Once you’ve painted you have the option of laying on a finish to enhance the colours you’ve chosen. Paint finish, or sheen, is a measure of how much light reflects off of a painted surface. So a finish can add shine, or no shine to your paint job depending on the finish you select. It’s aspects like this where you can get really creative with your painting by using different finishes to enhance and add dimension to your home. There are general guidelines to inform customers as to which paint finishes go well in which scenarios, but this is something you can experiment with, and get creative with!

Below we’ve listed some of the most common types of paint finish and their recommended uses.

Flat/Matte Finish

As the name implies, this finish produces a flat affect, with no shine whatsoever. The Flat/Matte finish is designed for interior painting, usually on wall surfaces and ceilings. The lack of sheen allows more of the paint pigment to come through and creates a uniform surface. This is a great paint finish to use in an area that receives a lot of dents and bumps, because the lack of sheen in the finish will not show these imperfections so clearly.

Flat finishes in the past were not washable, but nowadays they are. However, these low-sheen finishes are harder to clean! Be careful not to scrub so vigorously that you cause burnishing. Flat/Matte finishes aren’t very durable; it’s recommended that you use Flat/Matte finishes in low-traffic areas of your home for this reason.

Eggshell Finish

The Eggshell Finish is designed for interior painting and offers a low shine finish with a much higher durability than a Flat finish. If you imagine the sheen of light that reflects off of an eggshell, that’s the sheen of an Eggshell Finish. Since the Eggshell Finish is more durable, it’s a great alternative to a Flat finish in higher traffic areas of your home that will need more frequent cleaning.

Pearl Finish

A Pearl finish offers a medium gloss along with high durability. Pearl is a beautiful finish and it can bring a lot of dimension and life to a room when used appropriately. Pearl is also easy to clean, and for this reason it’s best suited for high-traffic areas where the walls are likely to be stained.

Be careful applying Pearl finish, because with this finish you’re more likely to see lap marks and other painting flaws. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s application tips, and paint carefully!

Satin Finish

A Satin finish offers a higher sheen than Eggshell, while having greater durability and stain resistance than Eggshell and other lower sheens. Satin brings a velvety feel to your paint - it’s great for spaces that can use definition. You can use a Satin finish to bring life and accentuate your windows, shutters, trim and interior doors.

Semi-Gloss Finish

The Semi-Gloss finish brings a soft luminescence to the room and is ideal for bringing life and dimension to cabinets, trim and doors. Usually a Semi-Gloss finish is used in a kitchen or bathroom. While this finish brings a subtle shine to a room, it can also highlight bumps, dents and other imperfections.

Glossy Finish

As the name implies, a Glossy finish offers the highest sheen - as well as the highest durability. A Glossy finish can be so reflective it can be mirror-like. Glossy finishes are most often used on trim, cabinets and furniture. This finish is extremely durable and easy to clean, but it also really highlights imperfections, so be sure to properly sand the painting surface to an even level before applying a Glossy finish.