Matt, Eggshell, Satin or Gloss? Choosing the Right Paint Finish for Your Home
Choosing a colour is the fun part, but the finish you choose makes just as much difference to how a room looks and how well it lasts. This guide explains the main paint finishes, where to use each one, how to prepare a room, and how to look after new paintwork.
The main paint finishes
Flat matt
Look: no sheen. It hides small imperfections well and gives a soft, chalky look.
Best for: ceilings, and living rooms and bedrooms that don't get much wear.
Watch out for: standard flat matt marks easily, so it's not ideal for halls or children's rooms.
Durable or washable matt
Look: much the same as flat matt.
Best for: walls in halls, stairs, kitchens and family rooms.
Why: it's formulated so you can wipe off marks.
Eggshell
Look: a low sheen.
Best for: walls that need wiping, and woodwork if you want a modern, low-sheen finish.
Also: it's harder-wearing than matt.
Satin
Look: a mid sheen.
Best for: woodwork such as doors, skirtings, facings and banisters.
Why: it's popular as a less shiny alternative to gloss.
Gloss
Look: a high shine.
Best for: woodwork, front doors and metalwork such as railings.
Watch out for: it's very hard-wearing, but the shine shows up any dents or poor preparation.
Kitchen and bathroom paints
What they are: formulated to resist moisture and mould.
Best for: rooms with steam, especially if ventilation is limited.
Which finish goes where: a quick guide
Surface | Usual finish |
Ceilings | Flat matt |
Living room and bedroom walls | Matt or durable matt |
Halls, stairs and common stairs | Durable matt or eggshell |
Kitchen and bathroom walls | Kitchen and bathroom paint, or a wipeable matt |
Doors, skirtings and facings | Satin, eggshell or gloss |
Sash windows (inside) | Satin or gloss |
Exterior woodwork and windows | Exterior-grade gloss or satin |
Masonry and render | Masonry paint |
For older properties with lime plaster or stone, a breathable paint may be the better choice. See our eco-friendly and low-VOC paints guide. For the brands we use, see paints and products.
Choosing colours and finishes together
The same colour looks different in different finishes: higher-sheen paint looks slightly darker and reflects more light. Test a sample patch in the finish you plan to use, and look at it in both daylight and lamplight. For ideas, see how room colour affects mood.
Preparing a room for painting
Most of what makes paintwork look professional happens before the first coat:
Clear and cover. Take out ornaments, pictures and anything fragile, move furniture to the middle and cover floors with dust sheets.
Clean. Wash down greasy or dirty areas, especially in kitchens and around light switches.
Repair. Fill cracks and holes, and repair damaged plaster. Deep cracks in old lime plaster may need proper repair, not just filler. See plaster repairs and surface preparation.
Sand. Sand smooth any filler and glossy woodwork so the new paint grips.
Prime. Prime bare plaster, bare wood and repairs, and seal stains.
Mask. Protect anything that isn't being painted.
Looking after new paintwork
Give it time. Paint can feel dry within hours but takes longer to harden fully, often a couple of weeks. Avoid scrubbing and hanging pictures straight away.
Clean gently. Use a soft cloth and mild soapy water on washable finishes, and avoid abrasive cleaners.
Keep the leftovers. Label the tin with the room and date so you can touch up small marks.
Ventilate. Open windows and use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms to reduce condensation and mould.
Check exterior paintwork once a year. Small repairs before winter stop water getting into timber.
When to call a professional
Some jobs are best left to a decorator:
high tenement ceilings and stairwells
cornicing
sash windows
large areas of damaged plaster
anything that needs a perfect finish on woodwork.
If you'd like help, see our interior painting and decorating and exterior painting services.
Need a hand? Edinburgh Painting Specialists is a family-run painting and decorating business. Call or text us on 07514 665726 or get a free quote.
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