by Jeremy Campbell

Created on: January 04, 2009

Making the colors of a house flow, and combine with furniture, flooring, and drapes are very important aspects when getting ready to build you new home. However deciding what sheen could be as equally important to the look and life of your paint finish. All sheens have different uses and responses to wear, and this should be considered when purchasing your paint. Take as much time picking out you sheen as your colors, because this can effect your desired finished look.

I'll start with the flat finish. Flat paint can be a wonderful tool. It is great for that fixer up rent house that you have, or a quick fix to hide those imperfections in your way. Ceilings are generally painted in flat because of the great hiding power that is has. However, each sheen does have its flaws; and what we gain in hiding we lose in durability. Flats are not designed to be washable; so when water gets on the wall it leaves a dark ring after it dries. This increases the touch-ups and maintenance of the wall.

That does lead to our next positive about flat paint: its great touch-up ability. Because it dries without a sheen touching up with flat paint makes it less noticeable when you do have to go back over those nasty spills or water splashes. This makes it a favorite for painters for when they have to follow up after the house is completed to correct any accidents that may have happened after they're gone.

The next finish will cover a variety of names, but maintain relatively the same sheen and characteristics. Satin or eggshell are its more commonly called name but some companies have different names. I have seen and heard: low luster, low gloss, or low sheen. While some companies do have products called low sheen which is between a flat and a satin. For simplicity I will refer to it as satin for the rest of the article.

One positive about the satin is its wash ability; with increased shine, you increase durability. This makes it more of a favorite for homeowners. But as you do increase the shine you lose the benefits of the flat. Touching up is more of a problem in getting your shine exactly the same, and the increased shine shows more imperfections in your wall. For most homeowners the loss of touch-up and hide seem to be a small sacrifice for durability and wash ability.

Due to the fact that a flat has no shine and can absorb light, and not necessarily reflect it can make your colors appear darker. A satin finish can make your colors a little more vibrant and livelier.

The final sheen

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