss, high gloss finish and so on! But in essence, things are much simpler than they seem. Most manufacturers offer 5 types of interior paint finishes ranging from dull to shiny. The first 2 are usually used for the walls, while the last 3 are recommended for the trim, doors and windows. Let’s examine them a little closer.

Matte/Flat:  These are the least glossy of all finishes. Smooth and dull in appearance, they possess a consistent color profile making them good at hiding surface and application imperfections. Their porous surface makes them prone to stains and scratch marks. Matte finishes are commonly used on ceilings & walls in low traffic rooms as they do not hold up well to cleaning products.

Eggshell: These finishes have just a touch of sheen making them more durable and resistant to cleaning than Matte finishes. Their slightly glossy appearance also adds a sense of depth and warmth to surfaces. Eggshell are considered well rounded finishes offering durability without excessive sheen and are therefore appropriate on nearly all interior walls save for high traffic areas.

Satin: Satin tends to be glossier and more durable than Eggshell, but when comparing different brands you may find that the Eggshell of one brand offers virtually the same gloss as the Satin of another. These finishes are typically used in bathrooms, kitchens, children’s rooms and on trim.

Semi-Gloss: These offer even more durability and more gloss than the three previous finishes. Semi-gloss is generally considered to be too glossy for general application and is reserved for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other high traffic areas.

Glossy: Extremely durable and stain resistant, gloss paints will dry to an almost laminated look. Gloss is the least used of all finishes, occasionally featuring on artistic embellishment or cabinets.

If the above expose has left you more confused than enlightened, then you may want to consider purchasing several quarts of paint of each finish type to test. Some retail paint outlets sell small sample containers of paint which are great for testing different sheen’s and colors at a small price. Talking to your paint retailer about their range of finishes will also go a long way in helping you make the right choice.

Next week, we will look at some paint application and finishing techniques that will create that unique look and feel. Hang on just a little, your breath taking walls await.