Paint guide

Paint Sheen Guide: Which Finish Goes Where

Sheen is a trade-off. The shinier the paint, the easier it is to wipe clean, and the more it shows every dent and patch in the wall.

The sheens, from flattest to shiniest

Names and shine levels aren't standardized between brands. One maker's eggshell can look like another's satin, so compare actual samples.

Room by room

• Ceilings: flat. It hides roller marks and doesn't bounce light into your eyes.
• Living and dining rooms: eggshell for a soft look that still wipes clean.
• Bedrooms: eggshell, or flat in adult bedrooms with little wear.
• Hallways and stairwells: satin. Hands, bags, and furniture rub these walls.
• Kids' rooms and playrooms: satin, for scrubbing off crayon and fingerprints.
• Bathrooms and kitchens: satin or semi-gloss, which handle moisture and cleaning better. Many brands make a bath-specific paint with mildew resistance.
• Trim, doors, and baseboards: semi-gloss. They take the most knocks and scuffs.
• Cabinets: semi-gloss or gloss in a paint made for cabinets.

Tips from the trade

• Shine magnifies prep. If the walls have patches or uneven texture, go one step flatter or plan more prep time.
• Touch-ups show more on shinier paint. Flat paint usually touches up invisibly; satin and up often need a full wall repaint to blend.
• Matching sheen matters when repainting. Going from glossy to flat over old paint usually works. Going from flat to glossy can highlight flaws the old paint hid.
• Write the sheen on the estimate. It's one of the most common sources of "this isn't what I expected." List it room by room.

Does sheen change how much paint you need?

Coverage depends more on the product and the surface than the sheen. Check the coverage on the can, and use the paint quantity guide to figure gallons.