You can pick the prettiest paint color on planet earth… and still end up mildly haunted by your walls.
Not haunted like ghosts rattling chains, more like: “Why do my hallway walls look like a crime scene of fingerprints?” Or: “How is there a permanent splash zone behind my bathroom sink when I swear I’m a civilized adult?” (Ask me how I know. Go ahead. I dare you.)
Most people obsess over color (fair, I’m also a paint chip hoarder), but sheen is the part that decides whether your paint job looks velvety and rich… or like it’s tattling on every bump, patch, and questionable drywall decision your house has ever made.
Color is the outfit.
Sheen is the attitude.
Sheen 101: Your Wall Is Basically a Giant Ring Light
Paint sheen is just how much light it reflects.
- Flat/matte = drinks up light
- Glossy = bounces light right back at your face like, “HELLO, HERE ARE YOUR WALL FLAWS.”
And here’s the sneaky part: the same exact color can look totally different depending on sheen. A navy in matte looks moody and expensive. That same navy in satin can look brighter and a little more “hi yes I’m in a rental kitchen with overhead lighting.”
If you only remember one thing: shinier paint will show more texture. Patched nail holes, wavy drywall seams, that one spot you “sanded enough probably” it all gets highlighted like it’s auditioning for a role.
Shiny paint is honest paint. Sometimes too honest.
My 5 “Don’t Be a Hero” Rules for Picking Sheen
Before you start assigning sheens to rooms like you’re the HGTV Sheen Fairy, run through these:
- Higher sheen = easier cleaning.
If your walls regularly meet sticky fingers, dog noses, or spaghetti night go up in sheen. - Older/rough walls need mercy.
If your walls have texture, patches, or “character” (read: crimes), a lower sheen will make everything look smoother. - Moisture demands a tougher finish.
Bathrooms, laundry rooms, steamy kitchens these don’t play nice with super flat paint. - Touch ups get harder as sheen goes up.
Flat blends like a dream. Semi gloss touch ups can look like you slapped a glossy Band Aid on the wall. - Very dark colors + dead flat can get weird.
Deep charcoal or navy in flat can “burnish” (aka get shiny streaks where it’s rubbed). For dark colors, I usually go at least eggshell, often satin.
Because “winging it” is not a paint finish. Sadly.
The Only Sheens You Actually Need to Know (No Table, I’m Not Your Spreadsheet)
Here’s the real world breakdown, in human terms:
Flat/Matte
- Best for: ceilings, adult bedrooms, low traffic rooms
- Why: hides flaws, looks rich and soft
- Catch: scrubbing can literally scrub the paint off (rude)
Eggshell
- Best for: living rooms, dining rooms, offices that don’t double as WWE arenas
- Why: nice middle ground, a little wipeable
- Catch: not as tough as satin if your house is… alive
Satin
- Best for: hallways, kids’ rooms, kitchens, basically anywhere life happens
- Why: cleans well, holds up to regular wiping
- Catch: will show more wall texture than matte
Semi gloss
- Best for: trim, doors, bathrooms (especially near showers)
- Why: super durable, moisture resistant
- Catch: highlights every bump and brush mark, so prep matters
High gloss
- Best for: cabinets, furniture, special details
- My opinion: not for walls unless you enjoy suffering and/or run a museum
- Catch: shows everything dust, ripples, your sins
Okay Fine: What Sheen Goes Where? (Room by Room, No Fuss)
Bedrooms
- Adults: matte is gorgeous and cozy.
(Just buy decent paint. Cheap matte can look chalky, like your bedroom got painted with sidewalk dust.) - Kids: satin. Always satin.
Kids produce mystery smudges like it’s their job.
Living Room / Dining Room
If it’s mostly grown ups sipping drinks and sitting politely: eggshell can work.
If people sprawl, pets exist, and someone will inevitably lean on the wall mid conversation like they’re in a sitcom: satin.
(There is always that guest. You know the one.)
Kitchen
Satin walls. Semi gloss trim/cabinets.
Cooking puts a weird invisible film on surfaces over time grease mist is real and it does not care about your dreams. Satin lets you wipe without destroying the finish.
Bathroom
This is where sheen earns its paycheck.
- Most bathrooms: satin on walls is great.
- Near the shower / bad ventilation: semi gloss is safer.
And I need you to hear me: paint is not a substitute for a working fan. Run the fan during showers and for 20-30 minutes after. Future you will thank you. Mold will not.
Hallways + Entryways (aka “The Wall Touching Olympics”)
If you have a busy house, go satin. Backpacks, laundry baskets, hands sliding along the wall these areas get beat up.
Could you do eggshell? Sure.
Could you do flat? You could also wear white pants to a spaghetti dinner.
Laundry Room / Home Office
- Laundry: treat it like a mini bathroom humidity and splashes happen. Satin is your friend.
- Home office: if glare bugs you, matte or eggshell looks softer. If clients/people come in and you want it to stay crisp, eggshell is a safe bet.
Ceilings + Trim: The “Stop Overthinking It” Version
Ceilings
Flat. Almost always.
Any sheen on a ceiling loves to spotlight roller marks and drywall seams. And once you see those, you’ll stare at them forever, like a cursed painting.
Trim, Doors, Baseboards
Go one or two sheen levels higher than the walls.
My go to combo for most homes:
- Flat ceiling
- Matte or satin walls (depending on the room)
- Semi gloss trim/doors
Satin trim can work if you hate shine, but I still like semi gloss for durability especially around doors where hands constantly grab.
One Annoying Truth: “Satin” Isn’t the Same Across Brands
Here’s the part that makes me mutter in the paint aisle: brands don’t label sheen consistently. One company’s eggshell can look like another company’s satin with the same paint color light value. So the word on the can is a suggestion, not a promise.
What I do (and what you should do, unless you love regret)
- Buy sample quarts in your actual color in 2-3 sheens.
- Paint big swatches directly on the wall (not poster board poster board lies).
- Look at them morning, afternoon, and night.
Those samples might cost you $25-$40 total, but repainting a whole space because your walls look weirdly shiny in a soft green shade? That costs your money and your will to live.
Quick Answers I Get Asked All the Time
What’s easiest to touch up?
Flat/matte, hands down. The shinier you go, the more likely you’ll need to repaint a larger section to blend.
Should the same sheen be used everywhere?
Nope. Rooms have different needs. But keeping trim sheen consistent throughout the house does make everything feel more pulled together.
Do glossier finishes need more coats?
Usually, yes. And thinner coats win. Thick glossy paint loves to show brush marks like it’s proud of them.
If you pick sheen on purpose, your walls will behave on purpose. And that truly is the dream.