When you redecorate a room, you have a million decisions to make: the furniture pieces to include, the color scheme, and the décor, just to name a few. With thousands of options to pick from, the paint color alone can be enough to dampen your enthusiasm for the project. But there’s one choice that may be more confusing if you’re not prepared for it—the paint gloss. How do you know which is the right one for you? Is there only one right answer? Here are some questions that can help you decide on the sheen of your interior paint.
Is the Room Likely to Have Moisture?
In bathrooms and kitchens, splashes and spills happen. The gloss of a paint determines how resistant it is to staining and moisture. Flat paints are prone to staining and shouldn’t be used in rooms with moisture because paint that has a higher gloss will also have a smoother finish and be much easier to wipe clean.
How Often Will You Likely Need to Clean the Walls?
Some rooms of the house are messier than others. For example, chances are that your kid’s room needs to be cleaned more often than yours. As they grow and learn, they may scribble on the wall with markers or crayon, and these kinds of messes are much easier to remove on a semi-gloss or gloss finish than on a flat low-sheen finish. In fact, matte paints can actually stain, which is why a higher gloss paint may be the right choice for a kid’s bedroom, the kitchen, and other places where messes are likely to occur.
How Much Reflected Light Do You Want?
During certain times of the day, lighting can enter a room, and the gloss determines whether the light reflects off the wall. With a flat or matte finish, light is dissipated, but semi-gloss and gloss paints are highly reflective, which means that you could be dealing with glare off the walls. Particularly in bedrooms and living rooms, you might want to consider lower sheen paints.
Do You Want to See the Imperfections on the Walls?
You need to decide if you want the imperfections on the wall to be easily visible. There are pros and cons to hiding or highlighting them, and your decision impacts the sheen you’ll want in the paint. Aesthetically, the color of the paint may have an impact on the sheen you choose. For instance, neutrals can appear overly plain in a flat finish, so it may be best to go with a higher gloss, but bold colors can attract the wrong kind of attention and look gaudy in a high-sheen finish.
By answering these questions, you can find a gloss that best meets your needs. Fortunately, if you’re still unsure, you don’t have to make the decision alone. When you work with professionals, you can get their insight and advice so that you have the perfect sheen on your walls.
About Platinum Painting
Platinum Painting was established in 2008 in Keller, but we quickly expanded to service other North Texas areas, such as Allen. We are proud to provide free, in-home estimates with professionals who have more than 10 years of experience in the field. In addition to an accurate, customized quote, they can also advise you on color and gloss. If you would like to have your own free estimate, you can contact our team, and we’ll schedule it for you.