• Home >
  • Blog >
  • A Crash Course In Interior Paint Finishes
A Crash Course In Interior Paint Finishes

Choosing paint colors is not always a walk in the park. You line up your swatches or try out your tiny jars of sample wall paint, fingers crossed that you make the perfect decision. So, by the time you step up to the counter at your local Central, Connecticut hardware store or paint purveyor, selecting the best interior paint finish for your project may be one decision too many.

Do you want Satin? Eggshell? Glossy? At the end of the day you just want a freshly painted room that takes your breath away, so allow us to simplify things for you. The first thing you need to understand is that wall paint finishes exist on a scale of glossiness from no gloss flat paint to shiny, glossy paint on the other end. As you add gloss, not only do you add reflective shine, but the durability of the paint increases too.

Here are your 5 basic interior paint finishes, and a few guidelines to help you select the right one for your paint job.

Flat

With nearly no reflective glass (1-9% gloss) flat paint does an excellent job at allowing the pigment of your paint colors to stand out vibrantly. This is a decent choice for bedrooms, ceilings and low traffic areas, but if you see yourself doing even occasional wiping of handprints or smudges, you might want to take it up a notch in the gloss department.

Eggshell

Next up on the gloss scale is Eggshell (10-25% gloss). True to it’s name, it offers a subtle, silky shine much like the crisp white leftovers from your morning omelette. It keeps things low on the shine side but offers superior protection to flat interior paint and can also mask and hide any imperfections in your wall or painting surface, making it a perfect finish for your dining room or master bedroom.

Satin

Offering moderate shine (26-40% gloss) and durable protection, Satin finish is a popular choice for all around wall painting. It is a great choice for children’s spaces, living rooms and hallways. You name it and satin can go there while still offering a pearl-like shine that is not overly reflective.

Semi-Gloss & Gloss

Topping out our gloss scale is semi-gloss and high gloss paint finishes (with 40-89% gloss). These two paint finishes are durable and protective, making them ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, trim work and other surfaces that see their share of wear and tear. They do tend to highlight imperfections in your surfaces, so take your time with surface prep to ensure a paint job you’ll love to live with.

Now that you have a basic education on interior paint finishes, you can go forth confidently and order paint without second guessing yourself. On the other hand, if you would like to pass on painting all together, give us a call. Our painters will show up ready to help you every step of the way, from choosing paint colors and finishes to final touches and job site clean up. So relax, grab some ice tea and enjoy your Hartford, Connecticut summer while we tick off your to-do list for you.

Customers We've Served

Kent School Gunnery School Taco Bell Chipotle Starbucks Panera Bread TD Bank Seasons Corner Market Cornerstone Design Build Services Boss Contractors