For many people, the winter months are when they start considering how they are going to redecorate and renovate their homes, and the best place to start is to consult local painters and decorators to see what options are available.
Repainting the walls is a big commitment with a lot of choices to make, but the biggest difference comes not necessarily from the colour but from the type of finish itself.
There are a lot of different paints, but the main two are matte and gloss paints, both of which have very different properties and purposes within the home.
The Four Types Of Paint Finish
Whilst there are a lot of different paints, they can usually be measured on a spectrum between gloss and matte finishes. There are four particular types that are used more than any other, however:
- Gloss paint – Bright, shiny and polished.
- Satin paint – A mixture of matte and gloss that provides a mild sheen but a versatile, durable finish.
- Eggshell paint – Less durable than satin, but is far more effective for masking irregularities in walls and ceilings.
- Matte paint – Completely non-reflective, low maintenance and uniform.
Not every manufacturer offers every type of finish in every colour, so this can affect your choice if your heart is set on a particular shade.
Which Factors Will Affect Your Paint Finish The Most?
Whilst there are a lot of different elements that will often affect the ambience and finish of a given paint, there are three particular aspects that we focus on, as they can determine which finish will work best.
Here are the three choices and how they can affect your choice of paint.
Reflectivity
The more glossy the paint is, the more light it will reflect, but this affects more than the overall sheen. Reflective surfaces cause the colours to look deeper and create a much greater visual impact. This often makes them best suited for distinctive features such as doors, railings and bannisters.
By contrast, matte paints inherently produce more muted colours, which can create a subtler, sophisticated finish.
Surface Condition
Reflecting light can be a double-edged sword, as it makes details on the wall more noticeable. This is fine if you have a particularly smooth wall or a textured wallpaper, but it can also highlight imperfections, textures and scrapes.
Matte paints typically make these details far less noticeable, which can create a more consistent and even finish.
Washability
Gloss paints tend to be harder and hard-wearing, making them far easier to clean, as they can be easily washed. By contrast, matte paints tend to come off when washed or scrubbed, so they need to be carefully maintained.
Which Finish Should Be Used Where?
The general rule is that gloss paints should be used where a hard-wearing or distinctive finish is necessary, whilst a matte finish should be used to avoid glare and to mask imperfections in the wall or wallpaper.
Doors, skirting boards and cabinets typically need a gloss finish because they will receive a lot of scrapes and bumps from being regularly used, whilst ceilings will almost never be touched and should have as little glare as possible.
Walls tend to be somewhere in the middle, which makes a satin or semi-gloss finish ideal.