When you’re designing a house or heck, even a room, there are so many little decisions that need to be made all at once. And just when you think you might be close to being done a question like “What sheen do you want for your cabinets?” comes up. Or wait, does the trim need to be a different sheen than the walls? It’s a seemingly small thing that can cause A LOT of stress…until now. With this post we are giving you our preferred paint sheen recs for every space in your home (with a fun graphic too:)). Emily tends to go for a lower sheen option as it’s usually her personal preference. There are always exceptions and we absolutely recommend testing your options out BEFORE you make any large paint orders. We know it can be an annoying step, especially when you are mentally done making decisions, but better that than hating the sheen of our walls!
I figured if you wanted to just get the guide graphic quickly here you go:
We wanted to focus on the sheen you’d use per room (or accent). You can easily save this, take quick glance, and see where you should start in your sheen journey. The simplest takeaway is that the higher the sheen (the shinier it is) the more durable it is…and the more imperfections can stand out.
But now let’s go room by room and get into the nitty-gritty of the wild world of paint sheens:)
Living Room – Flat, Matte, or Eggshell
I have an embarrassing confession to make. Until talking with Em and doing some extra research, I thought flat and matte were the same thing. Turns out…they are not. Flat actually has zero sheen, while matte tends to be richer in color with the slightest sheen possible. I am a no-sheen gal whenever possible when it comes to my living room, bedroom, and hallway walls. But if you are someone who likes a light sheen then eggshell could be your perfect fit. Again, the more sheen the more durable so I understand that if you have kids or pets, this might be a smart option. I do want to point out that in my research, many people said that the higher the sheen the more imperfections can show since they bounce light around. So for textured walls (and if you want them to look less textured) go for less sheen!
Fireplace & Moldings – Satin or Semi-Gloss
Now, fireplaces and moldings are different. I am all for some sheen there(and so are all the experts). You want those areas/details to be easily wipable. Dust and smudge collectors, amirite? Plus, it can be nice to have a little light bouncing around.
If needing a sheen bums you out then go for a satin. But if you can handle a little more, semi-gloss will simply be more durable. You also want to consider the style of your home. Traditional homes look natural with a little more sheen, while a modern organic style home would potentially feel better with less shine.
Doors, Trim & Paneling – Satin or Semi-Gloss
Really the section above and this one are nearly one and the same. Traditionally, these accents call for a bit more sheen/durability. In the farmhouse, all of the wall paneling was painted in a semi-gloss. Stylistically, it was the right call and functionally, given they are a family of four with two dogs and host people nonstop, it was necessary for easier upkeep.
Ceiling – Flat (Bedroom & Living Room) + Eggshell or Satin (Kitchens & Bathrooms)
But now let’s talk ceilings. When we’re talking bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways, go for a matte or flat. Especially, since most ceilings have light fixtures or canned lighting, and any amount of sheen is going to be accentuated by those lights when they are on. Any imperfections in your ceiling are also going to be highlighted. So since those are areas where you don’t have to worry about wetness or cooking fumes, keep the sheen to a minimum. But in a kitchen or bathroom, you want a little sheen for durability.
Kitchen & Bathroom (Walls) – Eggshell or Satin
The same goes for the walls. You want a bit of sheen to be able to clean them easier. Think of tiles behind stoves, those are basically high gloss (depending, of course) because they are easy to wipe down. It’s the same idea with paint (except only use high gloss if you really love that look. It’s a real design statement and not for everyone).
Bathrooms are in the same camp. And this goes for any room, but usually, your cabinetry has a higher sheen than your walls. You can of course paint everything the same sheen (I’m pretty sure that’s how my bathroom was painted). But if you want a more varied look, go a sheen or two higher on your cabinets/trim from your walls.
Cabinets – Satin or Semi-Gloss
You don’t want to risk the durability of cabinetry because they are either very expensive to repaint or a very involved DIY (go to Rashida’s post here if you are curious about how to do that). This means go for a satin or semi-gloss! I’m sorry I can’t say with absolute certainty, but I feel 99% positive that these cabinets in Emily’s pantry are satin. Satin gives off that pretty pearl-like finish but isn’t too shiny. Rashida used the same sheen in her kitchen too!
Bedroom – Flat, Matte, or Eggshell
Of all the rooms I think bedrooms are the ideal place for a flat or matte sheen. For me, I’m in my bedroom the least (if you don’t count sleeping hours) and it’s a very low-traffic room (as compared to a kitchen, bathroom, or living room). I also want to note that it’s a good idea to check what sheens the paint brand you’re using has and check what they consider flat vs matte vs eggshell for instance. Usually, they have brand guides/recommendations that could be helpful and might be slightly different from other brands. Now back to our recs, it’s understandable that you might want a slight shine or have kids’ rooms to paint that could use a little more durability…that’s when you should use eggshell.
Exterior – Eggshell or Satin
Painting the exterior of a house can be the most daunting because it is NOT cheap! We recommend an eggshell or a satin sheen and make sure you are using the proper type of exterior paint. These are great options because they are durable but won’t make your house look too shiny and show all of the potential imperfections when the light hits it! Emily used eggshell for the farmhouse if that’s helpful. However, the door looks like it’s a semi-gloss:)
When To Use High Gloss
I wanted to include high gloss because it’s a great option for a highly stylized look. It can look so cool like in Chris Loves Julia’s study. But it’s a choice that’s going to show all the fingerprints, smudges, etc, so it may be a bit more high maintenance depending on where you use it.
That’s the guide! Hope this takes away any sheen stress so that you can confidently paint your beautiful walls and have them look exactly the way you want them.
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Living Room Reveal
