Choosing the right colour is the part most people think about — but the finish is what determines how a room actually looks and how long it lasts. A beautiful colour in the wrong finish can make walls look patchy, make imperfections stand out, or leave surfaces impossible to clean in rooms that need it most.
Here's a room-by-room guide to selecting the right sheen level, and the reasoning behind each recommendation.
Understanding the four main finish levels
No sheen
Absorbs light rather than reflecting it. Hides surface imperfections exceptionally well. Not washable — marks must be painted over, not wiped off.
Low to medium sheen
Slight sheen that gives walls depth and warmth. More durable than matt and can handle light cleaning with a damp cloth. Hides most imperfections.
Noticeable sheen
Reflects light clearly, giving a clean and bright appearance. Very durable and easy to wipe clean. Shows surface imperfections more readily.
High shine
Maximum durability and moisture resistance. Highly reflective — even small surface flaws are visible. Requires excellent prep and a skilled painter to apply well.
The rule of thumb: The higher the traffic or moisture in a room, the higher the sheen level you need. A matt finish in a kitchen will look grimy within months; a high-gloss finish in a bedroom will make every brush mark visible.
Room-by-room recommendations
One mistake most DIY painters make
Using the same finish on walls and ceilings. A wall in eggshell with a ceiling in flat (white) immediately reads as intentional and professional. Painting both in the same finish with the same colour makes the room feel flat and box-like. The finish contrast is as important as the colour contrast.
Does prep work matter more than the paint?
Yes — especially if you're using a higher sheen finish. A semi-gloss or gloss finish will faithfully reflect every crack, uneven patch, or poorly sanded joint on the wall surface. The higher the sheen, the more thorough the prep needs to be: filling, sanding, priming, and a final sand before the finish coat.
At ProFix, our painters spend as much time on preparation as they do on painting itself. This is why our finishes look sharp and last for years — not months.
Avoid matching paint in-store to an old chip. Paint colour shifts significantly as it dries, and after years on a wall it has often faded. For touch-ups or colour matching, always test a small patch on the wall in natural daylight before committing to a full coat.