Most people spend weeks choosing a color and about ten seconds choosing a sheen. But sheen changes how that color looks on the wall, how much it shows dents and patches, and how well it survives fingerprints and scrubbing.
Flat and matte finishes hide imperfections best, which makes them a good choice for ceilings and for walls in low-traffic rooms like formal living rooms and adult bedrooms. The tradeoff is that they're harder to clean, although today's washable matte paints are much better than the old ones.
Eggshell has a soft, low glow and wipes clean more easily. It's the most common choice for living areas, hallways, and bedrooms, and it's what we recommend for most walls in family homes.
Satin is a step shinier and tougher. It works well in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kids' rooms, where walls get splashed, touched, and wiped often. It does show surface flaws more, so good drywall prep matters.
Semi-gloss and gloss are for trim, doors, and cabinets. They're hard and easy to clean, and they make trim stand out crisply against the walls. They also show every bump underneath, which is why we sand and fill trim carefully before painting it.
When in doubt, look at samples in your own room at different times of day. We're happy to bring samples and walk through the options during your estimate.