Redecorating a room is exciting as you start bringing your vision to life. The first thought is always the colour, but before rushing out to buy your paint, you will also need to consider what paint finishes you want.
Whether you are updating something that hasn’t been touched since the 80s or are just adding a new lick of paint to the walls, the finish you choose will make a big difference to the feel of the space. Each finish has advantages and disadvantages, making them more suitable for various areas within your home.
AJ Nehlig have been helping residents across Dorset pick the right paint finishes for their homes since 1975. Our time in the industry and experience means we have seen a range of situations, making us experts in what does and doesn’t work.
Here, we have created a guide to choosing interior paint finishes so that you don’t have to go through the decision alone.
Paint finishes types
Matte finish
A matte finish means that the paint will be non-reflective and instead will have a slightly muted finish.
This paint will soak up light in a room rather than reflect it, making it a great choice in rooms where there is plenty of natural light streaming in.
Additionally, matte finish paints are highly pigmented, so they provide great coverage at a fairly low cost. This makes matte one of the best paint finishes, should you want to cover imperfections on your walls and surfaces.
You will likely use this type of finish:
- Ceilings
- Low-traffic areas
- Adult bedrooms
Benefits of this type of paint finish include:
- Conceals flaws
- Offers a modern look
- Easy to touch up
Eggshell finish
An eggshell finish is one of the other common paint finishes in homes. It is slightly more lustrous than matte, with a soft, low sheen.
This finish is washable, making it a very suitable option where kids might be and in high-traffic areas.
Areas where an eggshell finish might be used include:
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Bedrooms
Benefits are:
- A subtle sheen that adds warmth
- More washable than flat finishes
Satin finish
A satin finish is the next step up from an eggshell finish. It is smooth with a slight gloss, providing a soft sheen.
Similarly to the eggshell, it is easy to clean, making it another option for those high-traffic areas where the painted features are likely to get a little grubby.
One consideration for this finish is that it doesn’t always hide those imperfections.
Areas where you might use a satin finish include:
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Laundry rooms
- High-traffic areas
- Furniture and trims
Benefits of this paint finish include:
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Resists mildew
Semi-gloss finish
Because of this, it is typically used in smaller areas:
- Trims
- Doors
- Cabinets
- Moldings
The benefits of using a semi-gloss finish include:
- Extremely durable
- Highly washable
- Moisture-resistant
High-gloss finish
The final type of paint finish is the high-gloss finish.
Paints with this finish will be shiny and highly reflective, providing a glass-like finish.
This finish won’t hide imperfections, so it should be used on smooth surfaces and walls.
However, the shine makes it the easiest to clean out of all the paint finishes, which is why it is so often used in areas prone to getting messy and dirty.
Areas where a high-gloss finish is used include:
- Accents
- Furniture
- Areas requiring a bold statement
- Hallways
- Kitchens
The benefits of a high-gloss finish include:
- Durability
- Easy to clean
- Creates a dramatic look
Factors to consider when choosing a paint finish
Choosing the right paint finishes can be just as important, if not more, as picking the colour. This is because it can impact the light reflected around the room and the ease of maintaining it.
When selecting paint, consider the following factors:
- Room functionality – how will the room be used? Who will use the room? If the room will likely get messy from cooking, little hands or even mud, think about choosing an easy-to-clean option.
- Traffic and usage – how often will the space be used? By how many people? What will they be doing? If it is likely to be a high-traffic area, pick one of the paint finishes that will be durable.
- Aesthetic preferences – what do you want it to look like? What finishes do other walls in the area have? If you want something that is going to look shiny, opt for a gloss, but if you want something less noticeable, choose a matte, eggshell or satin finish.
- Maintenance needs – how messy are the areas likely to get? How quickly do you want to be able to clean them? If you think they will get marked or dirty easily due to their usage, pick a finish that will be easy to clean.
Speak to our paint finishes experts
There is a lot to consider when choosing which paint finish to go for, which is why our experts are on hand to help.
Our team know all the advantages and considerations of each paint finish type, meaning they can work with you to decide which finish is best for your wall or surface.
With over 45 years of experience helping residents across Bournemouth and Poole redecorate their homes, we know which paint finishes work best in which rooms.
We will be able to give you helpful, relevant advice and guidance, and we can even help you get the paint on the walls.
Don’t muddle your way through the process. Get specialist interior decorating advice today from us. Call us on 01202 980 484 or complete our online contact form with your query, and we will get back to you.
