How to Choose the Right Paint Finish for Every Room in Your Home

Most people spend hours choosing a paint colour and almost no time thinking about the finish - but the finish affects durability, cleanability, and how the room actually looks under light, sometimes more than the shade itself.

The main finish types

• Matte/flat: smooth, no shine, hides minor wall imperfections well - best for ceilings and low-traffic bedrooms
• Eggshell/satin: a slight sheen, easier to wipe clean than matte - good for living rooms and hallways
• Semi-gloss: more durable and washable, but shows wall imperfections more - suited to kitchens and bathrooms
• High-gloss: very durable and easy to clean, but highlights every surface flaw - best for doors, trims, and furniture rather than full walls

Room-by-room recommendation

• Kitchen: semi-gloss or satin - needs to handle grease and frequent wiping
• Bathroom: semi-gloss - resists moisture better than matte finishes
• Bedrooms: matte or eggshell - a softer look, and low traffic means durability matters less
• Living/dining areas: eggshell or satin - a balance of look and easy maintenance
• Ceilings: flat/matte - hides imperfections and avoids glare

A common mistake

Using a high-gloss finish on walls with uneven plastering makes every dent and bump far more visible under light. If your walls aren't freshly smoothed, a matte or eggshell finish will almost always look better than a glossy one, regardless of colour choice.