Beyond the Colour Chip: Paint Sheens

Gateway Colours
Sep 1, 2025
3 min read

Choosing the perfect paint colour is only half the battle; understanding paint sheen is just as crucial. Sheen dictates how much light paint reflects, influencing a room's look, feel, durability, and ease of cleaning. We'll explore our preferred paint brands and the common language we use to describe each sheen.

Sheen is measured by the percentage of light reflected. Lower percentages mean a flatter finish, while higher percentages indicate more shine. While specific percentages vary slightly by brand, here's a general guide:

0% - Flat: Common on ceilings.
2.5% - Matte: Common on ceilings and walls.
10% - Eggshell: Common on walls.
20% - Pearl: Common on trim, doors, and cabinets.
50% - Semi-gloss: Common on trim, doors, and cabinets.
90% - Gloss: Common on smooth accent furniture and doors.

Farrow & Ball: Depth and Luxury

Farrow & Ball is known for rich pigments and distinctive finishes that prioritize colour depth and a luxurious feel.

Dead Flat (2% sheen): An ultra-matte, velvety finish that absorbs light, making colours rich and hiding imperfections. Ideal for walls, ceilings, woodwork, and metal, especially for a "colour drenching" effect. Surprisingly durable and washable.

Estate Emulsion (2-3% sheen): A classic, chalky matte for exceptional colour depth and a soft, traditional feel. Best for low-traffic interior walls and ceilings (bedrooms, living rooms). Gently wipeable.

Modern Emulsion (7% sheen): A robust matte with a slight sheen, designed for everyday life. Washable, scuff-resistant, and mold-resistant. Perfect for high-traffic areas, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Estate Eggshell (20% sheen): A low-sheen pearl for interior woodwork and furniture, offering a traditional eggshell look. Use on wainscoting, doors, architraves, radiators, and furniture.

Modern Eggshell (40% sheen): Farrow & Ball's toughest interior finish. This mid-sheen pearl is highly durable, washable, and resistant to scuffs and stains. Excellent for kitchen cabinets, wainscoting, stairs, and even floors.

Benjamin Moore: Coverage and Performance

Benjamin Moore offers a wide range of sheens known for excellent coverage and long-lasting performance.

Matte (3-10% sheen): A low-sheen finish for a smooth, contemporary look, great at hiding imperfections. Ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Ulti-Matte (within this range) offers enhanced durability for high-traffic areas and bathrooms.

Eggshell (10-25% sheen): A subtle, soft sheen that balances elegance with improved durability and washability. A versatile choice for general interior walls.

Pearl (20-35% sheen): A medium sheen with a subtle luster, offering high durability and easy cleaning. Often grouped with Satin (25-35% sheen), which has a slightly higher gloss and excellent stain resistance. Both are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, trim, doors, and cabinets.

Semi-Gloss (35-60% sheen): A highly durable, stain-resistant finish with a noticeable shine, standing up to frequent cleaning. Primarily for trim, molding, doors, cabinetry, and popular for kitchen cabinets.

High Gloss (60%-85%): The most reflective and durable finish, providing a mirror-like appearance. Extremely tough and easy to clean, but accentuates imperfections. Best for doors, trim, and furniture on perfectly smooth surfaces.

Annie Sloan: Simplified Elegance

Annie Sloan's Wall Paint simplifies choices with a core sheen that combines aesthetics with practicality.

Matte (approx. 2-6% sheen): A luxurious, soft matte finish with a subtle sheen that makes it surprisingly durable, washable, and wipeable. It maintains the rich, chalky depth of colour. Ideal for all interior walls and ceilings, including high-traffic areas, kitchens, and bathrooms. (Note: Annie Sloan also offers a "Satin Paint" at 10% sheen for furniture and trim).

MF Paints: Canadian Durability

MF Paints, a Canadian company, provides interior sheens for diverse needs, from subtle elegance to robust durability.

Flat / Suave (1-4% sheen): The lowest sheen, providing a non-reflective, matte appearance that hides imperfections and offers rich colour depth. Ideal for ceilings and low-traffic areas like bedrooms.

Velvet / Satin / Eggshell (4-10% sheen): These sheens offer a subtle luster, providing improved durability and washability. Great for walls in living rooms, dining rooms, and hallways.

Pearl / Platinum / Melamine (15-25% sheen): Medium-sheen finishes with a noticeable shimmer, highly durable, and easy to clean. Excellent for high-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, frames, and cabinets.

Semi-Gloss (35-55% sheen): A higher sheen with a distinct shine, very durable, scrub-resistant, and easy to clean. Primarily for trim, moldings, doors, windows, and cabinetry. Also suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.

Glossy (85%+ sheen): The most reflective and durable finish, providing a mirror-like appearance. Extremely tough and resistant to frequent cleaning. Best for bold statements and extreme durability.

When selecting a paint sheen, consider the room's function, traffic levels, and your desired aesthetic. Higher sheens generally offer more durability and easier cleaning but highlight imperfections. Lower sheens provide a softer, more forgiving look. Understanding these nuances will help you make the perfect choice for your next painting project.