What Type of Paint Should You Use?

Are you thinking about updating your home by painting?  There are a few things you should consider before taking brush to wall!  Many companies now offer the same color paint in six different sheens, each reflecting a different amount of light.  Paint durability has also been improved in recent years, so you have more sheen options for different walls.  Here’s a quick check list for paint finishes.

Flat:  Flat paint hides imperfections and is good for ceilings.  It has a sheen of 0-3%

Matte:  Matte paint is good for dining rooms and bedrooms, and is good to use with accent walls in a different sheen.  It has a sheen of 3-10%

Eggshell:  Eggshell is durable and washable and has traditionally been used in places where there is high traffic or little fingers that like to touch walls!  It has a sheen of 10-25%

Satin:  Satin has a pearl-like look and has a higher resistance to moisture.  It’s good for kitchens and bathrooms and has a sheen of 25-35%.

Semi-gloss:  Semi-gloss is good for rooms with few windows as its higher sheen helps reflect more light.  It’s good for trim, cabinets and doors.  Avoid it in rooms that are really sunny.  It has a sheen of 35060%.

High Gloss:  High gloss is the hardest to work with as it is unforgiving of surface flaws, so walls have to be perfectly smooth.  Like semi-gloss, it is good for darker rooms.  It has a sheen above 85%.