Choosing A Paint Sheen For Your Project

It would not be an overstatement to say that paint has evolved from something of furnishing to a mainstream form of art. Now, there are, literally, so many colors and shades that you should consult a professional before choosing a color for your house. The development in paint has also changed the way how medium, or a layer on which the paint is applied, should be prepped before painting.

If you are planning on revamping your property with a new paint job, there are so many things that you need to keep in mind. You should have a clear picture of how the end result is going to be.

You have probably gone through color schemes, how both artificial and natural lights will affect the colors you have put on your walls, and how to make all the colors into one whole with a steady and uniform flow. Really, there are a lot of things to consider if you want to make a decision like a professional.

If you are one of those people who have gone through all of these unseeming but important things, you may be missing one of the other significant aspects of a paint job.

A finish, or more precisely, a sheen!

A finish or a sheen is the end result of the paint job and in the index of the surface texture after the paint is applied, or how much light does the surface bounce off of its surface.

Keep on reading this article and you will have practical insights about how you can make calculated decisions that will enhance your living experience by nailing your new paint job.

Why Does It Matter

Again, the paint sheen is the feel of the texture of the wall after a coat of fine paint has been applied to it. It also equates to how much light gets reflected off of this surface because this will decide what shade of color it will give. It is a big factor that you should keep in mind because this changes the perception of color.

In a practical sense, you see a room and you know it is blue, sky blue precisely. But then you see it on a cloudy day with practically no sun at all and it looks like a shade of green to you.

This happens and it is natural. But you need to calibrate your choice of sheen and paint to get the best result.

There are three things that actually come into play when you are planning on applying a new paint coat to a surface:

• Paint Color

• Paint Finish

• Receiving Surface

Of course, personal preference is one of the most influential factors that decide how these three will be carried out. Also, you calculate how much wear and tear the room will experience. The bottom line is this: You will come to know that many surfaces are better to perform under certain circumstances when compared to others.

Types Of Sheens Or Paint Finishes

For those who are new to this, it could be confusing. It is because, for the uninitiated, there are only two surfaces – smooth and rough.

But when you ask a professional, you will come to know that there are several finishes that can be done to the surface before applying the paint. It is as important as choosing the paint color and type because it will be as influential to the end result as the other two things.

In essence, there are many surface finishes types, but we have categorized many to help you understand each one a little better. This way, you will not be overwhelmed by the number of different finishes and surfaces.

Here is the list with a little introduction, but we will explore them in detail in the below lines:

• Flat – this is one of the most common types of surfaces that painters and clients agree on. It looks precise and strong with no gimmicks at all and it offers a smooth look and a cover for surface bumps and imperfections. This is ideal for living rooms, home offices, dining rooms, and dens.

• Gloss – this has the highest sheen percentage when combined with all the other painting elements. It is eye-catching, loud and, contrary to a flat surface, least suitable for rooms. It is perfect for furnishings and other articles that are in the room like doors, cabinets, and trim areas that are usually washed and cleaned often.

• Eggshell – this surface has a smooth, easy-to-wash sheen that could be a great fit in the areas where a “flat” was the champion. Still, it does not take weather conditions and other natural factors well, so you should think twice before applying this surface to the outdoors.

• Satin – this sheen has a pseudo-glossy finish to it. It is bliss to wash and clean without worrying about the paint flaking off. Now, you can use this wherever you want because of its intermediary character, but it goes great in areas that experience a lot of traffic or that needs to be loud and catchy. It includes hallways, playrooms, kids’ bedrooms, and so on.

• Semi-Gloss – as the name suggests, this comes between a full-fledged gloss and satin. This gives a mellow and light feel that it can look to someone as too safe and melancholy. In reality, it is great for kitchens, bathrooms, windows, or a trim.

Now is the time to go through these sheens or surface finishes one by one. By the end, you will have a winner for your project.

Flat

Off the bat we will give you an overview of what the flat finish is:

• The least reflective available in the market

• Ends with a soft velvety texture

• Perfect to hide imperfections in the walls and ceilings

• Contributed greatly to the depth of color

• Considered to be the ultimate sheen for walls

• Does not take cleaning easily

Since the name implies, the flat comes from the character of not reflecting light from the painted surface. It absorbs the light almost completely and that can be seen through its appreciation of the intensity of light.

It is also termed as matte finish and for some people, this is a deal-breaker. There are many benefits of having a matte or flat finish on a surface. It is great at concealing nail holes, dents, patches, and other surface imperfections that you can expect from a newly constructed structure. This is also a great fit for the ceiling to give more depth to the color on it.

It could be a more affordable option when it is compared to gloss and semi-gloss paints. Of course, they could be costly than this one already, but it also saves more in the amount that you need to apply to a surface. You can have more color in fewer coats. Matte finish surfaces are also easy to maintain and touch up when necessary. The best part is that there is usually no difference between a patched up and the original area.

As far as the perfect locality goes for this sheen type, areas with the least traffic are ideal. This counts formal dining rooms and master bedrooms. This suits best their interior application. For the exterior, they are a perfect match for aged vinyl and aluminum siding.

There are some cautionary things that you should know about the matte or flat finish:

• They are not suitable for washing and scraping could take the paint off the surface.

• Due to a stylish rough texture, they absorb more dirt and debris, contrary to a reflective finish. This could mar the surface because it shows over time.

• They questionable durability which means you could have to apply it again after a short period of time.

• As discussed earlier, flat sheens are not suitable for rooms with excessive traffic such as kitchens, bathrooms, kids’ rooms because of the high levels of humidity and chances of direct water contact.

This should give you the true colors of the sheen or surface finish to get the desired effect on your wall.

Eggshell

Eggshell and satin finishes sit somewhere in between matte and glossy finishes. This makes them have both good and bad characteristics of those aforementioned finishes.

The name “eggshell” comes from the fact that it gives the texture and effect from a certain angle that looks and feels from that of an eggshell. The best thing about the eggshell, other than its unique look and feel, is its durability. It is also more easily washable than the flat or matte finish surfaces which is a great plus. Due to its intermediary character, you can apply this surface to virtually anywhere. This is because it comes to your choice, apart from the fact that how long it is going to last.

The best location to apply this type of finish is general-purpose rooms such as living rooms, family rooms, and hallways. You can go to exterior surfaces with this finish but keep in mind that they are not good at tolerating harsh conditions like direct sunlight, wind, etc.

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