When it comes to house painting not only do you have to wrestle with the zillion different color options you also must select the paint sheen. Paint sheen refers to the "shine" or gloss quality of paint. Choosing a proper sheen is partly a matter of personal taste involves some practical considerations. Different sheens are appropriate for different areas of your home. They are also a consideration for problem areas.

The different paint sheens and gloss:

Flat paint.

A flat paint sheen has no shine to the dry finish at all. A flat paint finish has a chalky appearance. It is most commonly used on ceilings and walls. Its advantage is that it helps to hide the appearance of flaws in wall surfaces such as drywall tape lines, dips and bulges. Flat paint is not very washable and it tends to trap dirt. However, in low traffic areas like ceilings that isn't usually a problem. However, scrubbing flat paint tends to cause a slight sheen to develop which makes the clean area stand out from the surrounding area. Flat paint is the easiest to touch-up because there is no sheen to highlight the new paint.

Eggshell paint.

An eggshell paint sheen is one step up from flat paint and is the most popular selection for wall paint. It gets its name because its sheen is similar to an eggshell. It is slightly shiny but still fairly flat in its appearance. It is more washable than flat sheen and good a choice for family rooms and hallways.

Satin paint.

A satin paint sheen has a very soft shine to it. The sheen can be seen but it does not reflect glaring light. It is scrubable and an excellent choice for any room including kid's rooms and exterior walls.

Semi-gloss paint.

A semi-gloss paint sheen has a visible shine. It’s a very durable finish that is easy to clean. It is ideal for high traffic areas, doors and trim. The durability of the sheen makes it a good choice for moist areas like kitchens, baths and laundry rooms. As opposed to flat paint a semi-gloss sheen highlights flaws. It is the most common choice for painting exterior trim, doors and shutters.

Gloss paint.

A gloss paint sheen has a shinny finish that with a wet appearance. It is extremely durable and easy to clean. However, it does highlight flaws. It is most commonly used for interior trim and cabinets.

Before you decide which paint color you want, you must consider the finish paint sheen and gloss of the finish paint too. Your decision will be determined by where you intend to use the paint.

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