Understanding your result
The headline is the recommended sheen, and the sub-line names the alternatives either side of it. The three figures show the room, the look of the sheen and the usual range for that room.
The “Why” panel lists the steps: the starting sheen for the room, then each answer that moved it up or down, and whether the result was held inside the usual range for that room. The table describes all six sheens from flat to gloss so you can see what you gain and lose one step either way.
Sheen choice comes before quantities and coats. The coats calculator covers changes of sheen that need a scuff-sand or a primer; the wall paint and trim paint calculators give the quantities; and the cabinet paint calculator covers the surface where washability matters most.
How we calculate this
The usual sheens and ranges by room follow the paint makers’ sheen guides: walls in living spaces eggshell (flat to satin), kitchens, bathrooms and busy rooms satin (eggshell to semi-gloss), ceilings flat (flat to satin), trim, doors and cabinets semi-gloss (satin to gloss), exterior siding satin (flat to satin) and exterior trim semi-gloss. The sheen comparison reference tabulates the sheens with their washability, hiding and typical rooms.
The room painting guide explains why ceilings, walls and trim are often three different sheens, and the coats guide covers the prep when a sheen changes.
The assumptions behind the numbers
| Room or surface | Usual sheen | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Living room, bedroom, dining room | eggshell | flat to satin |
| Kitchen | satin | eggshell to semi-gloss |
| Bathroom, laundry | satin | eggshell to semi-gloss |
| Hallway, stairs, children’s room | satin | eggshell to semi-gloss |
| Ceiling | flat | flat to satin |
| Trim and doors, cabinets and furniture | semi-gloss | satin to gloss |
| Exterior siding | satin | flat to satin |
| Exterior trim, doors, shutters | semi-gloss | satin to gloss |
Sheen guides of Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr, summarised; the one-step rules are the site’s.
Assumptions last reviewed October 8, 2026.
The selector does not know the specific product, the colour (deep colours show sheen differences more) or the light in your room. It recommends a sheen class; the sample on your wall decides.
Two worked examples
A family hallway
Hallway, high traffic, low moisture, smooth walls, washability first.
- Start: satin; high traffic +1; washability +1, which would be gloss
- Kept within the hallway range: semi-gloss, with satin as the alternative
A busy bathroom with steam starts at satin and stays there: satin is already the moisture minimum.
A patched living room
Living room, low traffic, patched walls, hiding flaws first.
- Start: eggshell; low traffic −1; patched −1; hiding −1
- Result: flat, with matte as the alternative that washes a little better
Trim with old drips and dents, hiding first, moves down from semi-gloss only to satin, because trim needs a finish that wipes clean.
Where to find your inputs
Room or surface. Where the paint goes.
Traffic. How often the walls are touched, bumped or wiped.
Moisture. Steam from showers or cooking.
Condition. Run a light along the wall at a low angle: patches, seams and dents that show are an imperfect surface.
Priority. Hiding flaws or washability; balance if unsure.
Common mistakes
- Semi-gloss on patched walls. Every repair shows.
- Flat in a kitchen or bathroom. It marks and holds moisture.
- Choosing by name across brands. Compare samples, not labels.
- Gloss ceilings. Roller marks and every flaw show under window light.
- Touching up a satin wall with a flat paint. The patch shows from across the room.
- Changing sheen without prep. Scuff-sand gloss before painting a flatter finish over it.
Questions people ask
- What sheen should I use for walls?
- Eggshell for most living rooms and bedrooms, as a balance between hiding flaws and wiping clean. Flat or matte for low-traffic rooms with imperfect walls. Satin for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and children's rooms, where walls get touched and washed.
- What sheen for a bathroom?
- Satin or semi-gloss on the walls, which shed moisture and resist mildew. Flat and matte paints hold water in their texture and mark when wiped, unless they are a special bathroom formulation.
- What sheen for trim and doors?
- Semi-gloss is the usual choice; it is hard-wearing, cleans easily and gives contrast with eggshell walls. Satin is the alternative for a softer look or for trim with dents and old paint drips that gloss would show.
- What sheen for ceilings?
- Flat, which hides roller marks and the imperfections that raking light from windows shows. A steamy bathroom ceiling is the exception, and takes satin or a moisture-resistant ceiling paint.
- Does sheen change how much paint I need?
- Very little. Flat and gloss paints cover about the same per gallon. Sheen changes the prep, because a shiny finish over a patched wall needs the patches filled, sanded and primed, or they show as dull spots.
- Is one brand's eggshell the same as another's?
- No. Sheen names are not standardised, and one maker's eggshell can be shinier than another's satin. Compare the gloss units on the data sheets or, better, look at painted samples.