Which paint finishes best suit your needs?

Written By Areeb Akhter

FLAT OR MATTE

A friend to walls that have something to hide, flat/matte soaks up, rather than reflects, light. It has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage, which translates to time and money savings. However, it’s tough to clean without taking the paint off the grime.

  • Practical application: adults' bedrooms and other interior rooms that won’t be roughed up by kids

  • Durability: medium-low

EGGSHELL

Between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale is eggshell, so named because it’s essentially a flat (no-shine) finish with little luster, like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don’t get a lot of bumps and scuffs.

  • Practical application: dining rooms, living rooms

  • Durability: medium

SATIN

Has a tasteful luster that, despite the name, is often described as velvety. It’s easy to clean, making it excellent for high-traffic areas. Its biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky. 

  • Practical application: family rooms, foyers, hallways, kids' bedrooms

  • Durability: high

SEMI-GLOSS

Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of abuse.

  • Practical application: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, chair rails

  • Durability: high

HIGH GLOSS

The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. 

High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch -- cabinets, trim, and doors. High gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls. 

  • Practical application: kitchens, door, and window trim

  • Durability: very high

Our painters have over 20 years of expertise. Our partnership with brands such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams guarantees we use the highest quality paint and the right paint for the job!

Areeb Akhter