Whether you’re working on your own project or plan to hire a designer, there are a few things you need to know about paint. We recently sat down with Paul Lamborn of Tech Painting Co during episode 3 of our Take Back Your Home Podcast to find out exactly what you need to know about all things paint.

The most important thing to note about paint is that sheen matters! Let’s break down all of the options you might see at the store or hear about from us as designers. All information comes from this article.

High Gloss

The most durable and easy to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough.

High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls. And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and roll, so don’t skimp on prep work.

• Practical application: kitchens, door, and window trim
• Durability: very high

Semi-Gloss

Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of abuse.

• Practical application: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, chair rails
• Durability: high

Satin

Has a yummy luster, which, despite the name, is often described as velvety. It’s easy to clean, making it excellent for high-traffic areas. Its biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky.

• Practical application: family rooms, foyers, hallways, kids’ bedrooms
• Durability: high

Eggshell

Between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale is eggshell, named because of its essentially flat (no-shine) finish with little luster, like a chicken’s egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don’t get a lot of bumps and scuffs.

• Practical application: dining rooms, living rooms
• Durability: medium

Flat or Matte

A friend to walls that have something to hide, flat/matte soaks up, rather than reflects, light. It has the most pigment and will provide the most coverage, which translates to time and money savings. However, it’s tough to clean without taking paint off with the grime.

• • Practical application: adults’ bedrooms and other interior rooms that won’t be roughed up by kids
  • Durability: medium-low

Who knew that paint wasn’t just paint?? Paul goes over some really important in this episode that will help you plan for your next paint project whether you’re handling it yourself or not. Painting a room can be a relatively easy way to completely change a space, but having all of the information will help you make an informed decision.

DIY or not, we love to see people fall in love with their homes again and painting is just one way to achieve your goals. We love to see the transformations! Hiring Lee Waters Design to figure out paint colors is a great idea, but signing up for our Take Back Your Home Course is also a satisfying choice for those who want a more hands on approach. Be sure to click through to listen to the entire conversation about paint. You’ll be glad you did!