
While semi-gloss is not great for covering an entire living room wall because it may ultimately make it look dirtier, its resistance to water and moisture make it ideal for rooms that tend to see high levels of humidity. For example, areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens are prime areas to use semi-gloss paint.
Full Answer
Is semi-gloss paint more durable?
Semi-gloss paint when dry offers a vibrant shine on home exteriors. This type of paint sheen is perfect for surfaces that require constant cleaning. When it comes to durability, semi-gloss paint is more durable than satin.
Can you use semi-gloss paint on bathroom walls?
Semi-gloss paints are commonly used in high-traffic areas due to its durability and easy-to-clean nature. Paint Your Bathroom Walls with Semi-Gloss Finish It is a good idea to use semi-gloss paint for covering your bathroom walls. This type of paint does a great job protecting your surfaces from moisture buildup, mildew, and stains.
Is satin or semi-gloss better for interior design?
Semi-gloss better draws the eye to architectural elements. Generally speaking, cleaning needs aside, satin is the default choice for many do-it-yourselfers refreshing interior walls and furniture, while smaller doses of semi-gloss highlight home features: cabinetry, mantels, stair railing, window trim, door casings, and crown molding.
What is the difference between semi-gloss and high gloss?
Semi-gloss is more durable and easier to clean. The higher the gloss, the easier the cleanup of messes like fingerprints and smudges.

Should I use semi-gloss paint in my living room?
Semi-gloss paints are fine for living room trim and window frames, but not the walls. Semi-gloss provide the greatest washability, but the shine enhances wall imperfections like bumps, patches, or unevenness in drywall.
What is the best paint finish for living room?
In the living room and dining room, opt for an eggshell or satin finish. It hides flaws and imperfections — especially on uneven walls — and makes the room look more high-end, which you definitely want when you're showing your house.
Is semi-gloss good for living room walls?
While semi-gloss is not great for covering an entire living room wall because it may ultimately make it look dirtier, its resistance to water and moisture make it ideal for rooms that tend to see high levels of humidity.
Is semi-gloss or satin better for living room?
And because a glossy surface is more slick, it's also more resistant to moisture. As a general rule, use satin for interior walls and furniture and semi-gloss for small areas that need highlighting such as cabinets, mantels, stair rails, door and window frames.
What living room colors are in for 2022?
Green, grey, and navy are the most popular living room colours for 2022. New research by Swyft Home found that we are making bolder choices in our living spaces, embracing bright and rich shades, as well as some more unexpected colours.
What is the most popular interior paint finish?
SatinSatin: Satin finishes are the most common interior paint finish. They have a velvety sheen and are easier to clean than flat and eggshell paints, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, playrooms, family rooms, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
What sheen is best for interior walls?
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork.
Where should semi-gloss paint be used?
Even more reflective than satin with a smooth sheen, semi-gloss paint gives rooms a shiny, sleek appearance. Because it offers high resistance to moisture, it works well in areas with higher humidity, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, as well as high-traffic spaces like doors and utility rooms.
Which is better flat or semi-gloss?
If your space has huge windows and lots of natural light, a flat paint finish can work well. If you want something more shiny and reflective, choose satin or semi-gloss. If you don't want your walls totally lustrous, you can paint trim or crown molding with a semi-gloss sheen.
What paint finish do designers use?
Eggshell is always an interior designer's preferred paint finish, which is why our founder, Nicole, an interior designer, chose this as our ultimate finish for walls. The name eggshell stems from the fact the finish appears mostly flat with just a touch of luster...
Should baseboards be semi-gloss or satin?
Satin reflects light and because of that it will show imperfections like divots and patches more than flatter paints. Satin is my go-to sheen for bathroom walls, interior doors, trim, baseboards, and exterior walls. Semi-gloss paint is great for frequently cleaned areas and rooms that deal with excess moisture.
Is there a big difference between satin and semi-gloss?
Durability: Semi-gloss paint is more durable than satin paint. However, if dings, dents, or blemishes appear, they will be more noticeable with a glossy finish. Both options will be easy to clean, although semi-gloss paint will hold up better against moisture and protect the surface beneath it against water damage.
Should living room use satin paint?
Best for: Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin, which is a little more hard-wearing than eggshell, works well in those rooms, too, but also in kitchens, dining areas, children's bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many satin finishes are tough enough to use on trim as well.
Is eggshell or satin better for walls?
A satin finish delivers higher durability than an eggshell finish. It's scuff-resistant, making it a great choice for painting molding and walls in high-traffic areas such as living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, kids' rooms, and entryways.
Do designers use flat or eggshell paint?
Another reason why consumers and designers often favor using Eggshell or Satin paint is that they've had a bad experience with the “chalky” look that low-quality flat paints have after a few years. To avoid this, the painting professionals at Freeland Painting recommend – and use – superior grades of flat paint.
What is best paint finish for interior walls?
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork.
Why use semi gloss paint?
Also, a glossy paint finish will help to brighten dark spaces. Thus, using a semi-gloss pain will make dark rooms look brighter and wider. The only reason why you should avoid a glossy sheen is when you know there is going to be a lot of glare. Aesthetically speaking, glossy surfaces draw attention.
What is the difference between semi gloss and satin paint?
In the case of semi-gloss, it has about a 50 percent gloss mixed with paint. Satin paint is less shiny than semi-gloss paint since it has a lower gloss percentage. Satin paint only has a 30 percent gloss in the mix.
How much gloss does satin paint have?
