Color gets all the attention, but the finish — the sheen — decides how a wall handles light, scuffs, and cleaning.
Flat and matte finishes hide imperfections best, which makes them a good choice for ceilings and low-traffic rooms. The tradeoff is that they're the hardest to scrub clean.
Eggshell and satin sit in the middle. They have a soft, subtle glow, wipe down easily, and hold up well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin is the usual pick for kitchens and bathrooms because it stands up to moisture.
Semi-gloss and gloss are the most durable and easiest to wipe, so they're typically used on trim, doors, and cabinets. They also reflect the most light, which means they highlight every dent and ridge underneath — another reason good prep matters.
One rule holds across all of them: the shinier the finish, the more it shows what's under it. Walls that get spackled and skim coated first look dramatically better in satin or semi-gloss.
Not sure what to use where? We'll walk through it with you during your free estimate.