Choosing paint can be a difficult and daunting task – of the thousand shades of white, one may be too gray, another too green or too yellow. On many occasions, I’ve walked into a client’s home and found small patches of various shades of paint on the walls where colors are being “tested.” But what clients don’t realize is that the paint finish, or sheen, is just as important as the color they’re meticulously debating.

What is Paint Sheen? ⁽¹⁾

The sheen of any paint refers to the way it does or does not reflect light. Part of what causes a difference in the amount of reflection is the color of the paint. Every color absorbs some light and reflects some light. The exceptions are black and white. Black absorbs all light and white absorbs none, reflecting it instead. Every other color will do some of both.

The other thing that describes how much light a paint color will reflect is called sheen. There are a few different types of sheen: flat/matte, eggshell/stain, semi-gloss and hi-gloss. There are pros and cons to each type. So, which sheen should I use for my space?

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