{"id":9675,"date":"2023-06-29T10:43:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T17:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/?p=9675"},"modified":"2023-06-29T10:43:20","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T17:43:20","slug":"what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Paint Sheens and What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re unfamiliar with the nuances of paint sheen, you\u2019ve come to the right place. In the broadest terms, the higher the sheen a paint has, the higher the shine and the more durable it will be. Flat paint has no shine, while high-gloss paint is all shine, and the rest of the spectrum includes matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, which can be used for practical and decorative purposes alike.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a Paint Sheen?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"The paint sheen tells you how much light the paint reflects. Paints with higher sheens are shinier, and paints with lower sheens reflect less light. Higher-sheen paints have more enamel in them, which makes them shinier, more durable, and easier to clean. Lower-sheen paints are easier to look at because they have little to no glare.<\/p>\n

Why does it matter?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"If chosen incorrectly, sheen can amplify surface imperfections, make a surface shinier (or flatter) than intended, or not provide enough durability for the space. Some sheens are easier to clean than others and can provide a barrier against moisture, mildew, and other grime.<\/p>\n

The darker and richer a paint color is, the more colorant it contains, which boosts sheen. If you\u2019ve chosen a rich or dark paint, and you don\u2019t want it to turn out super shiny, choose one with a lower sheen. In the same vein, if painting a large, sun-washed, or flawed surface, a lower sheen paint is best for hiding imperfections.<\/p>\n

What Are the Different Paint Sheen Types? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u2022 High Gloss: <\/strong>A highly reflective, glass-like finish that\u2019s most durable and easiest to clean.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Semi-Gloss: <\/strong>A sleek and luminous finish that is mildew, moisture, and wear resistant.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Satin: <\/strong>A pearl-like finish that\u2019s easy to clean and has moderate durability.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Eggshell: <\/strong>A soft, velvety finish that covers imperfections while offering some durability.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Matte<\/strong>: A low-luster finish that\u2019s less durable, but easy to clean, touches up well, and hides minor surface imperfections.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Flat: <\/strong>A non-reflective finish that touches up well and can hide minor surface imperfections.<\/p>\n

Where to Use Common Types of Sheen<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The type of sheen you choose for a particular room or surface is up to you, and many types can work well for the same area, but you may choose one over another depending on how much traffic the room sees (durability), how prone to dirt or moisture it is, or simply the decorative look you\u2019re going for. Here are some recommendations to help get you started.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Kitchens: <\/strong>A high or semi-gloss finish in the kitchen ensures your surfaces are more durable and easier to clean.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Dining Rooms: <\/strong>For moderate-traffic areas like dining rooms, an eggshell finish will provide smooth, clean-looking walls.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bedrooms: <\/strong>A flat or matte finish is recommended as these absorb light, which can make those bright mornings more bearable.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bathrooms: <\/strong>Semi-gloss is great at protecting surfaces without being too reflective.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Living Rooms: <\/strong>A satin finish is your best bet. It\u2019s easy to clean and can stand up to high traffic.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Hallways: <\/strong>An eggshell finish that\u2019s easy to clean and resists dirt and grime is perfect for these moderate-traffic areas.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ceilings: <\/strong>Ceiling flat sheens are designed for ceilings and are extra splatter resistant.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Brick\/Masonry: <\/strong>Satin or eggshell is perfect for highly textured surfaces like brick; a moderate shine can help to conceal imperfections while giving off a pleasing glow.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cabinets: <\/strong>The higher the gloss, the easier it will be to clean and care for your cabinets.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Always Prime Before You Paint<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We always recommend using one of our professionally trusted primers<\/a> to ensure your hard work turns out as beautifully as you intended. Primer provides adhesion for any paint you choose, covers stains, prevents chips, and blocks odors, and helps your topcoat perform its best while achieving the truest possible color. Our primers are made for every project, so choosing the best one<\/a> for the job is easy.<\/p>\n

\n

Always remember to refer to our website\u00a0<\/em>kilz.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our\u00a0<\/em>Coverage Calculator<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re unfamiliar with the nuances of paint sheen, you\u2019ve come to the right place. In the broadest terms, the higher the sheen a paint has, the higher the shine and the more durable it will be. Flat paint has no shine, while high-gloss paint is all shine, and the rest of the spectrum includes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":9733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[151,235,124,90,253],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Perfect Finish Blog by KILZ\u00ae\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2023\/06\/KILZ-Blog-July-Primer-Tips-Sheen-Guide_Header3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carmen Serrano\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carmen Serrano\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/\",\"name\":\"Understanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a1ff5cc3822d5c5c94ae57c289df1792\"},\"description\":\"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What Are Paint Sheens and What\u2019s the Difference?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Perfect Finish Blog by KILZ\u00ae\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a1ff5cc3822d5c5c94ae57c289df1792\",\"name\":\"Carmen Serrano\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ffcfc40d23510a49e5ad8efc1e1bd89?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ffcfc40d23510a49e5ad8efc1e1bd89?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Carmen Serrano\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/author\/cserranobehr-com\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Understanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog","description":"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Understanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog","og_description":"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/","og_site_name":"The Perfect Finish Blog by KILZ\u00ae","article_published_time":"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1333,"url":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2023\/06\/KILZ-Blog-July-Primer-Tips-Sheen-Guide_Header3.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Carmen Serrano","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Carmen Serrano","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/","name":"Understanding Paint Sheen Levels \u2013 Paint Sheen Guide - KILZ Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-29T17:43:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a1ff5cc3822d5c5c94ae57c289df1792"},"description":"Find your complete paint sheen guide to better understand the differences between paint sheen levels and which products work best for specific rooms and surfaces.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/what-are-paint-sheens-and-whats-the-difference\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Are Paint Sheens and What\u2019s the Difference?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/","name":"The Perfect Finish Blog by KILZ\u00ae","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a1ff5cc3822d5c5c94ae57c289df1792","name":"Carmen Serrano","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ffcfc40d23510a49e5ad8efc1e1bd89?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ffcfc40d23510a49e5ad8efc1e1bd89?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Carmen Serrano"},"url":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/author\/cserranobehr-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9675"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9675"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9930,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9675\/revisions\/9930"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kilz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}