How to Choose the Right Paint Finish for Every Room in Your Home
Once you’ve chosen the right color, selecting the right finish is just as important to the success of the project. Whether in a sunlit living room, humid bathroom, or cozy finished basement, the right paint sheen adds polish to statement projects like cabinets, ceilings, and accent walls, ensuring that all your hard work looks its best.
We asked the color experts at BEHR for their advice on how to choose the best paint finish for your home.
What are the different paint finishes to choose from?
- Flat: A non-reflective finish that minimizes flaws and makes walls look uniform. Flat is best for ceilings.
- Matte: A low-luster, reflective finish that’s durable, easy to clean, and great at hiding minor surface imperfections. Matte is best for painting family rooms, living rooms, kids’ rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, and ceilings.
- Eggshell: A soft, velvety finish that resists dirt, grime, and mildew. Eggshell enamel is best for painting family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids’ rooms, hallways, and dining rooms.
- Satin: A pearl-like finish that’s easy to clean. Satin enamel is best for painting family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids’ rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, and interior furniture.
- Semi-Gloss: A sleek and radiant finish that resists mildew, moisture, and wear. Semi-gloss enamel is best for painting kids’ rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, and shutters.
- Hi-Gloss: A shiny, glass-like finish that’s durable and easy to clean. High-gloss enamel is best for painting kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, and interior furniture.
Why does choosing a paint finish matter?
Color gets all the glory, but paint finish plays an equally important role in how a room feels. “Paint finish influences how light interacts with a surface, how much texture is revealed, and how a color is experienced,” says Kayla Kratz, BEHR Head of Color & Design Strategy. “The same color can feel soft and understated in a matte finish or more vibrant and reflective in a higher sheen.”
Finish also has a big impact on durability and maintenance. In hard-working rooms like kitchens and bathrooms — which experience heavy use, moisture, and frequent cleaning — you need a finish that can withstand wear. In quieter areas of the home, Kayla says, lower-sheen finishes can help create a softer, more relaxed look.
Should I choose the same paint finish for every part of a room, or should it vary by surface?
It’s best to vary paint finishes between the walls and details, like trim and doors. Kayla recommends using a lower sheen on walls to create a soft, welcoming backdrop. And she recommends using a slightly higher sheen on trim and doors to highlight architectural details and lend durability to high-touch spots. “Using multiple finishes creates subtle dimension while allowing each surface to function in the way it’s intended,” she says.
“Remember that sheen affects how light interacts with a surface. Higher sheens reflect more light and draw attention to architectural details. Lower sheens diffuse light and soften visual texture. The right sheen supports both the look you want and the way you use the space.”
Kayla Kratz, BEHR Head of Color & Design Strategy
What are the rules for selecting paint finishes?
In general, move from lower sheens in low-traffic spaces to higher sheens in areas that experience more moisture, activity, or frequent cleaning. Bedrooms and living spaces often benefit from softer (aka non-glossy) finishes, Kayla says, while kitchens, bathrooms, trim, and doors perform best with finishes that offer added durability.
Which paint colors go with which paint finishes?
Zoom out and think about the mood you want to create and how the room will be used. “The most considered spaces balance color, finish, light, and function together,” Kayla says. “A finish should support the character of the color rather than compete with it.” The lower sheen of matte or eggshell finishes helps deep, saturated colors feel especially rich, allowing the color’s depth and complexity to come through. Lighter colors can be combined with a range of finishes. It all depends on the space and how much durability is needed.
Of course, design rules are also made to be broken: If you have a perfectly smooth ceiling, opting for a high-sheen finish can be an unexpected and brilliant design element, instantly drawing the eye upward and adding an element of surprise to the room.