Don’t fret if your walls have lost their luster
There are five different types of paint finishes: flat/matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The most obvious difference between them is how shiny the finished product is, but there are some other things to consider, too, like how well they hide imperfections and how easy each is to clean. When you’re choosing a paint for your home, use this guide to make sure you pick the best finish for your project.
With the lowest luster level on the list, flat paint is a cost-effective sheen that excels at covering large areas of your home. This paint finish barely reflects light, which means it hides imperfections on the surface, making it a good option for larger walls that may not be as smooth as you’d like.
Flat paint is ideal for low-traffic areas like bedrooms and walls with blemishes. Given its wallet-friendly nature, it’s also the perfect sheen choice for anyone on a tight budget. However, keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid using flat/matte paint finishes in areas that get dirty, scuffed, or damaged easily. This paint finish can be challenging to clean, so maintenance in high-traffic rooms will be a bit more of a chore if you paint them with a satin finish.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most affordable | Hard to clean |
| Hides imperfections | Dull appearance |
Best For: Walls with lots of imperfections, homeowners on a budget, and low-traffic areas like bedrooms
For inspiration:
Rust-Oleum Milk Paint Finish
ECOS Paints Matte Paint
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Waterborne Interior Paint - Matte
As the name suggests, an eggshell has a finish that looks like, you guessed it, an eggshell. This sheen is popular because it’s a happy middle ground between satin and flat paint. Though this finish doesn’t have the strong pigment of flat paint, eggshell still hides little imperfections on the wall, giving your home that flawless finish you’ve always wanted.
Cleaning eggshell walls is slightly easier than cleaning flat/matte paint, but with eggshell, you don’t have to compromise on that soft hint of reflection that gives your room a little bit of a sheen. The minimal luster will brighten up a room a bit more than a flat finish. Still, eggshell has a lower durability than some of the other types of paint finishes. Therefore, you should choose this finish for bedrooms, offices, and other areas with low to medium traffic.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Relatively affordable | Low durability |
| Hides some imperfections | Duller than gloss |
| Easier to clean |
Best For: Striking a balance between ease of maintenance and hiding imperfections, and medium-traffic areas that won’t need a ton of heavy cleaning.
For inspiration:
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Showcase Interior Paint & Primer
Moving up the sheen scale, satin paint sports an elegant balance between all the types of paint finishes, perfectly cementing itself between high-gloss and matte. However, a higher gloss level means you'll see more imperfections during the application of the paint and on your walls. This paint can be tricky to apply with a smooth roller or brush, leaving visible streaks. That sheen also means it’s easier to clean, so you can easily wipe down walls with satin paint finishes by using a wet rag and some soap and water if you need to clean off some rogue spaghetti sauce.
Satin paint is ideal for high-traffic rooms where messes are commonplace, like kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, entryways, and living rooms. This finish offers higher moisture resistance and durability than matte and eggshell finishes, but if your walls have many imperfections, you may want to go with a paint that has a lower sheen level to hide damaged sections.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean | Expensive |
| Hides some imperfections | Medium durability |
Best For: Rooms that see medium to high traffic, homeowners who want to strike the perfect balance between hiding imperfections and a surface that’s easy to clean
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore Kitchen & Bath Satin
Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover Multi-Purpose Brush-On Satin Paint
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Ovation Plus Satin Interior Paint & Primer
The higher the gloss, the higher the durability, so by the time you get to semi-gloss paint, you’ll notice your paint has a better ability to stand strong in the face of scratches, dings, and moisture issues. This paint is also easier to clean thanks to its smoother surface and water resistance.
Semi-gloss paint may just be one of your local interior painters’ best-kept secrets. Using semi-gloss paint on trims, doors, and cabinets adds a reflective pop to a room otherwise painted in satin or eggshell. This paint finish is a solid choice for bathrooms and kitchens where you’re likely to worry about splashes, condensation, and high moisture. Just keep in mind that you may need to up your primer game to hide old paint, dings, scratches, and other wall inconsistencies, as the higher sheen level will highlight any imperfections.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean | Expensive |
| High durability | Shows imperfections |
Best For: Making doors, trim, and cabinets pop in a room, high-traffic areas that have a high risk of water and moisture exposure, like bathrooms and kitchens.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior Paint- Semi-Gloss
Of all the main types of paint finishes, the glossiest is, unsurprisingly, high-gloss. These paints have a high sheen level, are tough against damage, and are very resistant to humidity, but they’re not so great at hiding imperfections on the surface.
