Bathroom – Use a satin or eggshell sheen to help ward off watermarks. These large surfaces tend to collect dust, similar to furniture within the interior, which requires regular cleaning, and semi-gloss or high-gloss paint finish is best.

Trim. To learn more about specific uses for each type of paint sheen, read on. If properly applied to a sound surface, semigloss paint will resist the effects of weathering and general wear and tear for longer than satin paint. Semi-gloss paint finish is widely used on all interior trim, which includes door jambs, and doors themselves. Browse interior paints available in Semi-Gloss Finish. The satin finish allows for a softer, more subtle look than a semi-gloss. Collect this idea.
Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is great for windows, doors and trim or any area that you would like to highlight and is excellent for: Wood trim.

cabinets, doors, furniture, and windows.

In the paint’s specifications, companies may say that the paint is suitable for trim, baseboards. I’ve used four different colors on doors and trim: Behr’s standard semi-gloss white that you just pick up right off the shelf, Behr’s Bit of Sugar (a white-white), Behr’s Limousine Leather (black) and Crumb Cookie by Valspar (more of a creamy white). Semi-gloss paint is also much smoother than satin paint at a microscopic level, which reduces the effects of many sources of wear. Scratches and peeling paint can be expected on a much-used surface like the garage door. Cabinets. These sheens reference the aesthetics and performance of the paint. “That’s not true.
Eggshell, satin and semi-gloss fall somewhere in the middle. Furniture.

With semi-gloss and gloss sheens, you can grab a wet cloth and usually wipe away any dirt or grime. Trim paint falls within the category of interior paint, with a gloss of satin, semi-gloss, gloss or high gloss. This finish gives the liberty of rigorous cleaning with a damp cloth, continual dusting. My personal preference may fall to flat paint because I like the look, but most people are quite happy with eggshell paint, which has a soft glow to it where the light hits. When these areas are sanded and touched up, the results between semi-gloss and satin vary greatly. Semi-gloss is often used for trims and moldings, but, depending upon the look you desire, a satin finish may also be used. A: Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. “A lot of people think the higher the sheen, the more washable it is,” says Andy Neis, owner of highly rated Andy’s Custom Painting in Indianapolis.

Don’t go with a semi-gloss, it’s way too shiny. Doors. Closet doors. Kitchen – Use a satin or semi-gloss paint, which are easier to wipe down. Flat is on the no-shine end of the spectrum, while gloss is shiniest. Flat. Trim paint usually comes pre-tinted in bright white and in base colors that can be custom-tinted. Osterried says there are five basic paint sheens: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and gloss.