How to Select a Paint Finish
Here is a step-by-step process to determine the best paint finish for your project. With new technology and paint formulations, there is a wide selection of finishes to choose.
1. Paint finishes available: flat, washable flat or matte, flat enamel, eggshell, low sheen or satin (or Pearl in Benjamin Moore), semi gloss, high gloss. Each paint company may have their own names for the finishes and small variations in sheen.
2. Determine the traffic flow and needs of the room: will the walls need to washed? If so how often and how much, how firmly? And, determine your personal preference. These are the two biggest considerations.
3. With new technology, any finish can be washable. The days of flat paint not being washable are long gone. Surfaces don’t need to be in semi-gloss paint to be washed anymore, or to withstand steam or moist rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms. The quality of the paint will affect how washable it is as well. It may still be difficult to wash a very low quality flat paint, while a high quality paint is usually washable in all formulations.
4. Consider your wall texture: sheen in a paint finish will tend to accent wall texture and irregularities. If you have orange peel knockdown texture, which is most common in newer construction, flat or eggshell is best for minimizing that. If you have hand-plastered walls, a flat or eggshell finish will look more authentic and old world. If you have totally smooth walls, the choice is yours.
5. Consider light bounce: sheen will bounce more light around a room. If a room is quite shadowed or has northern light, and you’re using a lighter color, an eggshell or satin finish might brighten up the room more than a flat or matte finish. Personal preference comes in here again: how much light do you like in a room? Do you prefer as bright as possible? Or perhaps no sheen might create more serenity for you? My sister, for example, craves light and prefers semi gloss paint down her dark hallway. In her more light-filled living room and dining room/kitchen, eggshell finish accents enough light for her, while minimizing the wall texture.
6. Consider the color you are using and the mood you want to create: with dark colors, usually a matte/flat finish looks best. There are cases where a shiny dark finish can create high drama. A matte finish, or low sheen finish can accent an antique or old world look, or help create a cozy atmosphere.
7. Trim and cabinets: again, all trim being semi-gloss is an outdated concept. It’s mostly personal preference. Semi or high gloss can accent beautiful woodwork and trim. If trim is irregular or in bad shape, an eggshell or satin finish will help diminish imperfections. In smaller rooms, lower contrast can help it feel bigger and smoother. A closer match in finish between walls and trim might be the better choice.
8. Create consistency and harmony by using the same finishes for walls, ceiling and trim throughout the home or office, or in different sections as it makes sense. If the same finishes don’t work through the entire space, then make a rule for different sections, such as one for the bedrooms and one for the living areas.
9. Remember, with today’s technology, there are no limits to the finish you select. It’s a matter of what you prefer and what looks best to you in your space.
Here’s to creating your vision!
These are only a few of the considerations to select a paint finish you like. Paint finish is closely tied to the color used. To avoid costly mistakes or to schedule a color consultation with Kathryn, please contact me by commenting below, by email at contact@artbykd.com, or through my web site, www.artbykd.com.
–KD
Art Luminous: Living a Color-full Life 