How to Find the Perfect Finish for the Perfect Paint
There is a perfect finish for each color of paint, and we are going to tell you how to know which one to choose! It can also help with pairing the perfect finish for this year’s Sherwin Williams color of the year, Aegean Teal.
Egg-Shell
Egg-Shell paint finish is not shiny but not totally matte either. It has a more velvet like appearance and when light hits the paint there can be a slight glimmer off of it. This type of finish is also known to hold up in areas in your home that are being used more. It hides marks, blemishes, and bumps better than other finishes can. We typically use this on walls in high traffic areas and bathrooms.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-Gloss paint finish is known to be the perfect in-between when trying to decide what works best and what look to go for. It does have a shinier look than a satin finish and is known for the radiance it brings to a room. If you want something that is durable with a little bit of shine, this is the finish you should be looking for. It can also be used for crown or trim throughout the house and is durable enough to have in the kitchen. We typically specify semi-gloss on cabinetry, trim, and doors.
Flat
Flat is known to be the “concealer” of paints due to the more pigmentation within it. It is non-reflective so there is no sort of shine or gloss that goes with the flat finish look. This means that a flat finish will take in light so it hides bumps or marks that could be on the wall. Even though it hides blemishes really well, it is hard to clean so it isn’t the best idea to have in a high-traffic area in a house. We love to use flat paint on ceilings. We also specify flat on walls that have low use.
Satin
Satin is known for how durable it is and is the best type of finish if that is what interests you. It does have some light reflecting capabilities, but not as shiny as the Semi-Gloss finish. The great thing about this finish is how easy it is too clean even though it doesn’t hide blemishes as well as others. The best use for the Satin finish is for bathrooms or basements.
High-Gloss
High-Gloss can be self-explanatory almost, it is known for the very shiny and statement making finish. This type of finish isn’t used a lot due to the look it can give a room, it is known as a specialty finish. It gets the name specialty finish, because it has a glamorous glass-like effect. The downside to the High-Gloss look is that it is hard to clean and shows imperfections fairly easily. It should be used in small accents like doors or cabinets that you want to stand out rather than taking up a whole wall in the living room. If we have ‘that special space’ we’ll specify high-gloss on walls and trim to add drama.
