If you are considering how you want to repaint that one room of yours, you’ve probably found yourself wandering through the paint section of a home improvement store, trying to picture that perfect room in your head. While you look at swatches, however, there might be an important factor you aren’t even considering: what kind of finish do you want?
The main types of finish are high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat (matte), ordered from highest to lowest sheen. While it might not seem all that important, the type of finish you choose can make all the difference when it comes to how your room will look. This article is designed to help you understand important factors when deciding on a finish.
When Choosing a Paint Finish, it’s Important to Consider:
- What kind of atmosphere you want in your room – In general, paints with a lower sheen will cause the walls to appear a deeper color. High sheen finishes, on the other hand, will reflect light and brighten up the room. This makes it important to consider how much light your room will be getting, and whether you want to reflect it or absorb it. It’s also important to note that darker colors will usually appear shinier than brighter ones, and so when using a particularly deep color, you should go down one level of sheen than you were initially planning.
- The type of surface you will be painting on – If your walls are particularly vibrant or rough, it will be a good idea to use a paint with a flatter finish to cover up the imperfections. High-gloss paints require a perfectly smooth surface to look their best, so if you are absolutely set on using a paint with a high-gloss finish, you will need to do a lot of prep work to sand and prime your walls before you actually paint them.
- How dirty you expect your walls to get – Different finishes can make walls easier or harder to clean. Matte finishes are the most difficult to clean, as scrubbing can chip the paint, while high-gloss paints have a smoother finish, and can be scrubbed easily.
Overall, the type of finish that you choose should be a matter of preference. These factors are merely guidelines to help you choose the type of finish that is perfect for your new room. For more information about painting your home, contact the Ft Myers painting professionals from Noel Painting today!
