Paint Finishes: Which one should I use? | Decorating Centre Online

Which paint finish should I use?

So, you’ve decided to redecorate your home! You know which colours you want, you’ve bought new furniture and you’ve also decided where to arrange it all. Now all you must do is decorate the walls!

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You already know which primer to use from our previous BLOG POST outlining the uses of three different types of primers, but you’re now unsure on which paint finish you must use in conjunction with the primer you have chosen.

Which paint finish should you use for a living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, bathroom, or even utility room?

If these are just a few of the questions you are asking yourself before you purchase your paint, then hopefully the handy little guide on paint finishes will help you out!

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What are the different types of paint finishes and what’s the difference between them?

There are typically 5 different types of paint finishes available to purchase, these are matt, soft sheen, hard wearing matt, acrylic eggshell and finally silk.

Below is a list of these different types of paint finishes with some detail on what they can be used for:

1. Matt Finish

Also known as a ‘flat’ finish, this type of paint is smooth and velvety. It does not have a high shine, or gloss and therefore does not reflect any light shining.

This means that matt paint finishes look the most similar out of all the paint finishes in a wide variety of lights and conditions as they do not change colour depending on the amount of light or the time of day. However, this is very much dependent on the brand of matt paint which you choose.

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2. Soft Sheen Finish

Soft Sheen is a finish which is very much described in its name as it has a ‘mid-sheen’ look. It has a subtle sheen to it which is certainly not as flat-looking as matt paints.

It is also a washable finish- although it is certainly not scrubbable- so is the perfect type of paint finish for areas of the house which often sees a moderate amount of traffic.

However, it is a finish which will show some imperfections through, which means that you must ensure that your wall- or other surface which you intend to paint- is as smooth and imperfection-free as you can make it before painting it with a soft sheen finish.

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3. Hardwearing Matt Finish

Again, much like the soft sheen above, this type of paint finish very much says what it does in its name. It is a matt paint with an extremely durable as well as hard wearing finish.

It is both washable and scrubbable as well as being both stain and moisture resistant too.

This means that this type of paint finish is ideal for high traffic areas which will result in marks or scuffs to the walls, and therefore will require regular cleaning to keep your walls looking fresh and new.

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4. Acrylic Eggshell Finish

Unlike the above paint finishes, this one does not explicitly suggest what its properties are, however it is one of the best paints out there if you need a finish which is durable and very hard wearing.

The acrylic eggshell finish has a subtle sheen- much like the soft sheen finish detailed above- however it is slightly glossier then the soft sheen finish.

This type of paint finish words wonderfully if you need to scrub your paint, or if you need it to withstand knocks, scrapes, or high traffic areas. This is because acrylic eggshell paint finishes have a low sheen, but a very high level of resistance.

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5. Silk Finish

The silk finish paint glows slightly and its less porous than the matt paint detailed above. It has a sheen; however, it is less of a sheen than other types of paint finishes.

However, this paint finish is quite often difficult to create a ‘perfect’ finish with this paint as it can often show any imperfections hidden underneath the paint.

This means that it is recommended that you get rid of any imperfections on the wall- or any other surface you intend to paint- much like the soft sheen finish in order to get the best results out of this paint finish.

Additionally, it is also recommended that this paint finish should not be ‘touched up’ with patches of paint because, as a result of the sheen, it can often show the patches as well as any small brush marks that will be made too.

Room	Paint Finish
Bathroom	Acrylic Eggshell
Bedroom	Hard wearing Matt Matt Soft Sheen Silk
Kitchen	Acrylic Eggshell Hard wearing Matt
Hallway	Hard wearing Matt Soft Sheen Acrylic Eggshell
Dining Room	Hard wearing Matt Matt Soft Sheen Silk
Living Room	Hard wearing Matt Matt Soft Sheen Silk