Decorating
Brush Up on Paint: Know Your Matts From Your Glosses
Ease the pain of choosing paint finishes to maximise light, colour and practical function in your home
Both renovating and redecorating can be stressful – they are ranked right up there with other major events and strains of life. Just choosing the right paint colour can make your head spin, as there are so many to select from. But to make things even more difficult, you also have to factor in the perfect paint finishes for your interior applications. For example, you might like the effect of a particular paint finish, but will it be appropriate for the room?
The paint finish you use is important as it can affect the light, colour and the practical function of the rooms in your home. A colour consultant can help you with these paint-choice hurdles, but if you like to DIY and just want to feel confident you’re making the right choices, here’s a little helping hand…
The paint finish you use is important as it can affect the light, colour and the practical function of the rooms in your home. A colour consultant can help you with these paint-choice hurdles, but if you like to DIY and just want to feel confident you’re making the right choices, here’s a little helping hand…
Perfect trims. If you are painting your door and window trims in white, then high-gloss is the most durable. A glossy finish is easier to clean, and will be hardier against knocks by pets, toys, handbags, furniture, etc, as well as the act of repeatedly opening and closing the door or window.
EXPERT TIP: For the best finish, make sure the surfaces are sanded smooth before application.
EXPERT TIP: For the best finish, make sure the surfaces are sanded smooth before application.
Satin luxe. A feeling of luxury is added to a room using this smooth and velvety finish. Due to the paint’s higher gloss level, the colour is reflected and the room remains lighter than it would if you opted for the same colour but in a matt finish.
Matt black. This is a great finish for a wall in a low-traffic area – an area safe from sticky fingers and people and pets brushing by – such as behind furniture. A matt finish will also provide a deep colour with greater richness, so that your art and soft furnishings can be the interior stars they are meant to be.
DID YOU KNOW? A matt finish is perfect for camouflaging lumps and bumps and other surface imperfections versus a gloss finish which acts like a mirror and accentuates flaws.
DID YOU KNOW? A matt finish is perfect for camouflaging lumps and bumps and other surface imperfections versus a gloss finish which acts like a mirror and accentuates flaws.
Chip-free. Semi-gloss is a good choice for joinery and cabinetry. It has a subtle shine but won’t scream, “look at me!” This finish will also help against scuffing and chipping.
Light soaked. In a north-facing room a matt finish will soak up the rays without reflecting them so you won’t sit squinting while you sip your cup of tea.
THE DOWNSIDE: A matt finish is harder to keep clean so is not recommended for high-traffic areas or where children and pets play.
Step inside this Melbourne abode
THE DOWNSIDE: A matt finish is harder to keep clean so is not recommended for high-traffic areas or where children and pets play.
Step inside this Melbourne abode
Grime-free. A semi-gloss is highly recommended for a kitchen where there is high traffic, spillage or grease. It is also ideal for kitchen and bathroom walls where there is likely to be water or steam, as it will help resist mould.
DID YOU KNOW? The shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to washing and cleaning.
DID YOU KNOW? The shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to washing and cleaning.
South-facing. A satin finish is ideal in south-facing rooms as it will reflect the light and make the entire room feel naturally brighter.
See more of this home
See more of this home
Kid-friendly. Our kids’ rooms often see balls, chair scrapes, car tracks and all sorts of inspiring crayon drawings. This means you need a finish that stands up to regular scrubbings. (Of course, there are some drawings you might want to keep!)
EXPERT TIP: I would recommend satin for the walls and high-gloss for all the woodwork including the trims, skirtings and any wooden furniture.
YOUR SAY
Have you tried a finish in a room with unexpected results? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section.
MORE ON PAINT
From the Pros: 7 Top Tips for Painting Interior Walls
20 Ways to Inject Personality With Paint … Inside and Out
The Best Paints and Colours Under the Australian Sun
25 Awe-Inspiring Projects Using Just 1 Can of Paint
EXPERT TIP: I would recommend satin for the walls and high-gloss for all the woodwork including the trims, skirtings and any wooden furniture.
YOUR SAY
Have you tried a finish in a room with unexpected results? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section.
MORE ON PAINT
From the Pros: 7 Top Tips for Painting Interior Walls
20 Ways to Inject Personality With Paint … Inside and Out
The Best Paints and Colours Under the Australian Sun
25 Awe-Inspiring Projects Using Just 1 Can of Paint
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