The Complete Guide to Paint Gloss Levels & Choosing the Right Paint Finish

Choosing the perfect paint finish for every room in your home will be easy after you read this guide. But once you know exactly which paint gloss levels are best, your home's interior or exterior must be carefully and properly prepped. Whether you go with matte, gloss, or something in between, prep is the key to achieving a beautiful and professional finish in the unique climate of the Front Range.

Glossy or Matte Paint – Does it Matter for Denver Homes?

Yes, it matters a lot! Glossy and matte paint finishes are on the opposite ends of the finish spectrum. The glossier the finish, the shinier it will be because it reflects more light —a crucial consideration in the bright, sunny climate of Denver. 

• Glossy Paint

• Of all finishes, glossy reflects the most light and therefore has the highest sheen. 

• It's the most durable of all finish types but it shows the most imperfections that exist on the surface you are painting

• Glossy finishes are easier to clean and stand up well in areas that get a lot of moisture or traffic.

• You typically see glossy paint applied to kitchen and bathroom walls, doors, and door and window trim. 

• Flat Paint 

• A flat finish reflects very little light and therefore has no sheen. It's also sometimes known as a matte paint finish.

• Although the least durable of all finish types, flat paint does a great job of covering imperfections.

• Flat paint isn't as easy to clean, although today's new formulations are more resistant to stains, are washable, and hold color beautifully.

• Flat paint is a popular choice for ceilings and other areas that don’t see as much use or wear from the elements.

Most homeowners don't want glossy walls but want durability. The good news is that there are a number of finishes on the spectrum between glossy and matte that deliver outstanding qualities for every room in your home. As you start planning your interior or exterior paint job, asking about various paint finishes for specific rooms is one of the important questions to ask your painter.

Dreaming of a New Look? Make It a Reality with Singletrack Painting!

Understanding Different Paint Gloss Levels

Even if you've chosen the highest quality paint available in the most gorgeous color imaginable, the caliber of the result will largely depend on the wall paint finish types. The gloss level affects the amount of light that the paint finish reflects, which can affect depth and color perception. However, choosing the right gloss level can be very confusing because the gloss/sheen scale isn't consistent among paint manufacturers. 

For example, many homeowners want a mid-sheen paint finish for their walls. A mid-sheen is fairly durable and easy to clean, but not super shiny. From manufacturer to manufacturer, the name for this finish could be anything from eggshell to satin to velvet – not very helpful. It's important to know what kind of paint your painters are using and what sheens that line of paint comes in.

High-quality paint manufacturers Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams will provide product-specific sheen scales that are available online or in a store. Here are a few of the most common gloss levels but remember that not every product line will use the same terminology or have the same categories:

High Gloss

This extremely durable finish is best for highlighting features in a room, such as on trim, cabinets, and doors. This finish isn’t nearly as common as semi-gloss due to its high reflectivity. Other terms you might run into in this category include High Sheen, Medium Lustre, and High Lustre. 

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss paint is moderately reflective, durable, and easy to clean. Semi-gloss is our standard finish for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, doors, and trim. For exteriors, it's occasionally used for ornamental components, doors, and shutters. Other terms you might run into in this category include Pearl and Soft Gloss. 

Mid-Sheen

Satin

This rich, durable finish is well-suited for high-traffic interior walls, especially family rooms, children's bedrooms, hallways, cabinets, and trim. It has a rich appearance and is easy to clean. It's also our standard choice for Sherwin-Williams paint for exterior siding, shutters, trim, and doors. 

Eggshell

An eggshell finish is one of the most popular choices for walls in bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms. The rich finish with its light sheen is durable and washable, and like a satin finish, stands up to high-traffic areas of a home.

Additional terms associated with this mid-sheen category are low luster, velvet, low sheen, and low gloss. 

One final note in this category - The discrepancy between one product that only comes in satin and another product that only comes in an eggshell is generally speaking minor.

Low Sheen

Matte

A matte finish does a good job of hiding wall imperfections and is fairly easy to clean. Matte imparts a luxurious look for living and dining rooms and is popular on walls with smooth or semi-smooth textures. 

Flat

The almost non-reflective finish of flat paint is great at hiding surface imperfections. This is a good finish for ceilings, adult bedrooms, more formal living and dining rooms, and walls in low-traffic areas. Recent formulations make it fairly easy to clean although it's much less durable than glossy finishes. 

Other generalized sheen terms that are synonymous with a low sheen category are flat enamel and dead flat. 

How to Choose the Perfect Paint Finish Type

These four factors will help you choose the perfect paint finish for your project.

• Use of the Room: Choose a glossier paint for bathrooms and kitchens because the finish will stand up better to moisture and mold and the paint will be more durable. Choose glossier paints for high-traffic or heavy-use areas of your home like hallways and children's rooms.

• Which Paint Finish Is Easiest to Clean: Related to the use of the room, if you're looking for a finish that stands up to frequent and easy cleaning, go with a higher sheen.

• Aesthetics: Bold, bright colors can look gaudy and harsh in glossy finishes. Soft neutrals like gentle grays and tans can look dead in flat and matte finishes. Glossy finishes highlight architectural features beautifully. Be sure to paint samples so you can see how the paint will look when it's dry.

• Light: Rooms that get flooded with sunlight will be hard on the eyes with highly reflective glossy finishes. Opt for low and matte sheens. However, a glossy finish can provide more light in darker areas of your home. Again, test the finish with a paint sample before you paint an entire room.

• As a general rule at Singletrack Painting, we use satin for all exterior finishes. For interiors, we use a flat finish on ceilings, a satin/eggshell finish on walls, and a semi-gloss finish on trim, doors, and cabinets. As said above, depending on the product line, some of these terms can change. 

If you're at all unsure about the difference in paint finishes, enlist the help of a professional painter. Pro painters have extensive experience and knowledge of the various paint types and finishes that are optimal for each room of your home. If you're unsure of how to hire a painter, use our helpful checklist then contact us when you're ready for a top-notch, high-quality paint job.

Want to Leave It Up to the Paint Gloss Level Experts?

Singletrack Painting has many years of experience and skill with interior and exterior painting in Denver and the surrounding areas. These years of experience make us true paint gloss-level experts! 

We can match gloss levels to how you use specific rooms in your home and to the aesthetic you want to achieve. We can also help you choose the perfect gloss level related to the amount of light in each room. Ready to elevate your interior paint job with Singletrack?

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