PAINT SHEEN CHART: SELECTING GLOSS

Selecting the right gloss for your paint project can be challenging. Below explains the practical and aesthetic considerations for choosing gloss that will help you make the right choices.

UNDERSTANDING GLOSS

Gloss is about shine. It describes how much light is reflected from the surface of the paint. If a painted surface is very smooth and glass-like, the reflection is perceived to be “shiny” or “glossy.” Conversely, a flat or low sheen paint has a rough surface profile after it dries. Light that hits such a surface is reflected and scattered in many different directions so it appears “flat” to the eye.

WHY GLOSS IS IMPORTANT

The gloss level of paint can have a significant impact on both appearance and serviceability. Increasing gloss improves the durability of paints – including scrub-, stain- and moisture-resistance. However, higher gloss levels tend to highlight defects and imperfections on a surface.

Gloss level also affects color perception. The same color with a different gloss will appear as a different color. The color in a higher gloss paint will appear brighter and richer than the same color in a lower gloss paint.

LOW SHEEN PAINT VS HIGH GLOSS WHICH IS BETTER?

It’s not a question of which type of glossy, flat or low sheen paint is better, but which is suited for the correct job. Below, we take a look at a paint sheen chart and a definition for several types of paint such as flat, velvet, eggshell, low sheen, semi-gloss, gloss and high gloss and which uses they’re best suited for in the home, workplace and outdoors.

WHAT TYPE OF PAINT GLOSS IS BEST

Flat

Flat paints have the least amount of gloss so they help conceal surface imperfections better than other finishes and are ideal for walls that are rough or dented. They also touch-up better, which makes a flat paint an ideal choice for family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Flat paints are also a good choice for ceilings because of their low reflectivity. Stains can be difficult to remove from flat finishes, so it’s best to use flat paints in areas that do not experience a lot of traffic.