Paint Sheen, Paint Types and Colors: A Plain Guide

Sheen, paint type and color cause more second thoughts than anything else in a paint job. This guide gives short answers, with notes for Detroit's older plaster walls and its cold, wet winters.

Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.

What sheen should I use for walls and trim, and should trim be satin or semi-gloss?

Use a low sheen on walls and a higher sheen on trim. Flat or matte hides the most. Eggshell and satin are easier to wash. Semi-gloss is the usual choice for trim, doors and cabinets.

Should trim be satin or semi-gloss? Semi-gloss is the traditional answer because it wipes clean and sets the trim apart from the wall. Satin is a good choice on old trim with many dents and paint layers, because it shows fewer of them.

Eggshell or satin for living room walls?

Eggshell suits most living rooms. It has a soft, low glow and can be wiped. Satin is shinier and tougher, and it makes sense where walls get touched a lot.

On old plaster, which is rarely flat, eggshell is the kinder choice. Satin catches the light from windows and shows waves and repairs.

Flat or eggshell to hide bad walls?

Flat hides bad walls best. It reflects almost no light, so dents, patches and uneven plaster are harder to see.

The cost is washability. Standard flat paint marks when scrubbed. Better grades of matte paint are washable and hide nearly as well. For rough walls in a busy room, a quality matte is a good middle choice.

What is the best paint for a bathroom or kitchen?

For a bathroom or kitchen, the best paint is a quality acrylic in satin or semi-gloss, or a paint sold for baths and kitchens that resists moisture and mildew.

These rooms get steam, splashes and cleaning. A higher sheen sheds water and wipes down. Prep matters as much as the product: soap film and grease must be washed off first, and any mildew killed and primed.

What is the best paint for a high-traffic hallway?

For a hallway that gets heavy use, pick a scrubbable acrylic in eggshell or satin. Halls and stairs get hands, bags and furniture rubbing along them.

Look for a product described as scrubbable or washable. Keep a note of the exact color and sheen, and some leftover paint, because halls need touch-ups more than any other room.

What is the best paint for exterior walls in this climate?

The best paint for exterior walls in Michigan is a 100% acrylic latex. It stays flexible as wood swells and shrinks through freeze and thaw, it lets some moisture escape, and it holds color in summer sun.

Under it, bare wood needs a primer, and weathered or stained wood often does best with an oil-based or stain-blocking primer. Masonry needs a breathable masonry coating. Exterior paint for this climate has to cope with snow, ice, spring rain and humid summers, so the prep and primer matter as much as the top coat.

Can I use the same paint inside and outside?

No. Do not use interior paint on the exterior, and avoid exterior paint indoors. Each is made for its own conditions.

Interior paint is made to resist scuffs and washing and to have low odor. It breaks down quickly in sun, rain and frost. Exterior paint is made to flex and resist weather and mildew, and it can contain additives not meant for closed rooms.

Does expensive paint last longer than cheap paint?

Usually yes, within reason. More expensive paint tends to have more and better resin and pigment, so it covers in fewer coats and wears longer than cheap paint.

Nationally, paint costs $20 to $80 per gallon: $20 to $60 for interior and $30 to $80 for exterior. Since labor is 70% to 85% of an interior job by HomeGuide's figures, paying more for paint changes the total only a little. The top-priced can is not always needed. A mid to upper grade from a major maker is a sound choice for most rooms.

Is one paint brand really better than another?

Not in a simple way. Every major brand makes several grades, and the grade matters more than the name on the can. A top line from one maker beats the cheapest line from another.

We use quality paints from major brands and choose the product for the surface and the local weather. If you have a preferred paint, tell us and we will quote with it.

How many coats of paint do I need?

Two coats is the standard for an even, durable finish. One coat can work when you repaint the same color over sound paint.

Plan on primer plus two coats for new drywall, bare wood, strong color changes and stained surfaces. Deep reds, yellows and some blues may need a third coat or a tinted primer. Our quotes state the number of coats.

How do I cover dark paint with a light colour?

To cover dark paint with a light or white color, prime first and then apply two finish coats. A good white or grey-tinted primer hides the dark wall far better than extra coats of finish paint.

Skipping primer usually means three or four coats, and the dark color can still show at edges and corners. Paint cut lines carefully at the ceiling and trim, because any missed strip of the dark color will stand out.

Why does the same colour look different in different rooms?

A color looks different from room to room because the light is different. North-facing rooms get cool, bluish light. South-facing rooms get warm light. Bulbs, floors, trees outside the window and nearby colors all shift what you see.

Test before you commit. Paint a large sample on two walls, or on a board you can move, and look at it in the morning, the afternoon and at night. Michigan's grey winter light makes cool colors look colder than they do in July.

What white will not look yellow?

A white with a neutral or slightly cool base will not look yellow. Whites with cream, beige or yellow undertones look warm, and they turn more yellow under warm bulbs or next to cool grey.

Compare white samples against a sheet of plain printer paper to see the undertone. Two other things cause yellowing: old oil-based trim paint, which yellows with age, especially in dark rooms, and wood tannin or smoke bleeding through. A stain-blocking primer stops the second.

How do I pick an exterior colour that matches my roof and brick?

Start from what will not change. The roof and the brick are fixed, so choose a trim color that sits well with both. Brick has several colors in it. Pick one of its quieter tones for the trim, or a soft off-white or deep dark that sets the brick off.

Warm red and orange brick suits creams, warm whites, deep greens and near blacks. Buff or yellow brick suits browns, greens and warm greys. A grey or black roof goes with almost anything, and a brown roof calls for warmer colors. In a Detroit historic district, the Historic District Commission's color systems apply.

How much paint do I need?

One gallon covers 300 to 400 square feet, by the published figures. To work out how many gallons you need, add up the wall area, divide by that coverage and multiply by the number of coats.

• Average bathroom, about 400 sq ft of surface: 1 gallon per coat.
• Average room, about 800 sq ft: 2 gallons per coat.
• Large room, about 1,200 sq ft: 3 gallons per coat.
• Exterior of a 1,500 sq ft house, two coats: 6 to 10 gallons.
• Exterior of a 2,400 sq ft house, two coats: 10 to 16 gallons.

Rough or bare surfaces drink more. Old plaster, bare wood and brick all lower the coverage.

Should the painter supply the paint or should I buy it?

In most cases let the painter supply the paint. The painter knows how much is needed, picks the right product and primer for the surface and is responsible for the result.

You can buy the paint yourself if you want a specific product. Agree in writing who is buying what, and understand that if a customer-supplied paint fails, it is harder to sort out who is at fault. Either way, the quote should name the product and the sheen.

Need help choosing? See our color consulting service or call (313) 251-3869.