The benefit of a higher sheen is that it is easier to wipe clean, which can be quite important in a damp bathroom, especially ones that struggle with ventilation. Satin FinishĪ satin finish is used for walls that require a higher sheen, such as bathrooms. It is also a good choice for deeper colour shades as the colour will not be impacted by different light conditions in the room. Flat matts are great for deep, rich and intense colours, but they aren’t washable, which can cause issues in rooms that struggle with mould or on surfaces that often meet household activity such as doors, windowsills and stair bannisters.įlat matts create a velvety texture and are best suited for living rooms and bedrooms. With even less sheen than matt emulsions, the flat matt range is designed to absorb even more light. When painting a wall that exhibits some imperfections, you should aim to use this finish because its light-absorbing qualities will help reduce the visibility of those issues. Matt emulsion creates a non-reflective finish that will throw less light on the surrounding surfaces. Matt paints are smooth and light-absorbing, making them perfect for a range of applications. So while the colour choice is an essential part of your paint selection, the sheen is also crucial to ensure you get the final look you’re after. The sheen on your walls can completely transform the way a room looks, as it gives a wall a particular texture and the reflectiveness impacts how much light is in the room. On the other hand, paint with a low sheen will be less reflective and is usually found in the matt range of paints. In other words, a paint with a high sheen when fully dry will be quite reflective and may be described as looking a little wet due to its shininess.
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The higher the sheen, the glossier the paint will look. “Sheen” is the word used for describing how glossy a paint finish will be. Read on to discover more about the different types of paint sheen available. You may also find that the room you are styling would be better suited to an eggshell or gloss finish.
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We’re here to break down the differences between matt and silk finishes and recommend where they are best used in a house. Whether you use matt or silk finish paint depends on where you will be painting and what you will be painting over. You might have an idea or two about where the furniture will sit or the colour scheme you want to work in, but do you know what grade of paint you should use? Or what effect the different grades can have on your walls? There’s a lot to consider when you’re renovating a house or redesigning a room.