PICK YOUR PAINT FINISH
Selecting sheen option no longer just a choice between gloss or matte
ONCE YOU’VE CHOSEN YOUR colours and are about to get started on your amazing home makeover, there’s one more question to think about. What type of finish should you use?
From high gloss to flat finishes, each has qualities that make it suitable for different use areas. There’s a trend factor in the choice of finish as well, where once high gloss finishes were all the rage, these days lower sheen finishes, with a softer look and an ability to hide flaws, are much more common.
The good news is it’s not as black and white as gloss or matte, there are midsheen options that offer flexibility to suit your space.
Here’s a guide to simplifying your paint finish choices.
Gloss: As the name suggests, these paints have a highly reflective surface. On the upside this makes them hardwearing and easier to clean, making them practical for high-use areas prone to fingerprints and dirt, such as kitchens, bathrooms and kids’ play areas. However, the more reflective finish does mean gloss finishes can highlight any dents, bumps or other imperfections in the surface. Outside, highgloss finishes on window trims or key architectural features will really make them “pop”. Try a high-gloss vivid colour for a dramatic front door using Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel, or for a high-gloss on weatherboards use Resene Hi-Glo gloss waterborne paint. Semi-gloss: With a slightly less-reflective surface than a gloss finish, semi-gloss paints are a little more forgiving on imperfections while still being easy to clean and stain resistant. They’re well suited for wooden cabinetry or furniture as well as exterior weatherboards and cement-based surfaces. For exterior weatherboards use Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne paint and for trim and joinery inside and out use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.
Satin: Sitting at the mid-point on the gloss spectrum, satin finishes tend to have more depth than matte or flat finishes but are less stain resistant than gloss or semi-gloss, though still robust enough for wipe-downs. They can work well in high-moisture areas like bathrooms as they won’t show drips. Try Resene Aquaclear Satin as a clear finish over your timber surfaces to protect the timber and allow its natural beauty to show through.
Low sheen: This tends to be the most popular finish for interior broadwall areas and is a safe choice where some sheen is desired but good cleaning properties are necessary, such as in living areas, hallways, bedrooms and playrooms. Outside lowsheen finishes are good over timber, concrete and plaster finishes. Use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen through all rooms from living areas to wet areas like bathrooms. Outside, use Resene Lumbersider on weatherboards and fences or use Resene X-200, a weathertight coating, over plaster finishes.
Flat: As they diffuse light, flat paints are better at concealing any surface imperfections. However, the matte finish may trap more dust and be more difficult to clean than higher sheen paints. Use in master bedrooms and more formal dining and living areas to accentuate the moodiness of darker and more weathered colours, rather than in high-use family spaces. Flat finishes are also excellent on ceilings. Use Resene SpaceCote Flat on ceilings for an easy-to-wipe-clean finish. View the sheen level boards at your local Resene ColorShop to see how a colour looks finished in different sheen levels. Top tip: Resene SpaceCote Clear can bring high-gloss durability to a flatter finish without the problem of showing up every flaw in the surface. Try it on bold-coloured feature walls or use it to adjust the sheen level of your interior colour.
Does colour make a difference?
Once you’ve thought about how your space will be used, it’s a good idea to use Resene testpots to try your chosen colour in your chosen finish to check if the finish changes the appearance.
Colours usually appear muddier or darker in a flat finish and high-gloss finishes will reflect more light making it seem cleaner and brighter.
If you have chosen dark, rich shades try going lower in sheen to accentuate their depth of hue.
While you’re testing, it’s also a good idea to look at the surface from different angles, as different sheen levels will reflect the light in different ways depending on the angle it’s viewed at.
For example, some low-sheen finishes may look very matte when viewed straight on but show a sheen when viewed from an angle. Remember to adjust your lighting too if you are changing from a very light to a very dark finish, or vice versa.
Mix your finishes
If your colour scheme is quite monochrome, or you just want to add subtle visual interest to a space you can try mixing different finishes in one room. You could try low-sheen walls and a flatfinish ceiling with high-gloss trims. Or try a high-gloss finish on any architectural features or furnishings you want to highlight against a flatter background.
It’s a subtle but effective way of adding depth and texture to your room. If you really like the aesthetics of a high-gloss finish but worry about it showing dents or bumps on your walls, just adding notes of gloss on window trims or even a piece of furniture could be the answer.
Fun and fancy finishes
Beyond choosing a level of sheen for your paint finish you can try something a little more creative for a dramatic effect.
Try Resene FX Faux Rust Effect on wooden, concrete or plaster surfaces to create an aged and industrial-style rust-like finish. Once applied the look will continue to develop as the coating ages. You can leave it as is or protect it with a clear finish such as Resene Waterborne Aquapel.
For something with glittering glamour, try a metallic finish using Resene FX Metallic, suitable for most interior and exterior surfaces. Try traditional metallics such as gold, silver or copper or experiment with different shades like Resene FX Metallic Sputnik to resemble the night sky or the warm pink of Resene FX Metallic Sugar and Spice. For a pearlescent finish try Resene FX Pearl Shimmer over your base colour.
Test out options first using Resene testpots until you find the combination that suits you.