Shine on Sheen
In my years of being a professional painter, I have discovered one important thing: most people don’t know what sheen is, let alone what the best choice is for a given project.
Let me break it down, and give you advice for the appropriate selection for each end use.
First off, you should find a supplier you enjoy working with, and find a line of paint you like. For instance, I solely work with Sherwin Williams, so over the years I have learned which products I like to use and what sheens are available in that line of paint.
Generally speaking, most vendors will have flat, satin/egg-shell, semi-gloss, and high gloss. Some lines have different names for the levels of their sheens, but you can simply ask the staff to compare them back to those original 4 options.
Breaking it down –
Flat is good to use in one place, and one place only in my opinion – the ceiling. This sheen is great at hiding flaws in the walls, and giving a smooth consistent finish. Sounds like what you want on every surface right? Wrong! Because it has no sheen, it absorbs things very easily. If you touch a flat wall with your clean hands, the oil residue from your fingers will appear on the surface. And guess what - you can’t even wash it off! If you were to then wipe the wall with a damp cloth, you would forever see streaks from where you attempted to wipe it away. The only way to clean the wall is to re-paint it.
Basically, it gives a great looking finish, but you cannot touch or wash it, ever. It is not durable, and does not stand up to high traffic areas. If you really love the finish, the best use for it is in places where the wall would never be touched. For example, walls behind furniture in a living room or a bedroom/office.
Most Interior Designers select this sheen with ferocious insistence. Where I disagree is that most people have children, pets, or a lifestyle which does not include a hobby of touch-up painting. This selection does not consider the end user in a real-life setting. I like to be more practical and do what I can to make my client’s life easier after I leave a job-site.
Satin/Egg-Shell is my go-to sheen. It is the next sheen higher from flat, so it gives you the lowest luster finish, but the durability you need in most areas. Typically, I would use this in living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and hallways. You can wash it if you scuff it or spill something. It can also be used in kitchens or bathrooms if a low sheen is your preference. Enamel paint for trim and cabinetry comes in satin as well. I prefer this sheen for that purpose as it provides better coverage upon application, which results in a more consistent finish.
Semi-gloss is good in any wet area - kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry areas. It does show more imperfections in the wall, but it is scrub-able and very durable. I would also use this on furniture, trim, or cabinetry. Many designers, and clients do prefer the semi-gloss for mill work, as it provides a contrast to the walls which can bring some interest to a space.
High-gloss is usually a personal preference selection. If you want a shiny, reflective finish, this would be the choice. I would steer clear of using high-gloss on a wall at almost all cost. It shows every flaw and variation, in a glaring way. I have used it in decorative finishes, alternating flat and high-gloss stripes on a wall.
This sheen is the most challenging to work with, as coverage is inconsistent. It will take more coats of high-gloss to cover a surface because any additional coat slides on top of the previous. This sheen could also be used on mill work or furniture for durability and higher contrast.
My best advice when selecting a finish is to find a painter or staff person at a local paint store of your preference that you trust. I would steer clear of the paint department at big box hardware stores, as the staff may not be as well versed in the specifications of each line they carry.
I hope this blog has brought some clarity to the subject, and will be a good reference for making selections in future projects. Or, you can always give me a call :)