Flat? Satin? High-gloss? What are the differences in paint finishes? And which should you choose?

Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean
·1 min read

So, you've decided on a new color for your walls, but what about the finish?

Matte? Glossy? Satin? Flat?

How do they differ? And how can they impact the final look of your painting project?

Sheen, or paint finish, is a measure of how much light reflects off a painted surface, resulting in gloss or a lack thereof, said Mike Mundwiller, senior manager at Benjamin Moore.

Finishes range on a scale from no shine to high shine, and the most common ones include: flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss and high - gloss. The different levels of sheen can affect how colors appear and add dimension to rooms.

For example, a matte finish can appear soft while having no reflectance and being forgiving to wall imperfections while a higher gloss finish on the wall will be more dramatic and reflect more light.

What paint finish should you use?

  • Flat finishes on ceilings

  • Eggshell finishes on walls

  • Satin and semi-gloss on trim

These options are traditional, but paint finish revolves mainly around aesthetics.

High gloss and matte finishes can be used almost anywhere you want to create a unique, special atmosphere and highlight architectural details, Mundwiller said.

So have fun, and be creative. Don't be afraid to take a few risks with those paint finishes.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What are the differences between paint finishes? What paint finish to use?