“For all people, home is the center of the world and a place of order that contrasts with the chaos elsewhere”-Dr. Frank T. McAndrew in “Home Is Where the Heart Is, but Where is “Home”?”
When you think of your home, it should be a place where you feel like it is your own. It should also bring up feelings of safety, comfort, and belonging. To help you understand how to make your home more special, this article will focus on paint finishes. We’ll go over what each paint finish does and how it can greatly change the look of your home. That is, if you’re trying to make your home a better place, then understanding paint finishes will be very important.
The Basics of Paint Finishes
Before going over the basics of paint finishes, let’s talk about the process of painting your home. You first clean and prime your walls. You choose the paint color that you want to use and then you paint your house. After you’re done painting, you then use paint finishes. Paint finishes are also called sheen.
While this is an oversimplified explanation of the painting process, keep in mind that you use paint finishes after you’ve already painted your home. Paint finishes add a polished look to your home. The sheen also helps the paint last-longer so that you don’t have to repaint often. For more information on the benefits of painting your home, read this.
The Different Types of Paint Finishes and Where You Can Use Them
Paint finishes come in different forms. We’re going to focus on 6 of the types of finishes that you can get.
High Gloss
If you’ve ever looked at some walls and though, “Oh that’s so glossy!,” then you’ve probably seen an example of high gloss paint finish. That’s because high gloss paint finishes have a mirror or glass-like feel to them. High gloss is typically used in areas that you want to call attention to. For example, trim, cabinets, and doors. If you’re trying to avoid calling attention to a specific area or if an area of your home has more blemishes, then you want to avoid using high gloss paint finishes in that area.
An important point to remember about high gloss paint finish is that it sometimes requires professional painting experience. That’s because high gloss is much more difficult to use since it’s so visible and attention-grabbing.
Semigloss
Semigloss paint finish is similar to high gloss in that it gives your walls or specific area a polished and refined look. Additionally, light tends to reflect more on semigloss paint. Because semigloss is more durable, it’s best used in places where there’s more moisture and dirt. This includes areas like your bathroom or kitchen. It’s also a great option for kids’ rooms.
Satin Paint
Satin paint has a lower sheen than the other two, but has a more glossy finish than eggshell, matte, and flat paint. We’ll talk about the other 3 types of paint finishes later in this article. Satin paint is great because it lasts a long time and is resistant to stains.
Satin paint is best used in areas where you want to create depth. For example, ceilings, doors, and windows.
Eggshell Paint
Eggshell paint has a lower sheen than other paints. It tends to reflect like with other finishes. Eggshell paint doesn’t last as long as the higher sheen paint finishes. According to Elle Decor, a leading home decor website, eggshell is often used in living rooms and dining rooms. Eggshell also tends to hide imperfections better than other finishes.
Matte Paint
Matte paint like flat paint (which we’ll talk about next) has less of a sheen than other finishes. However, unlike flat paint, it tends to last longer. Matte paint is easier to apply than other paints and often has a simple look. Matte paint is best used in areas where there are less people and less activity.
Flat Paint
Flat paint has the lowest sheen. Because of this, it is also the least durable of all the paints. Flat paint like matte paint is used in low traffic areas of your home.
You Have Many Options
As you can see, you have many different options when it comes to paint finishes.Understanding the nuances of each paint type and where it should be used is important. It’s also important to consider the effects that you want to create in a specific area and in your home in general.
At Wilson Paint and Floor Coverings, we can help you find the right paint finish. Our paint finishes also tend to last longer and are high quality finishes.
We would love to address any questions or concerns that you have. Contact us at 801-503-9679. Feel free to also here.
