What Kind of Finish to Paint a Bathroom?

The Options

• When it comes to interior paint choices, five general types of finishes are available. The finish with the least amount of sheen is matte and the shiniest of all the finishes is high-gloss. In between matte and high-gloss are eggshell, satin and semi-gloss finishes. Eggshell and satin are similar finishes, with satin being the shinier of the two. A semi-gloss is shiny, but lacks the plastic-like appearance that a high-gloss produces.

Wall Condition

• Unlike eggshell, satin and gloss, flat or matte paint finishes have no reflective properties. The shinier the paint, the more you will notice flaws such as dents, bends and cracks in your bathroom walls. If the bathroom walls are new or unmarred, your paint finish options are wide open. On the other hand, if your bathroom walls are older, you may want to opt for a matte or eggshell finish to disguise these blemishes.

Cleaning

• One thing to consider before settling on a paint finish is how much use the bathroom receives. If the bathroom is in a guestroom that sees little traffic, a flat paint should fare well. On the other hand, if the bathroom gets a lot of use, a shinier finish may be more suitable. The shinier the finish, the easier the walls are to clean. While flat paints are difficult to clean, eggshell and satin are washable. If, however, you find yourself scrubbing the bathroom walls often, a gloss finish is best.

A Final Note

• Painting does not begin and end with the walls. If the bathroom walls are getting a fresh coat of paint, the ceiling and trim deserve the same respect if the project is to look complete. Choose a semi or high-gloss finish to make the trim around doors and windows pop after painting. Most ceilings require nothing more than a coat or two of flat paint, and the bathroom ceiling is no exception.