Paint sheen is the glossiness or shine of the paint. The finish is harder and less permeable A high sheen paint such as gloss reflects light directly back much like a mirror or lens while a low sheen like flat defuses or scatters reflective light to create a much more ambient light. Common paint sheens from dull to shiny are: Matte, eggshell, satin, silk, semi-gloss, gloss and high-gloss. Rule of Thumb the higher the sheen like gloss the brighter harder more durable easier to clean it is. the lower the sheen like flat the duller, more textured, harder to clean it is. Flat and Matte hide surface defects while semi-gloss and gloss show surface defects.
Professorial tip! When in doubt pick satin because it has a nice smooth finish is easy to clean and minimizes surface imperfections while casting a bright diffused reflection.
Brush with Color is located in Southern New Hampshire’s Seacoast call us to schedule a free no-pressure paint consultation at (603) 770-5072.