Selecting the right paint finish can significantly impact the overall look and feel of a room. With plenty of options available, understanding the characteristics of each paint finish is vital in achieving your desired aesthetic.
In the following post, we’ll help clarify paint finishes and guide you toward choosing the perfect formulation for your home.
What are the most common paint finishes?
1. Flat/Matt Finish: A Flat/Matt paint finish offers a non-reflective, velvety appearance, hiding imperfections well. Thick and creamy, our matt emulsion goes on easily and covers beautifully.
Matt emulsions can be found as part of our Walls & Ceilings range, our easyclean range, our CRAFTED range, and our Elle Decoration range.
2. Eggshell Finish: Eggshell finish paint falls between matte and satin finishes, providing a soft, subtle sheen. It’s durable, washable, and great for interior walls where you want a slight gloss without the shine of higher gloss paints.
Eggshell finishes can be found as part of our Wood & Metal paints.
3. Satin Finish: Satin finish paints offer a smooth, velvety sheen that is more reflective than eggshell but less glossy than a semi-gloss. They provide durability and washability, making them suitable for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work, offering a subtle shine with easy maintenance.
Satin finishes can be found as part of our Wood & Metal paint range.
4. Silk emulsion: Silk emulsion finish gives your walls a wipeable finish with a slight shine. Thick and creamy, this formula goes on easily and covers beautifully. These paints are well-suited for interior walls and ceilings, providing a touch of elegance while being easy to clean, ideal for spaces where a touch of sheen is desired without overwhelming glossiness.
Silk Emulsion finishes are found within our Walls & Ceilings range. This range uses carefully selected Vegan Verified ingredients along with our unique breatheasy® 99% solvent free formulation to offer you the confidence to decorate your home safely. Limiting exposure to airborne triggers of asthma and allergy, it helps create a healthier space for your whole family.
Mid-sheen emulsion: Mid-sheen emulsion finish paint sits between matte and silk finishes, providing a subtle sheen without being too glossy. It offers a balance of durability and washability, suitable for areas that require easy maintenance with a touch of light reflectivity. Our easyclean Bathroom Mid Sheen Emulsion with MOULDGUARD+ technology is Crown’s most advanced washable, wipeable and durable multi surface interior bathroom paint.
5. Gloss/High-Gloss Finish: Gloss paint finishes are highly reflective, offering a shiny, smooth surface that’s easy to clean and maintain. They provide exceptional durability and are commonly used on surfaces like woodwork, trim, and doors due to their resistance to wear and tear. Their high gloss level creates a striking, bright appearance but can sometimes accentuate imperfections on surfaces, so this should be considered.
Gloss finishes are found as part of our Wood & Metal paint range.
Factors to consider when deciding on your paint finish
Room function and traffic: Consider the purpose of the room and its foot traffic. High-traffic areas benefit from more durable and washable finishes, while low-traffic areas allow for more flexibility in choosing finishes.
Surface imperfections: Rooms with less-than-perfect walls might benefit from matt finishes, as they tend to conceal flaws better, whereas glossier finishes may accentuate imperfections.
Lighting conditions: Natural and artificial lighting can affect how paint finishes appear. Higher sheen finishes reflect more light, making spaces appear brighter, while matt finishes absorb light, creating a softer ambiance.
Design preferences: Your personal style and design vision also play a significant role. Some prefer the sleekness of high-gloss finishes for a modern look, while others favor the subtlety of matte finishes for a more relaxed ambiance.
Your paint finish will have a big impact on the way your space appears. Choosing the right paint finish for you involves a thoughtful analysis of the room’s function, lighting, design preferences, and surface conditions. Different finishes offer unique looks and durability levels. The above guide helps you confidently choose a finish that suits your space, style, and practicality, enhancing your walls aesthetically. For more design tips, visit our blog or call into your local Crown Paints stockist.