Satin paint only has a 30 percent gloss in the mix. Although percentage-wise the difference might look small, these two paint types are entirely different. Let’s take a look at the different finish characteristics of each paint type.
Why do you use satin paint?
The reason is simple since it imitates the sheen and looks of an eggshell. This is low-sheen paint. Satin paint will add a very subtle shine to your painted walls. So, you will end up with a delicate, smooth, and a soft wall surface if you choose satin paint.
What is the best paint for a bathroom?
Satin paint is what you need to protect your bathroom, this material is long-lasting and has great resistance, just a good application and you will be protected for a long time. If you need help from a professional for this job, do not hesitate to contact us or take a look at our service of interior painting in Philadelphia PA.
What paint finish should I use for a bright room?
If you like a bright room, the high shine of semi-gloss paint is the better choice for you. Otherwise, you should go for a satin paint finish.
What is satin finish?
When it comes to the aesthetics, satin paint finish leaves a more dull shine, which is perfect for hiding marks and surface flaws. In other words, a satin paint finish will create the illusion of a perfectly smooth wall surface. So, in the end, it depends on how bright you want your rooms to be. If you like a bright room, the high shine ...
Why use simi gloss on walls?
The only reason to use simi-gloss on walls would be in an area that will get constant scrubbing like in a kitchen around the eating area if you have kids.
What color should I paint my living room ceiling?
Personally, I would choose yellows for brightening up the space. I went from white to a bold yellow in my former living room and it made ALL the difference. It felt much sunnier. Also, think about painting the ceiling either the same or slightly lighter shade of the wall (if you go with color). That will give the ceiling more lift, since it blends with the other walls instead of standing out as a stark difference.
How far below the ceiling is the DLM2000?
DLM2000, the ceilings are exactly 8' but feel lower - there's ceiling molding and trim starting about 3" below the ceiling; the window casements, double doors and wainscoting are all dark wood; and the windows are very close to the ground (house is slightly below ground at the front). This is our house for the next 7-10 years, so we're willing to make some bolder choices (and probably stupid mistakes, heehee).
What is the color of Tint de Nigre?
My trim is all done in Tint de'nigre....which is basically brown/black. I would never describe the rooms as "Squatty".
Is semi gloss a negative?
The ceilings are both in different light tones, semi as well. Semi and Gloss have one negative, and that is that they show mistakes or wall imperfections more than a flatter tone would. But they're great walls for art, and do provide that reflective quality your designer mentioned.
Does dark trim make a room feel squatty?
Personally, I think that dark trim will make a room feel squatty . I equate it to a person wearing all white but with a dark brown belt. It cuts you off and makes you look short and wide. If you have dark trim at the floor and ceiling, it is doubling this effect. I agree with dlm and I would paint it.
Is BM paint washable?
It used to be common in kitchens and baths because the higher-sheen paints were the only truly washable paints. Now that I have discovered BM's Aura paints, which are truly scrubbable and touch-up-able in a matte flat. As others have said, matte paints hide surface imperfections better -- my old walls have lots of those. The Aura also has this really fabulous powdery look and feel that just makes you want to touch it.
I used semi gloss paint on my bedroom walls
One wall darker gray (BM Cobblestone Path) and other 3 walls a lighter gray (BM Coventry Gray). Tons of natural light so I thought it ok. Doesn't look too bad, but am I the only one to use semi gloss in bedroom? Second guessing myself now.... What your thoughts decor peeps? Thanks
Comments (5)
I have to admit, I am seeing the semi gloss making a comeback! It's washable if you have little ones! I am also seeing glossy paint coming back. Don't second guess yourself. It's not work repainting!
What is the difference between satin and semi gloss?
Generally speaking, cleaning needs aside, satin is the default choice for many do-it-yourselfers refreshing interior walls and furniture, while smaller doses of semi-gloss highlight home features: cabinetry, mantels, stair railing, window trim, door casings, and crown molding. Even if you apply the same color in two different sheens in a room—satin to the walls and semi-gloss to the trim—the reflection will make the craftsmanship of the molding pop.
Which has more sheen, satin or semi gloss?
Most notably, semi-gloss has more sheen than satin. The types of finishes you’ll likely find in most paint collections—ranging from most to least reflective—are glossy/high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat/matte. Semi-gloss is slightly higher on the scale than satin and, thus, promises a little more reflectivity.
What is satin finish?
A satin finish is more flattering over pocks, divots, and scrapes since it draws the light in and tricks the eye into seeing a more even surface. So, if you want to deflect attention away from faults and blemishes without spending hours sanding them away, satin is the way to go.
Is satin paint more expensive than semi gloss?
Generally speaking, the more gloss a paint offers, the more it will cost. Semi-gloss paint is manufactured with more binders (resins responsible for sheen) than satin paint in order to deliver the reflection and durability for which it’s known.
Does semi gloss paint change color?
Semi-gloss’s extra sheen may change how your paint color looks on the wall. While both finishes have a hint of sheen, more light from your lamps or the room’s uncovered windows will bounce off of semi-gloss surface than a satin surface (which actually absorbs some additional light instead).
Is semi gloss better than gloss?
Semi-gloss is more durable and easier to clean. The higher the gloss, the easier the cleanup of messes like fingerprints and smudges. For objects and areas that get a lot of use and therefore require frequent wipe-downs—bathrooms, kitchens, playrooms, kids’ bedrooms, and any other area children may feel tempted to draw on walls with ...
