Choosing the right sheen
How to Choose the Perfect Sheen – A Practical Guide for Spray Coating Projects
When selecting a sheen level for your project, consider the following factors:
- Traffic and Use: Areas exposed to high foot traffic or frequent cleaning—such as hallways, kitchens, or commercial spaces—benefit from lower-sheen finishes like matte or eggshell, which are more forgiving of wear.
- Appearance: Lower sheens are better at hiding surface imperfections, stains, and minor damage. Higher sheens such as satin, semi-gloss, or gloss highlight textures and details but also reveal flaws more easily.
- Lighting Conditions: Sheen appearance is influenced by lighting. In bright spaces, high-sheen surfaces can appear overly reflective, while lower-sheen finishes help diffuse light more gently.
- Fingerprints and Smudges: Glossy and satin finishes are more prone to showing fingerprints, smudges, and other marks—especially on dark colours or flat vertical surfaces like doors and cabinets. For areas where this is a concern, consider using matte or eggshell sheens, which help reduce visible markings and require less frequent cleaning.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Higher-sheen finishes are generally easier to clean and more resistant to moisture, grease, and stains. This makes them ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas that require frequent wiping. We usually recommend a satin finish—it strikes the right balance between cleanability and reduced visibility of fingerprints. However, it’s worth noting that not all of our decorative effects or finishes are available in satin sheen.
By understanding these sheen levels, you can choose the right finish for your project based on your needs for durability, appearance, maintenance, and practicality.
