Everything You Need to Know About Paint Finishes

While semigloss and satin paint finishes have some characteristics in common (both are great for high-traffic areas and are easy to clean with just a damp cloth), there are differences you should take into account. Primarily, it’s important to remember that satin paint will show any flaws in its application (i.e. brush strokes), so if you’re a first-time DIY painter looking for something durable yet forgiving, consider opting for semigloss instead.

Picking the right shine level for your space is important. Not only will it impact how a color looks during certain times of day (that gray-green might look more blue than you expect!), but darker colors will naturally have more sheen, because they contain more colorant than lighter paint colors. So if you’re going dark and dramatic in your room but still want to hide some imperfections, you might opt to go down a finish in the shine department.

VOCs are volatile organic compounds: chemical compounds in paints that evaporate (off-gasing) into the air of your room post-painting for months or even years after painting. That distinct paint smell? That’s, most often, from VOCs. These emissions can be irritating to those with health considerations such as asthma and allergies. Paints labeled low-VOC must have fewer than 50 grams of VOC per liter for flat paint finishes. Those labeled zero-VOC must have fewer than 5 grams per liter.

But purchasing zero-VOC paint isn’t a foolproof way to 100% avoid VOCs, because adding color pigment to a base paint increases its VOC content, and some chemicals are “VOC exempt” from the EPA’s standards, making it complicated to claim a real-and-true zero-VOC label. Still, if you're taking health considerations into account when selecting your paint, keeping pesky VOCs in mind is a good idea. (VOC paints also often need more than one coat for great coverage, so remember that when painting.)

Reminder: It’s always a good idea to maintain good ventilation while painting, so open those windows regardless of whether you chose a zero- or low-VOC paint or not.

Chalkboard paint is exactly what the name suggests: a fun, fast, and easy way to make any surface in your home writable and erasable á la the classic dark chalkboards of old. To achieve great results, follow these simple tips.

1. Like when using magnetic paint, you want to take the time to prep the area to be painted. Tape off the trim and place drop cloths to protect the space, if necessary.
2. For the best results, it’s recommended that you use a short-nap roller if you’re covering a large space.
3. Let the wall or item cure after painting for three days. Then, cover the entire surface with white chalk and wipe it away using a damp cloth.

Brands like Benjamin Moore have premade chalkboard paints that are zero-VOC, too!

Milk paint may be new to you, but it’s been around for centuries. Antiques over a hundred years old may have been painted with milk paint—literally, paint made using casein, the protein in milk! It has other natural ingredients, too (such as clay, chalk, pigment, and limestone), all of which make it perishable. Thus, don’t be surprised that milk paint is sold in powdered form, not the silky liquid we’re used to seeing when we crack open a paint bucket from from the store. Use it on everything from walls to furniture.

The bonuses for milk paint are that its natural makeup means it’s zero-VOC and kid/pet-friendly. The finish veers toward matte, though, so if this doesn’t suit your needs, milk paint isn’t the way to go. However, it can be a great option to explore if you’re searching for an antiqued look for your next refinishing project. Brands to check out include Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint and The Real Milk Paint.

If a textured wall is screaming for TLC in your home and a fresh coat of paint feels like the siren call you’re searching for, don’t dismay! There are options for successfully painting textured walls.

Start by seeking out a primer specifically formulated for textured/rough surfaces. (Get it tinted close to the color you’re planning to paint for even better coverage.)

Next, select the right finish for your paint: More sheen will draw out the texture when the light hits it.

Prime and paint (multiple coats may be needed to ensure even coverage) using a “W” stroke, let dry, and enjoy your handiwork!

Flat finish is also known as matte finish and has the least amount of shine. Because it doesn't reflect light, it's the best choice to hide any imperfections like bumps or small cracks on walls. It also goes on smoother over rough surfaces, so it's a good option for textured walls. Keep in mind, flat paint is a little harder to keep clean, so it's not recommended for high-traffic areas like the kitchen or bathroom.

You can't really go wrong with eggshell finish on your walls. Sometimes called satin finish, eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but you won't be left with shiny walls. It also resists stains better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag. Eggshell finishes are often used in bathrooms, kitchens, kids' rooms, and other high-traffic areas.

Semigloss is tougher than eggshell, so it will show less wear. It reflects even more light when dry, though, so if there are any imperfections on your walls before you paint, they'll stand out. Semigloss stands up the best to water and cleaning, so it's a good choice for a kids' bedroom or bathroom. This finish is also often used for trim, doors, and furniture.

Reserve gloss paint for window and door trim. It's also a great choice for furniture because of its hard and shiny finish. Want a glam look? Try using glossy paint on the walls!

Alkyd (or oil-based) and latex paint aren't finishes. Rather, these terms refer to what makes up the paint product: oil or water. For most interior paint projects, latex—or water-based paint—is ideal. Latex dries quickly, cleans up easily with water, and doesn't have a strong odor. Alkyd dries slower and give off a strong smell. The plus to using alkyd paint is that it provides a smoother, almost hard, enamel-like finish that resists scratching, fingerprints, and stains. This type of paint tends to stick to its surface better, so it's a good choice for rougher surfaces, furniture, and even floors.

For the best finish, always start with a coat of primer, which preps new and old surfaces for paint. Back in the day, DIYers needed to be careful about not mixing oil-based paints and latex primers (and vice versa). But many primers today allow you to cover whatever the existing finish is as long as you prep the surface first. Talk to your paint sales associate to make sure the primer you buy will work. If you're painting over a bold color, ask the folks at the paint store to tint the primer so it matches your new paint color. You'll get much better coverage.

To achieve a "true white," the owner of this open-floor ranch home coated the walls, ceiling, and trim in Glidden's base paint in semigloss. The result: a crisp, bright white without any undertones.

To give both old and newer pieces a vintage, timeworn look, opt for Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint, which was coined by Annie in the '90s and refers to paints with a chalky, matte finish. When blogger Vanessa Pleasants reunited with her childhood piano, she immediately painted it chalk white for her Montana home. The best part: Little sanding or priming is required.