Your Complete Guide to Interior Paint Finishes and Their Applications

A trip to any paint store or home improvement retailer will quickly show you just how intimidating the world of paint can be. There are countless sample cards from different brands, selections of finishes in almost every color, and an aisle of paint cans that can make anyone’s head spin. Fortunately, with a read through this article, you can be buying paint like a pro. Let Elite Trade Painting help you discover the best interior paint finishes.

In this guide, you will learn the different types of interior paint finishes and their typical uses. This will help you get a better understanding of paint and how it works, as well as which finishes may be best for the areas of your home. First, let’s talk about a few terms that you’ll need to know.

This will help you as you read through this guide and learn more about the different interior paint finishes that exist today. Generally, a shinier finish means that the paint will be easier to clean and more durable. Flatter finishes tend to be more challenging to clean and they don’t stand up to everyday use as well.

Higher-sheen finishes are going to be more difficult to touch up because they show paint marks and imperfections much more easily. On the other hand, lower-sheen finishes will require more touch-up and repainting because they’re not as durable but can blend touch ups much easier than a higher sheen. Let’s take a closer look.

Matte/Flat Finish

Flat or matte paint is great for soaking up imperfections and light. It comes with the most pigment and provides the most coverage of all paint finishes. This means you will save more time and money on this type of paint. This finish is less durable and requires a delicate touch when it comes to cleaning, however.

Matte paint should be cleaned with soap and water and a soft sponge. It’s best in low-traffic areas like adult bedrooms, rarely used interior rooms, or homes where kids and pets aren’t present. These surfaces can take a matte/flat finish paint; however it may not be the best option. The durability is rated at medium-low and may not hold up as well as the other finishes.

Eggshell

Eggshell is named for how the finish is like a chicken’s egg. It has no shine but a little luster, covering up most imperfections. Eggshell is a great choice for low to mid-traffic areas that don’t see a lot of scuffs, bumps, and wear. It’s mostly found on the walls of homes.

Eggshell paint offers medium durability, which means it’s a little more durable than flat paint, but it is still relatively fragile. Make sure that you clean it with soft materials and avoid harsh chemicals. Clean up spots and scuffs as they happen to prevent difficult cleaning. You should be able to clean marks and scuffs without requiring additional paint to touch up.

Satin

Satin offers a velvety, smooth finish that has just a bit more shine than eggshell paint. The surface is easier to clean, so it’s popular for high-traffic areas where people might not want the shine of gloss paint. It shows brush strokes and roller marks more than the previous finishes, so that may make it tricky to apply. Take extra care if you are applying it yourself.

Touch-ups are also difficult because of this. However, if properly applied, this paint can provide plenty of durable use. It’s rated at high durability and ideal for halls and foyers, family rooms, and even kids’ bedrooms where paint can really take a beating. It’s also common to see this finish in bathrooms and kitchens.

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss paint has a bit more of a shine, but it’s still not quite as glossy as high-gloss paint. It’s good for rooms where there is moisture, as well as things like food, stains, and grease that may get on the walls or painted surfaces. It’s also often used for trim because of its durability on these high-traffic surfaces.

Semi-gloss paint is most often found in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as on baseboards, crown molding, and other trim like chair rails. It has high durability and will stand up to a lot of use and abuse. However, you’ll still want to clean it regularly and clean up spills as they happen.

This paint can be scrubbed more than other finishes, but you’ll still want to use delicate materials and avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners. Touch-ups are more challenging because imperfections show through, but this paint can often last longer than other finishes.

High-Gloss

The most durable paint finish that you can buy is high gloss. This paint is ultra-shiny, hard, and reflects light. It’s the type of finish they often use on appliances. High-gloss paint is ideal for cabinets, window trim, doors, bathrooms, and kitchens where there is a lot of traffic and use.

Bear in mind that most professional painters don’t recommend using high-gloss paint on interior walls because of how reflective it is, but it’s great for smaller applications on pieces that get a lot of use.

This paint can be scrubbed. It can even withstand a little harsher cleaning, like with organic kitchen and bath cleaners that may remove grime and grease better than soap and water alone. It’s rated as very high on the durability scale, which is high it’s intended use is often on high traffic areas.

Finish Type by Application

It may be easier for you to understand how to choose a paint finish by knowing which rooms of the home or items take it best. Take a look at the chart below to get an at-a-glance idea of which finishes belong where.

What About Painting Furniture?

So far, we’ve talked a lot about paint finishes for interior painting applications. However, some of you may be trying to figure out which type of paint you need for furniture or other items. The good news is that you can use the guidelines and insights above to make the best decision in most DIY situations:

Think about what kind of traffic the item will see, where it is located, and what kind of look you want to create. A lot of people like the modern look of matte furniture pieces today, for example, but those are typically not as durable, so they aren’t a fit for every home.

What Interior Paint Finishes is Best for Ceilings?

The application of paint on ceilings is different than on walls. Most professionals recommend a flat finish for ceilings because it prevents light reflection and won’t splatter as much during the painting application. A flat finish is also intended to make your ceiling feel higher than it actually is. A flat sheen can also help with the acoustics in your rooms, adding a small extra benefit to this finish. Of course, you can consider other finishes if you are trying to create a unique or dramatic look.

If you choose a textured ceiling, a different paint finish may be required. It’s a good idea to talk to your painting contractor about the project ahead of time so that you can make the best decision. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever use high-gloss paint on a ceiling, but semi-gloss may help you add a dramatic flair. Be warned that the process of achieving a perfect finish with a higher gloss sheen on your ceilings is filled with prep and delicate painting.

Ceilings are considered “low traffic” because they don’t get a lot of interaction from the world around them. They may collect dust and debris, but you’re not constantly touching them, running into them, or spilling things. Therefore, flat paint is usually effective, and you might find that you can go longer in between ceiling paint jobs as opposed to wall painting.

Do Different Colors or Brands Come in Different Sheens?

Paint finishes are almost universal across all brands. Some may use different terms or use certain terms interchangeably, but for the most part, you can trust that when you buy “matte” paint from one brand it will be relatively similar to a matte paint from another brand in terms of shine and finish. With that being said, if you are touching up existing paint, you want to use the same product with the same sheen to match the existing sheen as best as possible. You shouldn’t touch up an existing Sherwin-Williams Satin wall with Benjamin-Moore Satin.

Finishes also aren’t limited to colors. Because paint colors are mixed on demand today, you can get almost any color you want in the finish of your choosing. If you’ve ever purchased paint before, you’re familiar with how they ask you which paint product and finish you want before selecting products and mixing colors.

Of course, if you have hired professional painters, you don’t have to worry about any of this. They’ll take care of the paint buying process and make sure that you get a finished space that’s everything you want. This can save you a lot of time and confusion, too, which is always a welcome relief.

Interior Paint Finishes Final Thoughts

A good coat of paint can do wonders for a dull looking bedroom, or as part of your kitchen or bath remodel. The key here is “good” – you have to know what you’re getting into and plan things accordingly. Choosing the paint finish is one of the most important parts of your project, so it deserves your attention. If you’re still struggling to figure out what is going to be best, refer to this guide, or give the professionals a call.

The team at Elite Trade Painting has years of experience in all kinds of interior and exterior painting and can help you understand all your options when it comes to your next project. Whether you’re painting a single room or your entire home, we’re ready to tackle the project with you. Reach out today and find out how we can take your next painting project to a whole new level.