Choosing the wrong sheen is one of the most common painting mistakes. Flat paint in a bathroom will peel in months. High-gloss in a living room looks like a gym floor. Here's the definitive guide.
Flat / Matte
Best for: ceilings, low-traffic adult bedrooms, formal dining rooms. Flat paint hides surface imperfections better than any other sheen because it doesn't reflect light. The downside: it's not washable. Touching up flat paint is almost invisible, making it a professional's choice for ceilings. Use Benjamin Moore Ceiling White or Regal Select Flat for ceilings.
Eggshell
Best for: living rooms, dining rooms, adult bedrooms, home offices. Eggshell has a very slight sheen — enough to be wipeable but low enough to hide imperfections. It's the workhorse sheen for most residential applications. Approximately 80% of the interior walls we paint get eggshell. Durable, attractive, and easy to touch up.
Satin
Best for: kitchens, bathrooms, kids' rooms, hallways, high-traffic areas. Satin is noticeably shiny and highly washable. It shows surface imperfections more than eggshell, so walls need better prep. The durability payoff is worth it in wet or high-traffic spaces. We use satin on all kitchen and bathroom walls as standard practice.
Semi-Gloss and Gloss
Best for: trim, doors, cabinets, windows, baseboards. Semi-gloss and gloss are reserved for surfaces that need maximum durability and the ability to be scrubbed clean. All trim in a house should be semi-gloss minimum. Cabinets get gloss or semi-gloss for durability. We rarely use full gloss on walls — it reads as harsh in most residential settings.
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