What kind of finish??

Years ago, I bought my current and first house. It's one of the best feelings I've had, to own your own home. I wanted to decorate, furnish, and paint everything. Well… I’m still working on it (Life happens). But painting your home for the very first time is one of the most exciting moments. I remember waking up with the idea of what color I wanted. Headed to the store, ordered the paint and the guy proceeded to ask me, What finish? And boom!!! It hit me, I didn’t know which one to pick. Long story short, I ended up doing some research and learned one or two things.

Stores carry finishes such as high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, flat/matte.

Believe it or not, picking the right finish is going to influence how your walls look. So, let’s dive in and share what I learned from it…

High Gloss

· High level of shine

· Shows imperfections

· Durable and stain resistant

· High traffic areas

· Best to use in doors or trims.

· Easy to clean

Personal Opinion: Even if some people use it for kitchen and bathrooms, I personally don’t. This is my least favorite finish so I try to avoid it at all cost unless it’s a special case (architectural feature).

Semi-gloss

· Less shiny than high gloss

· High traffic areas

· Shows imperfections

· Good for trims, cabinets, and doors.

· Stain resistant

· Easy to clean

PO: I like this finish only for trims, doors, and cabinets.

Satin

· Moderate to high traffic areas

· Not as shiny as semi-gloss

· Protects walls from mold and moisture

· Good for kitchen, bathrooms, kid’s bedrooms, trims, and doors

· Easy to clean

PO: Definitely, my favorite for kitchen and bathrooms. It’s either Satin or Eggshell because both protect walls from moisture and mold.

Eggshell

· Moderate traffic areas

· Low sheen and still haves rich color

· Protects walls from moisture and mold

· Still can be washable

· Best for living rooms, hallways, bedrooms…

PO: In my opinion, I can paint any room with this finish. Especially, my kids’ bedroom.

Flat/ Matte

· Low traffic area

· Hides small imperfections

· Difficult to clean (You will need to repaint or touch up)

· Best for a ceiling, adult rooms…

· Considered an accent wall favorite

PO. Best to hide imperfections and having a home with walls with texture. It’s definitely in my top three. But I would use it in a low traffic area like a master bedroom or guest bedroom. Gorgeous finish for black mattes.