Which paint finish should you use on interior walls?

Quick answer: low sheen walls, semi gloss trims, flat ceilings

For a normal house, low sheen walls, semi gloss trims and a flat ceiling is the right mix. Taubmans' own sheen guide calls low sheen the sweet spot for most interior walls. Here's how it breaks down by surface.

This is how we spec an interior at J. James Painting Contractors: Dulux Wash&Wear and Taubmans Endeavour on walls, semi-gloss on doors, frames and skirtings, and a proper ceiling paint on ceilings. High-traffic spots get a scuff-resistant system. You'll find the full rundown on our interior house painting page.

The sheen levels explained, from flat to gloss

Paint finishes run from flat (almost no shine) up to gloss (very shiny). Taubmans puts a number on each one in its sheen guide, which makes the gaps easy to see. The figures below are Taubmans' own.

Dulux also makes a low gloss finish for trims. Its sheen guide says low gloss is designed to closely match low sheen or matt wall paint, and it helps cut down how much flaws show on doors, windows and trims. Handy if you want the trims to sit quietly against the walls.

One more thing. Sheen changes how a colour looks. Dulux says higher gloss paints can make colours look lighter than the same colour in low sheen or matt. So test a sample pot in the finish you'll actually use.

Low sheen vs semi gloss: low sheen for walls, semi gloss for trims and wet rooms

Low sheen wins on most walls. Semi gloss wins on trims and anywhere that gets wiped down a lot. Dulux sums it up on its Wash&Wear Semi Gloss page: low sheen is the softer-looking wall finish, while semi gloss is the pick when you want something more wipeable with extra shine.

According to Dulux's sheen guide, low sheen dries to a velvety finish that's hard-wearing and easy to keep clean, and it hides surface flaws better than gloss. On its Wash&Wear Low Sheen page, Dulux says the product suits all interior walls, including busy spots like hallways and family rooms. Most common marks, scuffs and stains wipe off with a wet cloth.

Semi gloss is slightly glossy but not as reflective as full gloss. Dulux describes it as a satin sheen that suits walls, doors, trims and cupboards. Taubmans says semi gloss offers great stain resistance and wipes clean easily, which is why it shows up in kitchens, bathrooms and family spaces.

On trims, we go semi-gloss on doors, frames and skirtings. It takes a scrub without going flat. That matters in a rental, and it matters just as much with kids in the house.

Room by room: what finish each room needs

Most rooms take low sheen walls with semi gloss trims. The rooms that change are the wet ones, the busy ones and the bright ones.

Bathroom walls need a finish made for damp air. Dulux makes Wash&Wear +PLUS Kitchen & Bathroom Low Sheen for humid or damp rooms like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Dulux also lists its Wash&Wear Semi Gloss as working on wet areas and walls that get cleaned often. Pick low sheen if you want the bathroom to match the rest of the house, semi gloss if you want the most wipeable wall.

Hallways and stairwells are where shoulders and school bags land, so they get a washable wall paint. If a hallway or a room with large windows catches a lot of glare, Dulux recommends matt to soften it. Just remember Taubmans says matt marks more easily, so keep it to walls that don't get bumped.

Painting high stairwell voids and raked ceilings is working at height. Working at height is a job for a painter with the right access gear. If you can't reach it from the floor or a small step, stop there and call us.

Why sheen shows up flaws: shinier paint shows more

Yes, gloss shows imperfections more. Shiny paint bounces more light, so small dents and patches are easier to see. Taubmans puts it plainly: glossy finishes reflect more light, while flat finishes reduce glare. Dulux says gloss is more durable than low sheen but may show some minor surface flaws, so prep is key.

Going the other way helps. Dulux says low sheen hides flaws better than gloss, and its Wash&Wear Matt reduces how much imperfections show in plaster walls. That's why a flat paint goes on ceilings. Taubmans says its flat finish hides roller marks and surface flaws, and Dulux describes Ceiling White as a flat finish to hide surface imperfections.

Ceilings show every roller mark and every patch. So on our jobs they get their own coat and their own pass, rather than whatever's left in the wall tin.

Changing finish needs a bit of prep too. Dulux says glossy areas that were painted before should be sanded to a dull finish before you put Wash&Wear Low Sheen over them. And shine isn't permanent. According to Dulux, the gloss of paint can wear down when it's rubbed, scrubbed or brushed against.

Getting the finishes right on your job

Colour help is included on our interior jobs. We bring sample pots and look at the house with you. Morning light, afternoon light, your floors, your furniture. That's the easiest way to see how a sheen looks on your actual walls.

We've been Sunshine Coast painters since 1985. We're a Dulux Accredited Painter and Taubmans Endorsed, and QBCC licensed. We work right across the Sunshine Coast, from Buderim to Noosa. If you're also working out a budget, our interior painting cost guide breaks it down, or get a price range from our instant estimate. The firm price comes after a free site visit.