When it comes to painting the walls of your home, you always think about picking the perfect color. You have another big decision to make as well, though. You will need to choose the paint sheen to use as well.

There are five main sheens or finishes when it comes to interior paint. Each has its own properties of durability, coverage and appearance. You need to make sure to choose what you will need.

High Gloss

This finish has the highest durability and will be easy to wipe off splashes and stains. This is great for doors and cabinets, where you will often need to clean up messes. It is a super shiny polish and offers a very finished look. The only issue here is you need to make sure to properly prepare the surface before painting, because the high gloss will easily show imperfections.

Semi-Gloss

This is a great option – especially for doors, kitchens, bathrooms and lau

ndry rooms. You get the benefit of an easily cleanable surface, but it has

a more subtle gloss finish. This sheen also resists stains, which can be important in these locations of your home. You will also want to make sure to prepare the surface to be painted thoroughly due to its possibility of showing imperfections.

Satin

If you don’t want a glossy look, but want something that can be cleaned – this is a good option. A satin finish is good for high-humidity rooms and places with a lot of traffic. This is often used in children’s rooms. You cannot scrub this paint and the number of washings will be limited.

A key issue with this finish is that touch-ups are difficult, especially with darker colors. They will not blend in easily and will likely show.

Eggshell

If you are looking for something to cover up imperfections on your walls, an eggshell finish is the way to go. It is also often used in dining rooms and adult bedrooms. This is a similar finish to satin. This is another type that can be difficult with touchups. However, if you choose a lighter color with this finish, it will be easier.

Flat or Matte

You should really only use this finish in low-traffic areas. There is really no gloss to this finish, but it does a great job at hiding imperfections on your walls. The big downfall here is that it is really difficult to clean, so avoid using it in areas where children or pets will frequent.

If you plan to touch up your paint job, a flat or matte finish is the way you should go. With all finishes, a good preparation is important for getting a high quality result.