Are you gearing up for your next home painting project in Rockford IL? One of the biggest decisions you need to make before the paint is applied is color. You understandably need the color to be perfect, but you should not overlook the important issue of paint finish. The reality is that paint finish can impact the look of the room after the paint has dried. It also may affect durability, ease of cleaning and several other important factors. With six paint finishes available to choose from, how can you know which one you want your painting contractor to use? A deep look at the options will help you to make this important decision.

Flat Paint

Flat paint has essentially no sheen once the paint has dried. The dull finish has a tendency to absorb light in the room rather than reflect it. Because of this quality, imperfections on the painted surfaces are less obvious. Furthermore, flat paint has excellent coverage and is easier to apply as a result. However, there are a few downsides to flat paint. For example, of all of the paint finishes available, it is the least durable and the most difficult to clean.

Matte Paint

Because matte paint only has up to a 10-percent sheen, it has many of the same properties as flat paint. Compared to the many other finishes available, it is less durable and harder to clean. However, it ranks better in these areas than flat paint. Matte paint has excellent coverage and can camouflage wall flaws, but the flaws may be slightly more visible than they would be with flat paint.

Eggshell Paint

Eggshell is a popular paint finish for many rooms in the home because it strikes a good balance with its important qualities. It has a 25-percent sheen, so it is glossier than matte and flat paint without being overpowering. It is relatively easy to clean and more durable than the preceding options. Plus, it has relatively good camouflaging properties, so imperfections are not magnified. As a mid-level finish, eggshell paint is suitable for use in bedrooms, hallways, living areas and other rooms.

Satin Paint

Satin is another mid-level paint finish with an excellent balance of properties. However, because it has up to a 35-percent sheen, it is slightly glossier than eggshell paint. This means that it is more durable and easier to clean, but it also makes imperfections stand out. Given its unique properties, it is often used in high-traffic areas of the home and in areas where the walls are more likely to get dirty. These areas include entryways, bathrooms, kitchens and children’s rooms.

Semi-Gloss Paint

Semi-gloss paint sits close to the top of the spectrum. With up to a 75-percent sheen, it is very reflective. This highlights imperfections on walls. The glossiness of the dry paint may make it less appealing for use in living rooms and bedrooms. When it is used on walls, it is most commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens because of how easy it is to clean and how durable it is. This is also a great finish to choose for your home’s trim and doors.

High-Gloss Paint

High-gloss paint is the most reflective paint finish available. With an 85-percent sheen, the luster creates rich-looking colors that seemingly pop out from the surfaces. The extreme sheen, however, makes this a poor choice for painting walls. Instead, it is often used on doors, trim and cabinets because of how durable it is and how easy the painted surfaces are to clean. Imperfections are easy to see when working with high-gloss paint, so your painting contractor should carefully prep the work area before the paint is applied. You can see that the finish you select will impact the application steps and the finished results in several important ways. Each of the six paint finishes has benefits and drawbacks, and these make each of them more well-suited for some home painting projects than others. Are you still trying to decide which paint colors and finishes to use throughout your Rockford IL home? At Trusted Painters, we understand the weight of the decision in front of you, and we are happy to offer our professional guidance. When you contact us today for an interior painting estimate, you can request a free color consultation. This in-home consultation is the ideal time to make your final selections with our team’s assistance. Contact our office today to get the ball rolling on your home painting project.