What Paint Sheen for my Interior Paint Job?

Color is Benjamin Moore Stormy Night on all sheens.

This is a question we receive on a daily basis. There is rarely a one sheen fits all answer to your paint project. Or is there?

What Sheens are Available?

First, let’s discuss the sheen options. Going from lowest to highest, we have flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semigloss and high gloss. These may differ in terms or descriptions depending on brand or quality level. Sometimes you’ll see flat/matte or washable flat. They’re really matte. Or sometimes you’ll see low lustre. This one is almost identical to satin. Lastly, soft gloss. This is just a fancy name for semigloss.

What is the Difference?

The lower we find ourselves in the sheen pool the more likely the paint will hide the imperfections on the surface you are painting. As flat reflects less light, those pesky nail pops on your drywall are less likely to “shine.” The beauty in less sheen is its ability to touch up. With less sheen like flat your chances of patching your drywall and making that sore spot disappear are much higher.

The higher end of sheen is known for its washability. Very high sheens are not only washable, but are often a harder paint. The highest sheen we see on drywall is satin. This got more popular in late 2020 due to paint shortages all over the country. Satin is quite shiny though. It shows every imperfection. But my goodness, does it wash! Very easy to clean, but as it is far from flat, it is very difficult to touch up.

Does Quality Matter in Sheens?

Quality is a huge factor when it comes to getting the best of both worlds. For instance, a cheaper flat paint is not going to have a chance at you washing to remove a scuff. Oftentimes a good scrub will even remove the paint. On the other hand a high end premium paint such as Regal Select Flat will not bow down to your damp sponge. With a quality line such as Regal Select you’re getting what you pay for. A very hard finish, even on a flat, will allow some soft scrubbing while retaining what we all hope to get out of a flat: great hiding and touch up.

In the same scheme of thought, Aura eggshell touches up. This is unheard of in the eggshell world. It does come with a price point to boot. Oftentimes we are not purchasing eggshell to touch up but to have an easy washable character. With Aura, you get it all. Aura is also hard as a rock. You can get away with quite a lot in a paint of this caliber. Though I don’t recommend it, I’ve often seen trim and even cabinets painted with this liquid gold.

What About MY Walls?

So, I’m gonna keep this simple. By saying that I mean we are gonna base this on a middle of the road quality paint and sheens alone.

Flat

Flat is a go to for hiding imperfections. It is a go to for its touch up capabilities. Those aren’t the only reasons. Designers love flat because of its low light reflecting and velvety finish. Flat is usually the least expensive of the wall options and touches up better than any of the rest. This means you’ll be able to fix holes, dings and scuffs and simply paint that area without it sticking out like a sore toe. Flat is wonderful for a ceiling due to its likeliness to hide the sheetrock joints. Flat is also nice in closets and garages. Though it doesn’t clean, you are able to fix those common damages and simply paint over them.

Matte

Matte is kind of an easy alternative to both flat and eggshell. It cleans pretty well while keeping some of the ability to touch up that we find in flats. Matte also bears the perfect sheen for bathrooms. While being cleanable, matte is flat enough to hold a good bit of the steam from showers and allow it to evaporate off without mildewing or running down the walls. Matte sheen is my favorite one sheen fits all for most wall painting projects.

Eggshell

Eggshell is a classic finish. It is loved in the paint world because of its easy cleaning. Eggshell used to be a go to for bathrooms because of this. We now know that matte is a slightly better option. Eggshell is a solid choice for busy households. It is usually quite durable and scrubbable. You’re not gonna have the best luck touching up but eggshell makes up for this with its washability. If you live in an older home with lots of wall repairs I’d avoid eggshell if you’re hoping to hide those patches and nail hole repairs. On the other hand, if wondering what to paint a kitchen, look no further.

Satin

Satin is where we get to the highest sheen in the real world for walls. It is only on rare occasion that satin is recommended for painting drywall. It is the line we cross into the “oh, this is a bit shiny” world. Amazing durability against scuffs and such, but it is guaranteed to show off any repairs made in the past. It is also liable to show off the joints in your sheetrock. Easy to clean is an understatement, but satin is not getting touched up. Satin is really more suitable for a lower sheen option to paint cabinets or trim.

Semigloss and High Gloss

Semigloss and High Gloss are best put in the same category, the TRIM category. Be careful following going trends of painting walls and ceilings with such high sheens. This requires the walls to be skim coated with sheetrock mud by a top notch finisher. It is possible but often ends in tackiness and dread. The durability of both these sheens makes them ideal for trim, doors and cabinets. Semigloss is much more commonly used for these surfaces than high gloss. Again, satin is a great alternative if you’d like less sheen with some reliable durability.

In Short, Touch Up or Clean?

If you’re not someone who finds themself with a damp sponge in hand doing a spot check on the walls regularly, then you may not need eggshell. Flat may just be your fit. If on the other hand, you find yourself cleaning, or attempting to clean, dry ketchup off the kitchen wall or palm prints and scuffs everywhere else, go for a bit of sheen like an eggshell.

Thank you and God bless.