Knowing the Differences in House Paint Sheen

Choosing the proper interior paint for your interior room is not always easy, there’s so much more to consider than just the color (and if you read our article on mood changing color, you can see how hard this choice is alone!). There are variety of house paint sheen levels – each of them are suitable for the different rooms in your home.

Flat Paint
This is by far the most common house paint sheen used in interior painting. Flat paints are typically made with a lot of pigment and they can hide the primer really well. Flat paint tends to conceal imperfections better than any other sheen type. It’s also non-reflective when applied and it will help make uneven surfaces smoother and look more uniform. They are also chosen for ceilings and rooms that aren’t exposed to water or humidity.

Gloss/High Gloss
Paints with gloss or high-gloss sheen are very reflective and they tend to highlight imperfections in walls and woodwork. This type of paint is more durable, stain-resistant and are much easier to clean than paints with less gloss. Glossed finishes are ideal for windows and trim, children’s rooms, and playrooms. Because of their durability, they have better resistance to mold and mildew for use in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.

Semi-Gloss
Between the other two house paint sheen extremes, semi-gloss paint is the best of both sheens. This paint is not as highly reflective as gloss paints and it won’t show imperfections as much; yet they still offer good stain resistance and are easy to clean. This type of paint works well on windows and doors, trim and even cabinets. They can even be used on the walls of kitchens and baths, and various surfaces in children’s rooms and playrooms.

To help determine your house paint sheen, consult with a painting contractor with the right level of expertise. They should also advise you on the best color choices for each of the rooms you need painted.

The color experts at J. Canabe are able to provide guidance for any painting project you may have in your home. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.