When it comes to sheen, most people imagine they would love shiny shades in their home. However, it can be overdone if the whole house is shiny. Here are tips to choosing the right sheen for different parts and areas of a home.
Top
For the top part of any room like the ceiling, the best sheen to choose would be a flat and matte sheen. Having a shiny roof can be distracting and if there are flaws to the construction of the ceiling, it will be more noticeable if you have a high gloss sheen. The matte colours are always best no matter what the texture of your ceiling is.
Middle
For the middle part of an area – the walls – the best sheen to choose would be mostly flat or eggshell matte. Bedroom wall paint should definitely have a lower sheen and mostly matte for a calmer mood conducive to sleeping. Satin can also be good for some walls or for walls that you want to wipe clean easily like the kitchen walls. Bathroom walls should also be either satiny or eggshell sheen for easier cleaning. If you’ve got a brick wall that you want to paint in the interior, an eggshell sheen is best. The higher the sheen, the more light reflective the paint will be. Higher sheens are great for walls of rooms where a lot of activity happens like playrooms and living rooms. Satiny sheens are great for outdoor painting as well. If you want areas to reflect more light, then choose a high-gloss paint. Flat is fine for low traffic areas.
For the trims on the floors, ceilings, or walls, it’s best to get semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Satiny sheen is fine as well. Those sheens can offset the look of matte ceilings and make those areas more attractive. To keep the sheen, make sure the trim is well dusted or cleaned often with a slightly damp cloth to prevent those areas from collecting dust.
The trim is often forgotten when cleaning the floors and walls. Doors and solid windows should be a satiny to offset the less shiny walls. If you’re choosing to paint your furniture as well, it would be best if they’re a glossy or satin sheen to get more attention than the walls.
In General
A good rule of thumb to follow is if there is anything damaged or textured that you want to be less noticeable, paint it eggshell or a very matte sheen. Also, a sheen that is best for cleaning is eggshell. When in doubt and not sure about which sheen to use, use eggshell. It looks good in any room.
Your Choice
Keep in mind, this is just what the norm is in the painting business. There are no set rules when it comes to sheen – just those basic guidelines. You don’t have to follow them. You can be as creative as you like with the sheen of your home from top to bottom. If you think you’ve made a mistake with a sheen, you can always repaint it with another sheen until you’re happy with it.
Our Brisbane commercial painting tradesmen will be able to help you further. Give GB Painters a call today.
