Tag: choosing paint colors

Picking Paint: Finishes

Finishes

Today I will give you the 411 on paint finishes, also known as the sheen or gloss. A paints gloss or sheen affects how durable and reflective it is. At one end you will have your “Matte” finishes  (also known as “flat”) which reflect very little light. At the other end you have your “Gloss” finishes which reflect a large amount of light.

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Let’s go over each finish and the “common rules” to using them:

~ Matte/Flatt – The least glossy of all finishes with a non-reflective and porous surface.

  • They have a smooth/dull appearance which makes them good at hiding surface and application imperfections (such as brush strokes).
  • Susceptible to moisture damage, scuff marks, and stains.
  • It’s surface doesn’t hold up well to cleaning products and scrubbing.
  • Uses: Commonly used on walls in low traffic rooms and on ceilings.
  • Avoid: Usage in any room with moisture (bathrooms, kitchen, laundry rooms), kids rooms, high traffic areas and trim.

~ Eggshell – The most widely used finish.

  • It has a slight sheen to it which makes it more durable and easier to clean than the Matte finish.
  • Uses: Considered a well rounded finish that offers durability without to much sheen. Appropriate to use on all interior walls.
  • Avoid: It’s still wise to use a sheen with a higher gloss in areas with high traffic or susceptibility to vigorous or frequent cleaning.

~ Satin – Is similar to eggshell in that it is used frequently because of its durability and moderate sheen.

  • Satin tends to be slightly glossier than eggshell but in some brands you might notice that it is nearly the same.
  • Uses: A well rounded finish that is typically used in kid’s rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and on trim.
  • Avoid: Is appropriate for most applications but some might prefer the less glossy eggshell or a glossier finish for high traffic areas and trim.

~ Semi Gloss – Offers more durability than Matte, Eggshell, and Satin finishes.

  • Typically considered to0 glossy for general application
  • Uses: If used at all, its typically in areas that might require vigorous cleaning, or be exposed to moisture and heavy traffic. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
  • Avoid: Too much gloss reveals surface imperfections and can give the walls an uneven color appearance. Typically not used outside of the kitchen or bathroom.

~ Glossy – The least used of all finishes. It is used so rarely in interior painting that some brands don’t even carry an interior gloss.

  • Extremely durable, stain resistant, and will dry to a laminated look.
  • Uses: None, sometimes used on trim or cabinets.
  • Avoid: Usually not used for interior painting.

A single color used in your room takes on a new appearance when applied in different finishes. For example, if you use an Eggshell finish on your walls and a Semi Gloss finish on your trim, the color will appear slightly different. It creates a crisp, clean look in your room.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the series! I’ve decided to go over one more element tomorrow, the Color Wheel. This is a great topic that will help you understand how to use and blend more than one color in a room and in your home. Happy Friday!

If you missed the other posts on my Picking Paint series you can go here.

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Picking Paint: Testing Your Color

Yesterday I touched on lighting and how it effects the appearance of your paint; these two topics sort of go hand in hand. The most important step in choosing the right paint color is to test your options. This is also a good time for you to experiment and step out of your comfort zone. If you typically stick with neutral hues try experimenting with a little color!

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Now that you have picked out a few colors you can purchase sample paint. Valspar and Behr both offer paint samples for about $2.94.

There are two really good options on how to display, visualize, and use your samples.

Your first option is to paint big sections on your wall in each of the colors that you are considering. Make sure you find a way to keep track of each color. You will want to have a sample section that is big enough for you to get the “feel” for the actual color. It’s also important to make sure that you get a good even coat. You might have to do two coats if its necessary; you really want good coverage to achieve the true color.

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DON’T:

Paint your sections too close together. The colors will start to blend together and it will make your decision even harder. You want them to have good spacing so they don’t interfere with each other.

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If you aren’t a fan of painting the samples on your wall you can use a piece of MDF or poster board. This is an effective way to sample different varieties of colors. I still prefer to paint them directly on your wall if you can.

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Leave your samples up for a few days. There will be a few that you will automatically rule out and others that you might be unsure of. This is where the lighting portion comes in. Make sure that you look at your samples in all three of the different lights; each hue might appear slightly different depending on the light. After you have examined and studied your samples for a few days you should be ready to make the big decision!

Make sure you check out my other posts on Picking Paint

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Picking Paint: Lighting

A strong/bold color might be too overpowering when used on all of the walls in your room but if you choose a wall that is exposed to indirect sunlight it might work really well! Lighting is key when deciding on paint. Make sure you pay close attention to the different aspects of lighting in the room/area you are painting.

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Lighting

There are three different types of lighting and each one will make your paint hue look slightly different.

{Natural Daylight} – gives your truest color

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{Incandescent Lighting} – Brings out warm tones and yellow hues.

This will be the light from your normal every day light bulb.

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{Fluorescent Lighting} – Casts blue tones

Often used in Commercial buildings/offices.

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It is important to expose your color options to all three of these lights before making your final choice. When picking out your paint cards pay close attention to the light boxes in the area. You can slide your paint chip under the box to expose your hue to each of these three colors. It’s always best to test the hue in your room with the actual lighting. Tomorrow I’m sharing tips on how to test your paint colors; which will also apply to lighting. Stay tuned!

Make sure you check out my other posts on Picking Paint

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Picking Paint: Finding Your Color

Today kicks off the mini series on Picking Paint. I’ve picked out a few key factors that will hopefully help your process run more smoothly!

Finding Your Color

~ Your paint color should be decided after you have picked out fabric, rugs, furniture, and flooring.

~ Find a color in your artwork, a rug, accessories or your fabric as a main color or accent.

~ If you choose  to use a color from your fabric, it’s best to pick a color from the background of your print. The only exception would be for accent walls. If you plan to have an accent wall you can choose a bold color from your print.

Here is an example: The inspiration piece for my Master Bedroom is my pillows.

I choose a very subtle color close to the background color of my pillow.

~The most important thing to remember is that paint should highlight your furnishings and decor not over power them.

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