Interior Homes: Types of Paint Finishes and Where to Use Them

Matt paint, gloss paint, eggshell paint, why so many choices, and what do they mean? How do you know which finish to use for each project?

The paint you need to revamp kitchen cabinets isn't the same one you'd use to redecorate living room walls. The finish is an important choice, contributing to the overall look and feel of a scheme as well as its functionality; it draws attention to some features and away from others, and some areas need to be particularly hard-wearing.

Here we'll guide you through the different finishes and where to use them, so you can arm yourself with the expert knowledge to choose the best for your project.

The types of paint finish explained

You may think you're simply choosing a blue for your living room, but that blue will look quite different depending on the finish, because it's all about how light reflects off the painted surface. A shiny, high-sheen finish reflects far more light than a matt one, and it also affects how hard-wearing and easy to clean the paint is. There's a lot to consider, so this article guides you through the finishes available and how they affect the final look.

Gloss paint

Gloss finishes are the shiniest and most reflective, extremely hard-wearing and easy to clean, though the downside is that surface imperfections are very noticeable, so prep and sanding are an absolute must before you start.

Gloss, especially in white, was predominantly used on woodwork like skirtings and door frames, but these days we're seeing bolder colour; a high-sheen finish works well with jewel tones or zesty colours like Burlington Arcade™ No.216 to make a statement, the reflective finish intensifying the colour beautifully, so try it on cabinetry or joinery you want to accentuate, or for glamour, on an interior wall in a dining room or windowless bathroom, where its reflective surface catches the eye.

Satin paint

Satin (also known as satinwood) is a slightly confusing term: it's smooth like satin, soft like velvet and silky too, not shiny and reflective like gloss but with a higher sheen than eggshell or matt, a mid-point between them (similar to semi-gloss). Beware that brushstrokes can be more noticeable than with matt, and it's not as hard-wearing as gloss; it's a good finish for woodwork like doors, skirtings and furniture, but versatile enough for walls and ceilings too.

Eggshell paint

Eggshell has a higher sheen than matt or flat, but much lower than gloss and satin; Mylands eggshell has a 23% sheen compared with 80% for gloss. Similar to satin in its medium durability, low sheen and low reflection, it has a certain lustre, a surface like an actual eggshell, and it's good at concealing fingerprints and brushstrokes. Typically used on interior woodwork and metalwork, it also suits exterior and interior walls, a slightly subdued finish with low light bounce, less attention-grabbing than gloss but with a slightly higher lustre and sheen than flat.

Matt paint

Matt, chalky or flat finishes have the lowest sheen of all, 5% and under; Mylands' signature and perennial favourite, Marble Matt Emulsion, has a 3% sheen and contains super-fine ground marble powder for a particularly flat, richly pigmented finish, while Mylands' Plant-Based Multi-Surface Matt is 5%, a dead matt finish often favoured in modern interiors. There's very little reflection on a matt surface, which amplifies the depth and richness of the colour. Matt is particularly good at covering imperfections and offers style and sophistication on walls, but it isn't the most durable finish, being less resistant to scuffs, marks and dents, so it's likely to need touch-ups more often than eggshell, satin or gloss.

Which finish to use where?

The general rule is that matt paints are best for low-traffic areas where they're less likely to get scuffed, while glosses suit high-traffic areas as they're more hard-wearing.

For a kitchen or bathroom

These rooms face regular moisture and can be poorly ventilated, think bathroom, wet-room and utility walls or high-splash areas in kitchens; gloss works well here as it wipes down easily, but if you prefer matt, Mylands Marble Matt Emulsion is water-based and breathable, so it withstands the daily demands of moisture-rich environments.

For high-traffic areas like hallways and family living spaces

Satin is ideal for busy areas like living rooms and hallways, anywhere exposed to sticky hands or children charging about needs a durable, washable finish like satin; alternatively, Mylands Marble Matt Emulsion is specially formulated with finely powdered marble for a unique scrubbable finish, a better choice if you prefer matt.

For low-traffic areas like bedrooms, offices and dining rooms

Matt is versatile and popular, creating a cosy, comforting atmosphere with its muted rather than shiny quality; it can be less durable, so it works well in adult bedrooms, offices and other rooms less exposed to a home's hustle and bustle.

For heritage buildings

Heritage homes tend to have lime plaster walls that are permeable and need to breathe; if moisture gets trapped, the paint bubbles and cracks, so look for more natural, breathable paints that allow good airflow, like our Marble Matt Emulsion. Heritage surfaces also need good prep to minimise lumps and bumps, and matt finishes don't draw the eye to imperfections the way gloss does, making them ideal.

For woodwork, floors and doors

Gloss is particularly good for detail; to draw attention to ornate mouldings or intricate woodwork, gloss highlights the feature, and it reflects more natural light into a room, making it a good choice for interior window frames. A satin finish looks good on wooden furniture and breathes new life into tired pieces, and if your floorboards need an update, a satin floor paint is just the job.

Mylands' Plant-Based Multi-Surface paints are ideal across different rooms and surfaces, especially if you want the same colour, a beautiful multi-surface plant-based range in four classic, flawless finishes, Dead Matt (5% sheen), Eggshell (15% sheen), Satin (40% sheen) and Gloss (85% sheen), suitable for interior and exterior use on wood, MDF, metal, plastic, tile, masonry, plaster and uPVC.

For exteriors

You need a paint that copes with the elements, wind, rain, snow or sun; a specific masonry or exterior paint is recommended, with an eggshell finish best on exterior walls, while for wood or metal (garden fences, gates or railings), a gloss finish is best.

We're here to help with expert advice on paint finishes

Mylands paints come in a range of finishes to suit every application, and we ensure they're of superior quality, mixed using traditional techniques with rare earth pigments and resins, making them captivating and highly durable, suitable for interiors and exteriors. If you have further questions about choosing a finish, see our Advice section, and we also offer expert colour advice to help you find the right shades for each space.