There is no doubt that changing the paint scheme in a room is the best and most inexpensive way to give a room a makeover. The paint counter can be an overwhelming place for a lot of inexperienced do-it-yourselfers though. If you can simply make it through all of those swatches and actually decide on a color you have accomplished a lot! So then, you proudly take your chosen swatch to the person behind the counter and they ask you, “What finish would you like this color in?” and you freeze. This was not expected and you have no idea what finish you would like or even what the options are. Have no fear – the choices for choosing a finish are simple and with a little knowledge you can conquer that paint counter with confidence.

The first and most basic finish for paint is flat. Now, before jumping on the flat paint bandwagon, it is important to consider a few things about the functionality of your room. Flat paints have virtually no shine to them whatsoever that gives them a somewhat dull but smooth appearance. Also, flat paint is not washable so it may not be the best choice for say a kitchen or kid’s room. It collects dirt and shows marks very easily. Flat paint is the best choice for ceilings. Some paint companies do offer what is called a flat enamel finish that gives the same look as a true flat paint but can be lightly wiped down without ruining the color.

If you want a sheen that is going to allow you a bit more washability than flat or flat enamel, go with an eggshell finish. This has a little bit of shine to it without being overwhelmingly glossy. Eggshell covers much like a flat paint giving you a very smooth finish. This is often the most popular choice for rooms with less traffic. An eggshell sheen is a great choice for living rooms, dining rooms or home offices. This type of finish is still not recommended for rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms or kid’s bedrooms. If you want to move one step glossier than eggshell, you will want to choose a satin finish. This sheen has a bit of shine to it and can be easily cleaned. This is a great finish to use in kid’s rooms or on doors and molding where there tends to be a lot of fingerprints.

After satin, you start to move in to the glossy paint finishes: semi-gloss and glossy. Semi-gloss is a great finish to choose for kitchens and bathrooms or any other room where you will be doing a lot of scrubbing on the walls. This finish is very durable and can withstand a lot of abuse. Certain paint companies also offer a special type of paint that has an additive to help prevent mold and mildew from building up. Semi-gloss will leave you with a shiny surface and tends to show defects on the walls but, you can’t beat it in terms of durability. The final finish for paint is glossy and a lot of professional paint companies don’t offer this for their home paints. Glossy finishes are typically used for anything outdoors because of how hard they dry. They can withstand the elements and have a very shiny look to them which could look sort of out of place inside the home.

Author Bio: Keith Smallwood is the president of Creative Energy Exteriors, a leading provider of Richmond home improvement products and services such as Richmond windows and Richmond siding. Creative Energy Exteriors can be found online at: http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com .

Category: Home Management
Keywords: flat paint,paint counter,flat enamel,great finish,flat paint bandwagon,paint scheme