CHOOSING A PAINT FINISH
selecting the right finish is as important as picking the color…if you are having trouble, we are here to help!
If we weren’t tired of looking at the same four walls before Covid, we certainly are now! That is how we are feeling about our own studio in Park City. Clearly, others are also since we have been on the road frequently for paint consultations in both Park City and the Salt Lake valley.
Helping our clients choose paint colors is relatively easy once we ask a few questions and spend time in the space. The overlooked question, and one that homeowners don’t often consider, is paint finish. With little knowledge of the differences, mistakes can be unattractive and costly. Here are some tips for choosing the right finish for your walls and trim.
STARTING WITH THE BASIC RULES
Let’s start with the basic rule. The higher the sheen, the higher the shine, the higher the durability. Flat or matte paint has no shine, while high gloss is all shine. In between, the choices are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. Traditionally, flat and eggshell have been the go-to for walls, while satin, semi-gloss and high gloss are used on trim. Flat and eggshell are highly durable choices for walls. While eggshell is a bit more reflective, matte hides more imperfections.
Although satin was used only on trim in the past, we are seeing it used on walls now also. Careful here as satin is not very forgiving or washable but does give the walls a beautiful luster.
WHAT RULES?
Now, let’s throw those rules out the window and tell you about a couple of recent jobs where we have suggested finishes outside of the box. Our clients in downtown Salt Lake who are renovating a 1920 Victorian wanted saturated color on their living room walls. The painters applied a regal dark blue in an eggshell finish, but the results fell short. The color was great, but the room was flat. We kept the color the same but changed the sheen to semi-gloss. Instant glam!
We had the opposite experience in Park City in the Solamere neighborhood. We choose eggshell finish for the modern home for both the aesthetic and the number of grandchildren who visit. We wanted the dry look with some ability to clean. This choice worked in all the spaces except for the main living area. With the giant window facing Deer Valley and the flooding of light, too many imperfections showed. In order to achieve the pristine look we wanted for the space, we changed to a flat finish. Perfection!