Most people spend hours on colour and seconds on finish. Yet finish decides how a wall looks in strong light and how it wears over the years.
- Flat hides flaws but scuffs easily
- Eggshell and satin suit most walls
- Semi-gloss suits trim, doors and cabinets
- Shinier paint shows more flaws
- Choose by room, not for the whole house
Flat or matte
Flat paint has no shine, so it hides small flaws in the wall and gives a soft, even look. It’s a common choice for ceilings and for low-traffic rooms. The downside is that it marks easily and is harder to wipe clean.
Eggshell and satin
Eggshell has a faint sheen, and satin has a little more. Both wipe clean far better than flat and are the usual choice for living areas, hallways, kids’ rooms and kitchens. Satin is slightly tougher and slightly shinier, so it shows more roller marks and wall flaws.
Semi-gloss and gloss
Semi-gloss is hard-wearing and easy to clean, which is why it’s the usual choice for trim, baseboards, doors and cabinets. Full gloss is rarer in homes. Shiny finishes reflect light and make every dent and brush mark more visible, so prep matters most here.
How light and prep change the choice
Big windows and low-angle winter light show every flaw in a shiny wall. If your walls have imperfections or you can’t repair them, a flatter finish will look better. Good repair work lets you choose a more durable sheen. See our guide to drywall repair before painting.
A simple room-by-room guide
Ceilings: flat. Bedrooms and living rooms: flat or eggshell. Kitchens, bathrooms, halls and kids’ rooms: eggshell or satin. Trim, doors and cabinets: semi-gloss, with cabinets in a paint made for them. For more on choosing colours to go with them, read how to choose paint colours.
Quick questions
Can I use the same finish on walls and trim?
You can, but trim usually looks better and wears better in a shinier finish than the walls, since it’s touched and cleaned more.
Is satin too shiny for walls?
It can be, in rooms with strong light and imperfect walls. Eggshell is a safer middle ground for living areas.
Not sure which finish to pick? Ask us when we visit, and we’ll suggest one for each room.
