When you think of the paint on the walls of our home, most often people think first about colour. Although the colour choices you make are very important (obviously!), it’s important to also consider the kind of paint being used. I’m not referring to the brand, but the paint finish itself – gloss, eggshell and so on. It’s extremely important when you’re choosing the right paint finish to look at it from all angles.

Life gets messy sometimes, especially if you have kids. Sooner or later things end up on the walls. Are the paint finishes in your home designed to withstand daily life, and is it the right product for your particular lifestyle?

Let’s find out.

WATER-BASED PAINTS

Gone are the days of lead-based paint (thank goodness!). The vast majority of today’s paint products are water-based, which is not only better for our health but better for the environment as well, contributing to a smarter and safer home.

Water-based paints contain low levels of toxic emissions (low VOCs) so you can be sure your family isn’t breathing in any off-gasses. This type of paint is also easy to keep clean as you can simply wash off any mess with a damp sponge and mild dish soap.

When applied, water-based paint dries quickly so if you’re doing any spot repairs, these should dry in only a matter of hours, making home maintenance a breeze.

PAINT FINISHES

This one is tricky… sometimes it’s a matter of making the choice between what looks good and what will function for your family. Paint comes in many different types of finishes which play a role in your home’s design based on how they look when dried.

Matte Finish

Matte paint has a very dull finish with virtually no gloss at all. This is a great finish when you are aiming for a softer look to the room, as it reflects almost no glare from natural and unnatural light. It’s a very popular choice and often makes colours appear more deep and vibrant.

Matte comes with one challenge, though… you have to be extremely careful when you wash it as it can buff, leaving you with a shinier spot where you washed it. Matte paint is not a great choice for families with young children or pets, AKA people who need to wash their walls often.

Eggshell Finish

Eggshell is the most popular choice when it comes to paint finish in homes. It offers some of the benefits of matte paint in that colour is vibrant, but it has a bit of a sheen to it. This means your walls will have some reflectivity of light, but the tradeoff is improved durability. This paint is easier to clean and is often used in demanding, high-traffic areas of the home.

Semi-Gloss & Gloss Finish

Semi-gloss and gloss paints have the most reflective sheens and are very high in durability. You can wash these walls multiple times without the risk of damage, making this paint finish a great option for families. The extra shine also makes this a desirable choice when looking for upscale design options. 

When you paint your home in high gloss, natural or artificial light can reflect off of it for a classy effect.

So what’s the drawback to this paint finish?

Well, this type of paint tends to highlight flaws on the wall, so you need to make sure the walls you’re choosing for this paint are impeccable.

WHICH PAINT FINISH IS RIGHT FOR ME?

If you’re having a new home built and you’re choosing paint at your design appointment for its first application, the choice is simple. How often do you anticipate needing to clean your walls and what type of finish are you looking for in terms of design?

Since this application is the first, the only paint underneath is the primer coats applied as a base to the paint itself. And of course, your freshly installed and prepared drywall should be a quality installation, rendering an impeccable canvas on which to apply your preferred paint colour and finish.

However, if your paint is being applied over another coat of paint, you’ll need to know what type of paint was used in the layer you’re covering up. If the paint was oil-based, you’re not able to apply water-based paint on top as it won’t adhere. But all is not lost! If this is the case, you just need to lightly sand the existing layer in order for the new paint to adhere properly. It just adds one more step to your prep work.

Love your home even more by choosing the right paint finish and product, to ensure you adore everything about the new paint you’ve chosen.

Originally published Aug 4, 2018; updated Jan 13, 2023

Author: Sereena S.

Mom of two, wife to one, and a dog lover. Although cats can be okay too, but only sometimes...