The perfect finish – to gloss or not to gloss

Gloss, semi-gloss, low sheen and flat finishes all have their place in a completed project.

Changing gloss levels on different surfaces can impact to a room

Changing gloss levels on different surfaces can add depth, texture and impact to a monochrome room.

These walls are painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Triple Black White with the fireplace in semi-gloss Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Half Black White. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, fireplace stencil pattern in Resene Triple Black White and Resene Eighth Black White, tables in Resene Triple Black White, artwork in Resene Eighth Black White and wall sconces in Resene Black White. Lamp, candle holders from A &C Homestore, couch from Soren Liv, chair from David Shaw, cushions from Baya. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Choosing your colour scheme is at the heart of any successful home makeover – inside or out. But there’s another aspect of coming up with a successful look that is important when it comes to making your colours really sing, and last – and that is choosing the right finish.

Gloss, semi-gloss, low sheen and flat finishes all have their place in a completed project. While which one you choose for different parts of your project, can come down to trends and personal taste, each finish has unique features that make them more suited to certain areas and uses.

The big picture

When it comes to choosing your finish, Resene Colour Expert Amy Watkins says it’s important to keep in mind what type of space you are trying to create. “Think about the atmosphere you want in the room.

“For example, if you are looking at some kind of media room my recommendation would be to stick to a low sheen or flat finish such as Resene SpaceCote that isn’t going to reflect too much light. On the other hand, a children’s bedroom might be a space where you play with effects and more playful finishes like those achieved with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and the Resene FX Metallic range.

“When you’re planning, remember that changing the gloss level of your paint will change the way your colour looks on the surface. You might find that means you can even use the same colour on the ceiling, walls, and trim areas of a room, but change the gloss level to subtly change the colour tone.”

Changing the level of gloss on your painted surfaces can also change the visual ‘texture’ of a surface, making it appear rougher or smoother. For example, walls painted in a flat finish such as Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to more muted or darker shades like deep brown Resene Transition or green Resene Off The Grid, can give a suede-like effect that exudes comfort and luxury.

“Bringing in texture adds an element of warmth that creates a relaxed setting, even when looking at cooler-toned colours,” Amy says.

Top tip: Resene SpaceCote Clear can bring extra durability to your interior wall paint finish. Try it on bold-coloured and dark feature walls.

Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples says when experimenting with gloss levels it’s important to consider how they look from different angles as different sheen levels will reflect the light in different ways depending on where you’re standing.

He recommends visiting your local Resene ColorShop when you can view sheen boards that have been created for exactly that reason. “Some low sheen finishes may look very matte when viewed straight on but can show a sheen when viewed from an angle. Make sure you take that into consideration when considering your space.” Resene ColorShop staff can also offer extra expert advice on how to handle sheen in your rooms.

Higher gloss levels can look cleaner and fresher as they bounce more light off a wall, while flatter finishes will often look earthier, Jay says. Gloss surfaces are typically easier to wipe clean but can also show imperfections. Flatter surfaces are the opposite. They can be harder to cleaner, but less prone to showing up dents or marks on the surface.

Top tip: If you think you’ve gone too glossy or too matte on your surface, you can try applying a clear Resene finish to adjust the sheen. Talk to your Resene ColorShop about the best option for your project.

Using flat and low sheen finishes

Flat and low sheen finishes can give darker colours a warm, velvety quality and, as they don’t reflect as much light, they are excellent in media or retreat rooms.

Walls painted in Resene Carpe Noctem, floor in Resene Colorwood Shade, table in Resene Epic, planters in Resene Ocean Waves (far left) and Resene Boost (far right) and battens in Resene Epic, Resene Ocean Waves, Resene Boost and Resene Lakeside. Glassware from Bodum, sofa from Interior Warehouse, plants from Florisdale Flowers. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

Staining wood features

Staining wood features and adding colour effects are innovative ways to add different levels of sheen and texture to your room.

Rear walls stained in Resene Colorwood Touch Wood, floor painted in Resene Creme De La Crème, tabletop and lightshade in Resene Tobacco Brown and Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Sour Dough, table legs in Resene Tobacco Brown, chairs in Resene Bokara Grey, vase in Resene Bokara Grey, door in Resene Sour Dough. Painting by Brenda Clews, shelving from French Country Collections. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

How to choose

The standard placement of finishes in a typical room would be flat on the ceiling, low sheen on the walls, with either a semi-gloss or gloss on trim areas, Amy says.

When it comes to exterior surfaces, Jay says the level of gloss often comes down to what materials you are painting over. As a general rule rougher surfaces tend to be painted with a lower sheen finish like Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, while smoother surfaces such as new concrete and weatherboards tend to be painted in a slightly higher gloss such as Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss.

Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of different surface finishes.

Gloss paints

Gloss paints are those with greater than 80% gloss such as Resene Hi-Glo, Resene Enamacryl, Resene Super Gloss.

Using a lower sheen or flatter finish

Using a lower sheen or flatter finish can give colours an earthier finish that adds warmth and cosiness, even in darker rooms.

Back wall painted in Resene Double Masala, skirting in Resene Bokara Grey, floor in Resene Colorwood Shade, bedside table in faux woodgrain effect using Resene Half Thorndon Cream and Resene Triple Masala, chair in Resene Scrub, lightshade in Resene Teak, accessories in Resene Flax, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream and Resene Biscotti and bedhead stain washed in colours from the Resene Colorwood We Speak Beach collection – Resene Breathe Easy, Resene Bask and Resene Shade, with grid lines painted in Resene Half Bokara Grey. Basket, throw, bedlinen from Citta Design, lamp from Lighting Direct, pouffe from Freedom. Project by Moneuan Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Pros: Gloss paints have a highly reflective surface and are easier to clean than paints with less surface smoothness. They are ideal for areas exposed to heavy traffic or heavy use, especially where fingerprints, grease or grime are common. Colours tinted into high gloss paints appear cleaner and more intense than colours tinted into flat paints.

Cons: Due to their highly reflective appearance, gloss paints tend to highlight surface imperfections. If the surface to be painted is marred or irregular it is best to select a paint with less sheen.

Semi-gloss paints

Semi-gloss have a gloss level of 30-45% such as Resene Sonyx 101, Resene Lustacryl, Resene Lusta-Glo.

Pros: Semi-gloss paints have a slightly glossy appearance, offer good stain resistance and are easy to clean. Paints with a semi-gloss appearance are excellent for use on many of the same areas as gloss paints. They are ideal for walls and woodwork that is subject to wear, as well as weatherboards and exterior cementitious surfaces.

Cons: Can still show some irregularities in the surface and will still reflect a lot of light making it less suited for darker areas such as studies or media rooms.

Low sheen paints

Low sheen paints are 3%-19% gloss, such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, Resene Zylone Sheen, Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, Resene X-200.

Pros: Low sheen paints are an ideal choice where some sheen is desired and good cleaning properties are necessary, such as in living areas, hallways, bedrooms and playrooms. Outside, low sheen finishes are most commonly used over timber, concrete and plaster finishes. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen can even be used in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Cons: The slight sheen will still tend to highlight surface imperfections on ceilings. Lower sheen paints are not as easy to clean as higher sheen ones.

Flat paints

Flat/matt paints have less than 2% gloss, such as Resene SpaceCote Flat, Resene Ceiling Paint.

Pros: Flat paints diffuse light, so they tend to conceal surface imperfections better than paints with higher sheen levels making them a good choice for general use on walls and ceilings, especially those that are dented or rough. This makes them particularly suited to ceilings.

Cons: Flat finishes have a micro rough texture that may trap dirt and make cleaning more difficult than higher sheen paints. It is wise to use flat paints only in areas that do not tend to get soiled.

Jay’s top tip: If you have an area you really want to stand out, like a front door, go with a full gloss like waterborne Resene Enamacryl. It’s hard-wearing and gives your colour greater intensity so it really stands out. If you want to be able to wipe the surface of your ceiling, use Resene SpaceCote Flat instead of Resene Ceiling Paint.

Other finishes to consider

A mix of different finishes within a space can give your room great visual impact, even if you have a parted back or monochrome colour palette. As well as thinking about levels of gloss, you can add other options into the mix for both practical and stylistic reasons. Some of these might be:

Wood stains. Adding a stain to your wood surfaces can be an impactful way to add visual interest to your room, while protecting the surface. Resene Colorwood interior wood stains and Resene Woodsman exterior wood stains will leave your wood with a flat or low-sheen finish. The gloss of Resene Colorwood can be altered with a clear finishing product which will also protect the wood, such as Resene Aquaclear gloss, or try a lower sheen option such as Resene Qristal Clear Poly-Satin or Resene Aquaclear satin. Don’t apply clear finishes direct over exterior timber or over exterior wood stains as these don’t perform well outside. Exterior wood stains are designed to be applied as is, with no clear coats.

Paint effects. Get creative with your decorating to give your surfaces the appearance of different finishes. For example, Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with different tonally similar shades can give your walls a weathered or limewashed effect. Add accents in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect to add a weather metallic look or make use of Karen Walker Chalk Colour paints from Resene ColorShops for a velvety, super-matte finish that works particularly well on upcycled furniture.

Colours mentioned in this blog...