PAINT SHEEN
Once you’ve settled on your colour choices, the next important paint decision to make is about the sheen level. This is a measure of how much light is reflected from the surface of the dried paint finish – the shinier the surface, the higher the percentage of reflectivity.
Sheens exist on a scale, usually from flat (no shine) to glossy (very shiny) with steps in between. Every paint manufacturer has different names for these levels; we typically specify Benjamin Moore, so we’ll use their scale as a basis for the rest of this post. Different sheens are appropriate to different areas of your home, depending on the activity level of each space. In general, the higher the sheen level of the paint, the more durable it will be.
FLAT & MATTE
Flat (0-3% sheen), Matte (3-10% sheen)
Flat and matte paints generally have the most forgiving finish and have the best colour saturation. If your walls or ceilings have imperfections like patches, joints, or uneven textures, flat paint will make them less noticeable. Flat paint is often used as a typical sheen for ceilings for this reason. We like using it on walls as well, but it is important to note that this paint is harder to clean scuffs and marks off of than some of the shinier options. We find using a Magic Eraser on flat walls generally removes marks, but if any maintenance worries you, you should step up to an eggshell finish for the walls.
Best places to use flat/matte: ceilings, accent walls, all walls (if you’re ok with the potential maintenance of scuffs).
Note that if you are using flat paint in areas of high humidity, like bathrooms, you should use a line of paint specifically manufactured for that purpose – for example, Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa, which comes in a matte finish.
Image via Domino showing walls and ceiling in flat paint. The grey feature wall has a velvety and highly pigmented finish, due to the matte nature of the paint.
EGGSHELL
(12-20% sheen)
This finish is often considered the best compromise between pigment and durability. The finish looks matte from head-on, but from an angle it does have a subtle shine. Eggshell is often the go-to sheen for walls, since it provides an easy to clean surface that is great for high traffic areas.
Best places to use eggshell: walls
PEARL & SATIN
Pearl (15-25% sheen), Satin (25-35% sheen)
Pearl and Satin are in the middle of the sheen spectrum. They create a smooth surface that is easy to clean, and hold up well to high-traffic use and humidity. We often use these sheens for trim details in more modern renovations, especially when paired with flat/matte walls. This is also a great sheen for interior doors and windows, since these are areas of the house that get handled frequently, and therefore, are more subject to wear and tear. This paint is sometimes used in walls of bathrooms and kitchens, but we usually find it to be a bit too shiny for more modern renovations. We sometimes specify this sheen of paint for a colourful ceiling, since it has a soft glow and helps to reflect some light around the room.
Best places to use pearl & satin: trim (baseboards, casing, crown moulding), interior side of windows, interior doors, feature ceilings.
Image of our Ritchie Rowhouse project, showing flat paint on walls and pearl on trim.
SEMI-GLOSS
(25-60% sheen)
Semi gloss is very durable and stands up well to repeated cleaning, but it also calls attention to any minor flaws. Semi gloss paint is typically reserved for moulding and trim, and usually in more ‘traditional’ type renovations, where the trim is more ornamented and detailed, and provides a nice contrast with the wall surface.
Best places to use semi gloss: trim (baseboards, casing, crown moulding), interior side of windows, interior doors.
Image via Domino showing semi-gloss paint on the detailed interior trim.
HIGH GLOSS
(85% sheen and higher)
High gloss is the easiest to clean of all paint sheens – it is hard, shiny, and reflective. Therefore, it needs a really clean substrate in order for it to look good, otherwise all imperfections in the walls and ceilings will be emphasized. Treating a whole room in high gloss paint can be extremely glamorous, but it will definitely add cost to the painting budget, since the room will need to be prepped properly for this type of treatment to look successful. We like to use high gloss paint to highlight details within a space – cabinets and millwork, furniture, accent walls or ceilings. Especially when used on a ceiling, it has the ability to transform a regular space into one that is more precious, like a jewelry box.
Best places to use high gloss: feature walls, feature ceilings, cabinet fronts and custom millwork, furniture
Image via My Domaine showing a glossy accented ceiling.
Image via Architectural Digest showing a kitchen with high gloss cabinetry.
A NOTE ON EXTERIOR SHEEN
This sheen guide so far has concentrated entirely on interior spaces, but exterior paint has a similar range of sheens, and our advice is relatively straightforward here: matte looks better. Even though the logic is that a shinier finish will stand up to weather and elements, shiny paint on the outside of a house tends to make it look like a cheap, plastic box. For siding, use the same rules as your interior walls: flat, matte, or eggshell. For exterior trim, use pearl, satin, or semi-gloss. Save high gloss for exterior features like planters, mailboxes, shutters, entry doors, and other special details.
