Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Sheen controls how light behaves
- The smoother the sheen, the harsher the truth
- Durability is tied to sheen, not just paint quality
- Why sheen matters so much on cabinets
- The myth of “one finish fits all”
- Why professionals talk less and prepare more
- Sheen is where experience quietly shows
You begin to see a pattern after a sufficient number of years in this trade. The majority of issues that clients experience with paint are not related to colour. They come from sheen.
Sheen is not the first thing that people discuss. It lacks the drama of colour, the immediate appeal of a before-and-after photograph. However, when you have been painting interiors long enough, you come to know that sheen is what contributes more to the appearance, wear and age of a surface than nearly anything.
Something that DIY videos hardly ever explain well. They will demonstrate to you a wall being rolled in a single finish and proceed. Real homes don't work that way.
Sheen controls how light behaves
Fundamentally, sheen is concerned with light reflection. Flat paint absorbs light. Gloss reflects it. All the others are in between. Matte and flat finishes are tolerant. They diffract light, and this conceals surface flaws. This is why they are frequently applied on ceilings and older walls where perfection is not a realistic expectation.
Eggshell and satin add a bit of reflectivity. These finishes do not harden flaws but are more durable and washable. The balance of them makes them a popular living space and hallway.
Semi-gloss and full gloss are another animal. They are direct reflections of light and this implies that they reveal everything. All the joints, all the ripple, all the sanding marks are seen. It is also due to that reflectivity that they are durable and easy to clean.
This behaviour has nothing to do with taste. It's about physics.
The smoother the sheen, the harsher the truth
This is what experience soon teaches us: the more sheen, the more preparation is required.
A gloss finish on a surface that is not well prepared does not forgive. It exposes. That is why professional painters take so much time in prep when it comes to a higher sheen product. The paint must be correct before it comes out.
This is particularly so with cabinetry and trim. When clients hire professional cabinet painters, they're usually after a clean, refined look. That appearance is only possible when the surface is repaired, sanded and made ready to a finish most people never see but always notice in the final work.
Durability is tied to sheen, not just paint quality
The other fact that the homeowners are hardly informed about is that durability tends to go up with sheen. Flat finishes are beautiful, but they are easily scuffed and do not like being scrubbed. Satin and semi-gloss are much more practical in everyday use. Full gloss is hard as nails, but only when used properly.
The important fact is that sheen selection influences maintenance. A flat painted wall in a hallway will not age the same as an eggshell painted wall. That's not a flaw. It is simply the way the material acts. Good painters consider the use of a space, not only its appearance on the first day.
Why sheen matters so much on cabinets
Cabinetry is where the mistake of sheen is costly. Cabinet surfaces are touched all the time. They handle moisture, oils, heat, and cleaning products. The incorrect sheen or incorrect system will result in premature wear, dulling, or peeling.
Professional cabinet painters understand that cabinetry isn't just a smaller version of a wall. It needs adhesive, hard and durable coatings. The choice of sheen is a significant factor in the performance of those coatings in the long run. It is one of those fields where experience is much more important than enthusiasm.
The myth of “one finish fits all”
Among the greatest myths in interior painting is that a single finish can be applied everywhere. Walls, trim, doors, cabinets, ceilings.
As a matter of fact, every surface is different and should be approached differently. Walls move. Trim gets knocked. Doors get handled. Cabinets get abused.
Applying the appropriate sheen at the appropriate location is not upselling. It is common sense supported by decades of observation of what works and what does not.
Why professionals talk less and prepare more
When you have ever dealt with experienced painters, you might find that they do not discuss trends much. They talk about surfaces.
They will examine the way light illuminates a room. They will touch a wall with their hand. They'll ask how a space is used. All that makes sheen choices way before a brush is loaded.
At The English Painter, this mindset comes from years of seeing how different finishes age in real homes, not showrooms. It is not about impressing on the first day. It is to produce work that still appears correct years later. Also, it is important to note that having pets, children, or teenagers can affect the sheen recommendation of a project.
Sheen is where experience quietly shows
Anyone can apply paint. Fewer individuals know how sheen plays with light, texture, and time.
It is that knowledge that makes the difference between a paint job that appears good and one that feels like it was done on purpose. That is why professional painters take their time in the choice of finishes, even when nobody is around.
Since paint does not simply adorn a surface in the end. It reveals it. And lustre determines the sincerity of that disclosure.