Picking a paint color takes weeks. Picking the sheen usually takes about ten seconds at the counter, which is a shame, because sheen changes how a wall looks and how long it stays looking good.
Sheen is simply how much light the dried paint reflects. Low sheens look soft and hide flaws. Higher sheens look crisp and wipe clean, but they show every bump and patch underneath.
The sheens from flattest to shiniest
Flat and matte
No shine at all, or very close to it. Flat paint is the best at hiding dents, patches and uneven drywall, which is why it's the standard for ceilings. The tradeoff is that it marks easily and doesn't scrub well. Many newer "washable matte" paints close that gap a lot.
Good for: ceilings, adult bedrooms, formal rooms that don't get touched much.
Eggshell
A low, soft glow, like the shell it's named after. Eggshell is the most popular wall finish in American homes because it balances the two things people care about: it hides small flaws and it handles a damp cloth.
Good for: living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, most bedrooms.
Satin
A bit more sheen and noticeably tougher. Satin stands up to regular cleaning, so it works in rooms where walls get touched, splashed or bumped. It does show roller marks and patches more than eggshell, so wall prep matters.
Good for: kitchens, kids' rooms, family rooms, laundry rooms.
Semi-gloss
Clearly shiny and very durable. Semi-gloss shrugs off moisture and scrubbing, which makes it the usual pick for trim, doors and cabinets. On whole walls it can look a little harsh unless the drywall is in excellent shape.
Good for: baseboards, door and window casings, doors, bathroom walls, cabinets.
High gloss
Almost a mirror finish. It's the hardest-wearing sheen and the least forgiving, since it shows every flaw. Used well, it makes a front door or a piece of furniture look sharp.
Good for: front doors, railings, furniture, accent trim.
Room-by-room cheat sheet
| Surface | Usual sheen |
|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat |
| Living and dining rooms | Eggshell |
| Bedrooms | Flat, matte or eggshell |
| Kids' rooms and playrooms | Satin |
| Kitchens | Satin |
| Bathrooms | Satin or semi-gloss |
| Trim, doors, cabinets | Semi-gloss |
| Front door | Semi-gloss or high gloss |
Sheen names aren't standard
One brand's eggshell can be another brand's satin. If you're matching existing paint, take a chip or a photo to the store and compare it to the sample cards in person. And if you switch brands partway through a room, the difference can show at a corner.
Tip: The shinier the paint, the better the wall prep needs to be. Before rolling satin or semi-gloss, fill holes, sand patches smooth and spot-prime them, or they'll show as dull spots in the finished wall.
How much will you need?
Sheen doesn't change coverage much, but the number of surfaces does. Measure the walls for your main finish and the trim separately. The paint calculator handles the walls and ceiling, and the baseboard calculator gives you the trim footage.