What Is a Paint’s Sheen?

The lower the PVC, the glossier the paint’s sheen will be.

Flat paint should never be used for high-traffic areas or on objects that see high use.

paint brush and can

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Additionally, flat paint can’t stand up to frequent cleaning or moisture exposure.

Tip

Many ceiling paints are flat.

This helps to hide imperfections on ceilings, which are notoriously difficult to finish smoothly.

Eggshell is a gold standard for interior wall paint, as it offers enough durability without too much gloss.

Eggshell’s mid-level sheen makes it a popular paint finish for home exteriors.

Different paint sheens can totally change how a given paint color looks inside your home.

So, when getting paint samples, consider getting different sheens to see which you like better.

Gloss paint is incredibly shiny and shouldn’t be used on interior walls.

However, flat and satin are still great options for interior wall paint.

Paint professionals use several different paint finishes, choosing the appropriate paint finish for the surface they’re painting.

For interior walls, flat, eggshell, and satin are popular choices, as they hide imperfections well.

For trim, doors, and cabinetry, semi-gloss and gloss are chosen due to their higher durability.

High-gloss paints are the toughest paint finish.