Which paint finish is right for you?
When our eyes, or visual perceptions, are involved it’s safe to say that it’s a completely subjective experience. However, there are a few tricks you can use when choosing a paint to help you achieve the space of your dreams. The first place to start is choosing a finish, the way a paint appears and interacts with light is paramount to any room’s ambience and ultimately success. So how do you choose the perfect finish, or what’s referred to as “sheen”? Here are our two favourite things to keep in mind.
One. Traffic.
How busy a room is will play a huge part in the kind of finish you choose for its walls, ceiling or even floor. Something to keep in mind is that, in general, the lower the sheen level in a paint, the less durable it will be. So if you have a room where the kids play, and walls get a bit of traffic, something with more of a sheen will be a better choice. It’ll be easier to clean and maintain, while also being my resistance to use. That doesn’t mean there aren’t super durable matte finishes, because there certainly are, especially for living rooms.
Two. Light.
Lightning is key to the ambience in any room, so using a paint that maximises the potential of any room’s light is an effortless way to ensure the effects you are after. The more sheen a finish has, the more reflective it will be – which means it will help to brighten up the room it’s used in. Matte finishes absorb, as opposed to reflect, light, which means they’ll create lighting conditions to highlight depth of colour, hide imperfections while allowing you to be more brave with colours as it tends to soften very bright hues.
There you have it, two simple principles to keep in mind when selecting a finish for your walls. If you want to make the most out of light, sheens and lighter hues will likely work well, however if you want to go bold and bright, a matte finish would allow you to do just that. If you’re still unsure please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and our colour experts will be more than happy to help you find the perfect finish.