How To Choose Interior Paint Finishes

Although there are different types of interior paint finishes, they all refer to the finishes reaction to light. We will look at latex paint finishes in this article since latex paint is the most commonly used paint.

Flat paint finishes have no sheen once the paint dries. Flat paint does not reflect any light but instead absorbs it. Flat paint finish is great at hiding any imperfections that you may have in your walls and also looks good in most colors. The best rooms to use a flat finish is rooms that usually receive little traffic such as bedrooms or closets. Don't use flat paint in a room that will require a lot of cleaning because it is difficult to clean when it gets dirty.

An eggshell paint offers about as much sheen as an actual eggshell, hence its name. It is mostly flat but does have a small amount of luster. It is also easier to clean than flat paint so it would be better suited for areas of your house that have higher traffic such as a living room or a hallway. Another benefit of eggshell paint is that like a flat finish it also looks good in a variety of colors.

A satin paint finish is much easier to clean than flat or eggshell paints, just be careful not to scrub too hard because you could possibly remove some of the sheen which will leave an uneven finish in your wall. A satin finish will not hide imperfections in your walls as well as flat or eggshell finishes will. Since satin paints stand up better to cleaning they are a great choice kids rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

Semi gloss paints are a step up from satin and reflect more light. It is usually a good choice for painting trim although it could also be used for bathroom or kitchen walls since it does not absorb kitchen greases or bathroom condensations as much as the other finishes. It could also be used in playrooms since it is much easier to clean up. Semi gloss paints generally look better in a lighter shade of paint.

Gloss paints offer the most sheen of all of the other finishes and is also the easiest to clean. Gloss paint is generally used for painting trim and is usually not a good choice for walls. Gloss paint is also commonly used to paint cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms.

Choosing the right interior paint finish is a matter of personal preference, just keep in mind that the higher the sheen the more durable the paint will be. In general, you get what you pay for. Buy the best quality paint you can afford. Using quality paint will make your paint job last longer, is less likely to yellow, goes on easier and also leaves a smoother finish.

It would be a good idea to purchase several quarts of paint to test if you are not sure of what sheen or color would be best for the room you are painting. Many of the large retail paint outlets even sell small sample containers of paint which are great for testing different sheen's and colors at a small price.

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