As a result, designers typically save high-gloss paint for heavily used rooms that experience a lot of heat and moisture, like kitchens and bathrooms. In most cases, the shine is too intense to cover an entire wall, but drawers, trim, kitchen cabinets, and doorframes love high-gloss paint’s toughness, and you’ll love how easy it is to keep the surfaces clean.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean | Expensive |
| Extremely durable | Shows imperfections |
Best For: Trim around windows and doors, cabinets, and other accents, especially those that see a lot of wear and tear
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams ALL SURFACE ENAMEL - Latex High Gloss
Valspar ULTRA High Gloss Paint + Primer
Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover High Gloss Spray Paint
There are a few things you should consider when choosing a paint finish for your project to make sure you pick a paint that’s going to serve you well.
Think about the surface. First and foremost, think about the surface you’re applying paint to. If it’s a brand new wall that your drywall specialist meticulously smoothed out, then a mid-tier sheen like eggshell or satin is probably going to suit you best. If it has lots of imperfections, go with a matte paint finish over a satin one to give the illusion of a cleaner wall.
Consider cleaning. If you’re painting a surface that sees a lot of exposure to dirt or action from passing hands, choose a higher sheen. The glossier the paint, the easier the surface will be to wipe clean.
Don’t forget about moisture. Matte paint can quickly get ruined if it’s exposed to moisture. If you’re painting a surface in a bathroom or kitchen or around exterior doors, consider at least an eggshell finish and opt for an even higher sheen for greater durability.
Higher sheens are best for accents. Most of the time, you don’t find semi-gloss or high-gloss paint on walls, as the high sheen level looks odd on a large surface. These paint finishes are often reserved for accents, like trim, doors, or cabinets. Consider going up to a satin finish on walls, and use semi-gloss or high-gloss on accents. The only exception would be using a higher sheen if you’re installing an accent wall, in which case a higher gloss might not look out of place.
Let your budget guide you. In most cases, the higher the sheen, the more expensive the paint will be. If you’re on a tight budget, pick a lower sheen level to save some money.
Ask a professional. If you’re hiring a painter, you can always lean on the professional for advice. They’ll consider your budget, the traffic in the room, and more to make sure you get the right type of paint finish for your project.
High-gloss paint is the most durable of the paint finishes. Most glossy paints are enamel paint made from oils, which gives them that hard, shiny surface with higher durability levels. Less durable matte finishes tend to come as acrylic, milk paint, or chalk paint. So if you’re looking for durable paint, go for one with a higher sheen, as it will be easier to clean and ideal for spaces that are subject to damage.
You have several options for painting your interior walls, including flat/matte, eggshell, and satin paint. Since these finishes are on the lower end of the sheen spectrum, you won’t notice as many imperfections compared to semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes. Higher gloss levels will usually look out of place if they’re on large surfaces. If you’re painting wood or trim, you may wish to increase the sheen and go for a semi- or high-gloss finish for added durability and aesthetics.
The best paint finish for exterior walls is a toss-up between eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss paint. All three choices offer more durability than matte finishes while still hiding blemishes or imperfections on your home’s exterior.
If you’re mostly concerned with cleaning the exterior of your house, opt for a semi-gloss or satin finish, which will both make the job easier. Though semi-gloss paint is easier to clean and more durable, you’ll see more imperfections using it than you would with eggshell or satin, so weigh your options carefully before choosing.
Semi-gloss and satin are the best types of paint finish for bathrooms. They’re good at protecting against the moisture that bathrooms create daily, meaning they’ll last longer than eggshell or flat paint in bathrooms. Bathrooms are also high-traffic areas, and these higher sheen levels will remain easier to clean than a matte or eggshell finish, making your life a bit easier.
