Once you've chosen a color, there's one more decision: the sheen. It's easy to overlook, but it changes how the color reads, how much the wall's flaws show, and how well the paint stands up to cleaning.
Flat or matte has almost no shine. It hides bumps, patches and uneven drywall better than anything else, and gives color a soft, rich look. The trade-off is that it scuffs more easily and doesn't like scrubbing. It's a great choice for ceilings and for low-traffic rooms like formal living rooms and adult bedrooms.
Eggshell has a low, gentle sheen. It's a little more washable than flat while still being forgiving of wall imperfections, which is why it's the most common choice for living rooms, hallways and bedrooms.
Satin is a step shinier and noticeably more durable and wipeable. It works well in busy spaces — kids' rooms, family rooms, kitchens and bathrooms — though it will show wall flaws a bit more.
Semi-gloss is shiny, hard-wearing and easy to clean, which makes it the usual choice for trim, doors, cabinets and baseboards. On large walls it shows every imperfection, so we save it for the places that get touched most.
Gloss and high-gloss are the most reflective and durable, and are used mainly for accents, railings and furniture-like finishes.
A common, practical combination is flat ceilings, eggshell or satin walls, and semi-gloss trim and doors. If you're not sure what suits your home, we'll walk through it with you during a free estimate — call NR Painting at (737) 323-0001.