There are many different types of paint finishes and it can be confusing as to what paint is needed for a quality job. Below is some information to help you make sense of it all.
Matte Finish
“Matte” finish is often used synonymously with “flat”. This is generally the most desired finish for interior walls as a pure matte finish doesn’t reflect any light and the colour appears to have greater depth.
A matte finish has less shine than a satin paint.
Matte paints are semi-washable, so they should be used in rooms where little shine and some wash ability is desired.
A matte finish is also not recommended in high moisture areas like bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.
Satin Finish
Paint with a satin finish has just enough shine to softly reflect light in a room. It gives the walls a soft glow.
However, the light will detect any flaws in the wall, so dents and cracks should be fixed beforehand.
A satin finish is fairly washable and durable so it may be used in rooms with a higher amount of traffic.
Semi-Gloss Finish
For high-traffic areas, as well as high-moisture areas, a semi-gloss is a fine finish.
The kitchen and bathroom are examples of both.
A semi-gloss finish offers high washability and an extremely scuff resistant finish and as the sheen level is higher it is also more light reflective than a regular low sheen paint which can be of benefit in a dark area.
Gloss Finish
A gloss, or high-gloss, finish is both the shiniest and the most durable paint finish of all.
It works well for painting trims and architraves because of its extreme durability.
A high gloss finish can be quite effective in an interior as the same colour can be used on the walls as on the trim but will appear different due to the greater variance in sheen level.
Eggshell Finish
Again, it depends on the company, but an eggshell finish is either going to have the same amount of shine as a matte or a satin finish.
An eggshell finish has a low amount of shine and reflectivity.
An eggshell finish is often used for decorative finishes because it provides a low luster.
It cleans up better than a flat finish, but probably not as well as you would want in a kitchen or bathroom.
The more shine the finish has, the more durable the paint is going to be.
