The sheen or the gloss
level of the paint you choose for your room décor has
quite an impact on the look of your room. It can be
determined according to the function of the room and
the aesthetic sense. Let's discuss the type of seens
available in the market, though their names and gloss
level can vary with the manufacturer:
Paints with flat or matte finish have no
shine and thus hide little imperfections in the wall. However,
they are not so stain-resistant though today paints with matte
finish and high stain resistance also available in the
markets.
Eggshell paints or velvet-finish paints have
very slight sheen or gloss level, are soft and impart a warm
look to the room and are easier to clean too. They are
preferable for most bedroom and living room décor themes.
Paints with satin or semi-gloss finish can be
used to highlight architectural details and focal points of
the home and also in kitchens and baths as they are easy to
clean.
Very high gloss or sheen paint are quite
reflective and should be normally reserved for doors and trims
and to create special effects.
Here are some tips on how to choose the optimum
sheen level of your paint:
Higher gloss or sheen level generally means
easy cleaning of the room or area.
These paints are suitable for amateurs as
they distract the viewer from any painting imperfections.
Rooms and areas that need to be washed and
cleaned often such as bathrooms and kitchens and where people
visit most can use high gloss paints.
High gloss paints also have most stain
resistant finish and are toughest when it comes to wear and
tear.
You can use high sheen paints to highlight
the focal point or a bold color scheme of the room such as
kids' room or fantasy room décor.
For kids, one can use bright high sheen
primary colors to make different patterns that look
interesting such as polka dots.
Flat paints or paints with low sheen or gloss
level are for professionals as they make the surface appear
smoother and more uniform and are non-reflective in nature.
Flat paints are generally used in newly
constructed homes or in areas that are not so frequently used
in the homes.
For a vintage home décor, flat paints can be
used to paint a wall near the fireplace to highlight it while
warm earthly hues look quite beautiful on pillars or columns
in old homes.
For an interesting dramatic effect, one can
also use combination of different paint sheens.
One can consider a monochromatic room décor
in two different sheens for an interesting customized effect
such as in stripes, blocks or other geometrical patterns.
