Another consideration in selecting the proper paint is a factor called paint sheen. Paint sheen refers to how shiny the dried paint surface becomes. There are three basic sheens:
- Flat or Eggshell
- Semi-Gloss or Satin
- Gloss
Flat or Eggshell paints have the least amount of sheen. As a result, flat paints are the most forgiving in terms of showing minor wall imperfections. Think of a car with bad bodywork. If it were painted glossy black, you would see every flaw. If it were painted a flat white, you would not notice the flaws anywhere near as much. So flat paint is good for hiding imperfections in the drywall tape joints. Add texture to the mix which hides even more flaws and you have the reason textured ceilings painted with flat paint are so common. Flat paint is most commonly used in all walls and ceilings in the home. The most common exceptions to this generalized statement is the bathroom and kitchen.
Semi-Gloss or Satin paint is most commonly used in rooms requiring more frequent scrubbing such as the kitchen or baths. The problem with scrubbing flat paint is is may develop a slight sheen. So using a paint with some sheen to start with mitigates this problem and makes clean up easier.
Gloss paint is really pretty seldom used in the home except for some woodwork and trim, or special areas where a highly reflective sheen is desired.
