Modern Home by Alana Frailey Interior Design
Paint color: Nimbus, Benjamin Moore
Photography by: Colleen Scott Photography
A guide for how to choose the best paint finish for your walls, ceilings, cabinets, doors, and trim
Your paint finish can drastically change the look of the room, impact how long the paint job will last, and the clever contrast of mixing finishes will add depth and drama to your space.
Here’s a guide that compares each type of finish and where to use the finish in your home:
FLAT
Flat paint finish is a non-reflective, smooth finish that hides imperfections. The flat paint finish is a standard for most builders and contractors to use on walls and ceilings. Some flat paints can fade if they are wiped multiple times, so consider upgrading your finish from the standard line.
Our recommended Sherwin Williams flat finish is the Sherwin Williams Cashmere line.
Use on: Ceilings or walls
SATIN/EGGSHELL
Soft, slightly reflective finish like that of an eggshell.
Satin/eggshell finishes can be wiped and cleaned more often than flat finishes without fading. Satin/eggshell finishes can also add a little more luster than flat finishes without being distracting.
Use on: Walls, cabinetry, doors, or trim
SEMI-GLOSS
Just the right amount of shine and very durable.
Semi-gloss finishes are great for areas that you’ll clean frequently and create a nice contrast against flat or satin/eggshell walls.
Use on: Cabinetry, doors, or trim
HIGH GLOSS
High sheen and high impact.
A high gloss finish is durable and makes an upscale statement.
Use on: Statement walls, cabinetry, doors, or trim
Alana Frailey Interior Design is a full service interior design firm. We specialize in high-end furnishing and decoration, new construction, remodeling, and staging in our home base of Houston, Texas, as well as nationwide.
How can you choose
the perfect paint color
for your space?
Our Paint Guide covers our go-to resources, from choosing the perfect color and finish to how to swatch test in your space.
