painting the home........

i heard that in the kitchen u should have a semi gloss finish on the walls and in the other rooms (bedroom, livingroom, den...)u should have an eggshell finish on the walls....does this sound right?

Re: painting the home........

any room with a lot of traffic should have a semi gloss, b/c it does clean more easily...but it really is a personal preference

Message edited 1/8/2007 7:10:03 PM.

Re: painting the home........

i have eggshell in my kitchen, baths and halls. flat every where else. personal preference.

Re: painting the home........

No semigloss for me. I have eggshell (satin..whatever they call it) finish everywhere.

Re: painting the home........

That's how we've painted both of our houses.

Re: painting the home........

We have eggshell in the kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom, etc. A friend of ours who was a painter said that if our house was his, he'd have the whole downstairs in eggshell and all the bedrooms he'd have flat. And i agree. Eggshell can clean up better and more easily. With flat, if you get a scuff or anything, you have to touch it up with paint.

Re: painting the home........

In the old days the finishes were much different. IMHO I think semi-gloss is WAY too shiny and should be reserved for like crown mouldings and stuff. My walls in my bedroom are flat and then depending on the brand of paint you use there are usually 2 other finishes between flat and semi. Figure out which brand of paint you are using and speak to the people there. They will explain the differences and show you samples of the finishes. HTH

Re: painting the home........

Eggshell on all walls in the house. Eggshell is scrubable.

Semi-glass on all trim through out the house.

Re: painting the home........

Re: painting the home........

BM now makes a scrubbable flat.

We used matte & eggshell on some of our walls (we have plaster walls that needed repair and these finishes -particularly the matte/flat- digsuise some of the unwanted flaws), semi-gloss trim.

Message edited 1/9/2007 9:34:29 AM.

Re: painting the home........

Are satin & eggshell the same thing? Or similar?

Is there a reason for semi-gloss on the trim? I bought satin for that too, but didn't do it yet.

Re: painting the home........

Re: painting the home........

Matte Finish
Whether called flat finish or wall paint, this type of interior paint has a matte surface. This paint finish is usually used on interior walls. It's expecially good if you have to camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as this finish does not reflect light. While some flat paints are advertised as washable today, you may need to touch up scratches or marks by covering with a bit more paint, so be sure you keep some on hand after you've finished painting.

Flat Enamel
Flat enamel is a paint with a durable flat, matte finish. It's a good choice for powder rooms and halls, as it holds up to occasional cleaning.

Eggshell Finish
If you can picture the very low sheen of the shell of an egg, you have an idea of how an eggshell paint finish will appear. With only a slight hint of shine or gloss, it's good for walls and holds up better with cleaning than a flat finish paint.

Satin Finish
Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas which get a lot of traffic. Paint with a satin finish is formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing.

Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss paint is most often used on doors, trim, and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. It is easily cleaned and lays down a nice, subtle shine, without being too glitzy. Take care with pre-paint preparation work, as poorly prepared surfaces can be a bit distracting when highlighted by a semi-gloss surface.

Glossy
High gloss paints have an almost reflective quality, as their shiny finish mimics the look of enamel or plastic. Though not widely used in home interiors, it is becoming more popular for a dramatic look on cabinets, trim, and furniture in very formal and very contemporary settings. This finish will magnify any surface imperfections, so careful preparation and sanding is essential before painting with high gloss paints.

Cleanability and Durability
While most manufacturers have developed all paint finishes with good cleaning qualities, a general rule is that the shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to washing and cleaning.

Kid-Friendly Finishes
When painting children's rooms, many painters recommend using an eggshell or satin paint on the walls and semi-gloss for doors and moldings. These finishes are formulated to better withstand repeated cleanings.

Rustic Looks
In order to give a worn or old look, use flat finish paints for walls or furniture. If cleanability is an issue, you might select a flat enamel for trim or an eggshell finish for walls.

High Gloss Looks
Rather than choosing a high gloss paint for a whole room, use it sparingly in select locations, such as doors and trim. The brilliant surface can appear a bit cold and uninviting. Remember to spend extra time preparing the surfaces to be painted glossy, as this finish tends to really point out any surface imperfections.

Ceiling Paint
If you're looking for a basic white ceiling, you can buy pre-mixed, matte finish paints off the shelf at almost any paint or home improvement store. Because cleanabiltiy or coverage is not a particularly important consideration, some ceiling paints use cheaper formulations. If you need an exact color match for the color scheme of your room, choose regular tinted flat wall paint.

Ceiling Finishes
Ceilings in most rooms are painted with a flat finish paint. You could also select an eggshell finish if the surface of the ceiling is flawless. Choose a glossier finish for good light reflection, but only if the ceiling is newly resurfaced and has no blemishes.

Kitchens and Baths
Any room, such as a kitchen or bathroom, that will be exposed to water, splashing, or steam, is best painted with a semi-gloss paint. A guest bath or powder room which will have less-frequent use, could be painted with lower-gloss paint, such as satin or eggshell finish.

Message edited 1/9/2007 11:33:49 AM.

Re: painting the home........

I always thought semi-gloss was for trim, that's what I have. Eggshell for walls.