How to Choose the Perfect Paint Sheen

Photo by Valerie Wei-Haas / Design by Kirkendall Design

The right paint sheen can transform your walls from a quiet backdrop to the star of the show. It’s all about choosing a finish that balances style, durability, and practicality. With options ranging from velvety matte to reflective gloss, paint sheen refers to the level of light reflection on the surface, helping you create the perfect ambiance for your space. Let’s explore the different sheen options and how our interior design firm uses each one.

Photo by Sherwin-Williams

Paint Sheen: Flat

Photo by Valerie Wei-Haas / Design by Kirkendall Design

This sheen offers minimal light reflection, helping to smooth out surface textures and imperfections. It’s easy to touch up but harder to clean, making it perfect for ceilings.

Paint Sheen: Matte/Eggshell

Design by Kirkendall Design

A matte or eggshell sheen offers a smooth finish with low to medium light reflection, making it excellent for high-traffic areas like bedrooms, hallways, dining rooms, and living rooms. It hides imperfections well, is easy to touch up, and has just enough sheen to resist moisture.

Paint Sheen: Satin

Photo by Sarah Baker / Design by Kirkendall Design

Satin sheens are both durable and easy to clean. They’re ideal for cabinets, garage walls, trim, and also moisture-prone areas like bathrooms – spaces where you want a balance of durability and a slight glossy finish.

Paint Sheen: Semi-Gloss

With higher light reflection, semi-gloss sheens are perfect for kitchens, baseboards, and doors. It’s durable, washable, and easy to clean, though it can show imperfections and are a bit harder to touch up.

Paint Sheen: High-Gloss

Photo credit: centsationalstyle.com

High gloss sheen, as the name suggests, has the highest level of light reflection, creating a mirror-like finish. We don’t use it often but it can create a high-end look on certain surfaces like cabinets, doors, and furniture.