You know the color you want your accent wall to be, but do you know what finish to use? A lot of people guess and look over the display to help them make a decision, but that can be an expensive and time-consuming mistake. The finish you choose needs to complement the color and overall design while interacting with the light for the desired effect. Otherwise, you’ll be focusing on a mess.
Types of Finishes
The first thing to look at is the type of finishes available:
- Matte: Offers a smooth appearance that hides blemishes well and is easier to touch up. However, it’s less durable and non-reflective.
- Eggshell: The most popular finish due to its soft and smooth appearance. It is low-sheen (reflection), fairly stain- and scuff-resistant, somewhat resistant to stains, and easier to wash. The downside is that it’s more difficult to touch up than satin finishes.
- Satin: A highly versatile option that is great for busy spaces. It’s durable, easy to clean, resistant to moisture and fading, and has a soft sheen.
- Semi-Gloss: This finish gives rooms a sleek and shiny appearance and is ideal for high-moisture rooms. It’s also easy to clean and more durable than other finishes but shows more blemishes.
- High-Gloss: Provides the highest level of reflection. This finish is generally used for outdoor spaces, doors, cabinets, and molding.
Factors to Consider
- What room is the accent wall in? Different rooms have different levels of activity, which should translate into the paint finish’s level of durability.
- How often do you clean these walls? Some rooms, like the living room or dining room, don’t need wall washing often. While others, like the bathroom or kitchen, will need frequent cleaning. Consider the ease of cleaning the finish provides.
- Remember the focus. Accent walls are supposed to be eye-catching, and some finishes are more “showy” than others. If your accent wall is scratched or has any imperfections, you’ll need to choose a finish that can hide imperfections well, such as a flat/matte.
- What is the sheen level of the other walls? You don’t want your accent wall to wildly contradict the rest of the room. In general, you want the sheen of your accent wall to match the sheen of the rest of the room.
- How much natural lighting do you have? Each paint finish offers a different sheen, which is the amount it will reflect light. The higher the sheen, the higher the reflective nature. High gloss, as the name suggests, is very shiny and light-reflective, while matte has the lowest sheen and luster; it will still reflect light but without a shiny appearance.
Still Need Help? Contact Imperial Painting!
Choosing the finish for your accent wall can be nerve-racking. It takes a lot of time to paint! Who wants to redo a wall because they chose the wrong finish?
If you’re nervous about choosing a finish (or starting an interior painting project), turn to our team at Imperial Painting. We have over three decades of experience managing home interior painting projects and can even help you select the right color and finish.
Contact us today to get started with a FREE design consultation.
