Paint is the most economical and practical way to completely transform a room, as well as being relatively easy to maintain. While choosing a colour is often the first port of call – and we have advice on doing so on page 98 – the type of paint finish can have an impact on the finished look and how the paint performs, so should be carefully considered, too.
The different terms and names used on tins of paint can be mind-boggling, with variations on flat, matt, eggshell, satin, silk and gloss used, along with a host of special ingredients that give the paint a certain performance factor. Here we get expert advice on why paint finishes matter, what they mean, and how they impact the colour, look, and longevity of a paint.
FLAT AND MATT
For most, emulsion paint is the premier choice for walls, with matt or flat finishes dominating the market. Water-based matt paints are easy to apply and, as Rob Green, founder of Coat Paints, explains, “Because they don’t reflect any light, they won’t highlight any imperfections, so you get a flawless finish on walls.” A sheen spectrum is used to describe the finish of a paint: “Most flat finish emulsions have a percentage of sheen between 4% and 7%. The more sheen in the finish, the less opacity, so you lose some of the hiding
