What Type of Paint Is Best? A Homeowner's Guide to Paint Finishes

Choosing a paint color is exciting, but choosing the right type of paint is just as important. The finish (also called the sheen) and the quality of the paint you use will determine how well your walls, cabinets, trim, or exterior surfaces stand up to everyday wear and changing weather.

At Norby Painting, we use premium Sherwin-Williams paints because they provide exceptional durability, smooth coverage, and beautiful, long-lasting results. Whether you're repainting your living room, updating your kitchen cabinets, or refreshing your home's exterior, selecting the right paint for the job makes all the difference.

Here's a breakdown of the best paint types and finishes for every area of your home.

Understanding Paint Sheens

Paint sheen refers to how much light reflects off a painted surface. Higher sheen paints are shinier, more durable, and easier to clean, while lower sheen paints help hide imperfections and create a softer appearance.

Flat Paint

Flat paint has virtually no shine and provides a smooth, elegant finish.

Best for:

• Ceilings

• Low-traffic bedrooms

• Formal living rooms

• Older walls with imperfections

Pros

• Hides dents, patches, and surface flaws

• Rich, even appearance

• Excellent coverage

Cons

• More difficult to clean

• Can mark easier than higher sheens

Matte & Velvet Finishes

Matte and Velvet finishes offer a soft, elegant appearance with just a touch more durability than flat paint. Velvet is often considered a slightly richer version of matte, providing a smooth, luxurious look without excessive shine.

Best for:

• Living rooms

• Dining rooms

• Home offices

• Bedrooms

  Benefits:

• Modern, sophisticated appearance

• Better washability than flat paint

• Helps hide minor wall imperfections

Eggshell, Low Lustre & Pearl

Eggshell, Low Lustre, and Pearl finishes all provide a soft, low-sheen appearance that balances durability with a refined look. Depending on the paint manufacturer, these names may describe very similar finishes.

Best for:

• Hallways

• Family rooms

• Children's bedrooms

• Dining rooms

• Main living spaces

Benefits:

• Easy to clean

• Durable enough for everyday living

• Soft, subtle sheen that doesn't overpower the room

Eggshell remains one of the most popular choices for interior walls because it offers an excellent balance of beauty and practicality. Although Eggshell and Satin are often confused, Eggshell has a lower sheen and a softer finish, while Satin provides slightly more durability and a bit more shine.

Satin Finish

Satin strikes the perfect balance between appearance and durability. It offers a subtle sheen that's easy to clean without being overly reflective, making it one of our favorite finishes for both interior walls and trim.

Best for:

• Interior trim

• Baseboards

• Interior doors

• Window casings

• Kitchens

• Bathrooms

Benefits:

• Smooth, elegant appearance

• Easy to clean

• Durable enough for everyday wear

• Less reflective than glossier finishes, helping hide minor imperfections

Satin is one of the most versatile paint sheens and is a popular choice for homeowners looking for a durable finish with a classic, understated look.

Semi-Gloss, Gloss & High Gloss

When maximum durability is needed, Semi-Gloss, Gloss, and High Gloss finishes are excellent choices. These finishes become progressively shinier and more reflective while also becoming easier to clean.

Semi-Gloss is the most common finish for:

• Trim

• Baseboards

• Interior doors

• Window casings

• Kitchen cabinets

Gloss is often chosen for:

• Interior doors

• Decorative trim

• Built-in shelving

• Accent features

• Exterior trim

High Gloss creates a dramatic, mirror-like finish that's ideal for:

• Front doors

• Statement furniture

• Specialty architectural details

• Modern accent pieces

Benefits of higher-gloss finishes:

• Extremely durable

• Highly washable

• Resistant to moisture and everyday wear

• Makes trim and architectural details stand out

Because glossier paints reflect more light, they also highlight surface imperfections. Proper preparation and professional application are key to achieving a flawless finish.

The Best Sherwin-Williams Paints for Interior Walls

Not every paint is created equal. Sherwin-Williams offers several premium products, each designed for different needs.

Duration Home®

Duration Home is one of our favorite choices for busy households. This is our top recommendation for interior wall paint, no matter what sheen you're wanting to paint in.

It offers:

• Outstanding durability

• Excellent stain resistance

• Superior washability

• Mildew-resistant finish

This is a great option for homes with children, pets, or high-traffic areas where walls need regular cleaning. We love this paint in flat, matte, and satin sheens.

Emerald® Interior Acrylic Latex

Emerald is Sherwin-Williams' premium interior paint.

Homeowners love it because it provides:

• Exceptional hide

• Rich color depth

• Outstanding coverage

• Advanced stain resistance

• Smooth, luxurious finish

For homeowners looking for Sherwin-Williams' top-of-the-line interior paint, Emerald® delivers exceptional beauty, durability, and performance. While we typically recommend Duration Home® for most homes because it offers the best balance of durability, washability, and value, we're happy to use Emerald® for customers who prefer Sherwin-Williams' premium paint line.

The Best Paint for Trim and Doors

Trim takes a lot of abuse from shoes, vacuums, furniture, pets, and everyday traffic.

Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in satin or semi-gloss is one of the best products available for:

• Baseboards

• Interior doors

• Crown moulding

• Window trim

• Built-in shelving

It dries to a durable, beautiful finish that resists scuffs and cleans easily.

We Also Recommend Duration Home®

Along with Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel for trim, Duration Home® is one of our go-to products for interior painting. It delivers exceptional durability, washability, and long-lasting performance, making it a great choice for homes of all sizes. We also recommend Duration Home® for trim when a homeowner prefers a painted wood finish with the same premium durability and easy maintenance we trust on interior walls.

The Best Paint for Ceilings

A freshly painted ceiling can make an entire room feel brighter, cleaner, and more finished. Using the right ceiling paint helps minimize imperfections while providing a smooth, even appearance.

Painter's Edge® Interior Latex is a dependable choice for ceiling applications, offering solid coverage and a consistent finish that looks great in a wide range of spaces. We most commonly recommend painting ceilings in a flat sheen.

It offers:

• Excellent hide and coverage

• Smooth, uniform finish

• Low-spatter application

• Reliable performance for residential interiors

Paired with properly prepared surfaces and expert application, it helps create crisp, refreshed ceilings that complete the look of any room.

The Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets require a completely different type of paint than interior walls.

Cabinets experience:

• Constant touching

• Moisture

• Grease

• Cleaning products

• Everyday wear

For cabinet painting, we commonly recommend:

Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel

This premium cabinet coating provides:

• Furniture-quality finish

• Excellent hardness

• Smooth leveling

• Scratch resistance

• Long-lasting durability

It creates the factory-like finish homeowners expect from professional cabinet painting. We typically choose this paint in Semi-Gloss, sometimes Satin.

Choosing the Right Exterior Paint

Exterior paint must withstand much more than interior paint.

It needs to resist:

• UV rays

• Heavy rain

• Humidity

• Temperature swings

• Dirt buildup

• Mold and mildew

This is why professional painters don't simply use "regular paint" outdoors.

Sherwin-Williams Duration® Exterior

Duration Exterior is designed to provide outstanding weather protection.

Benefits include:

• Excellent adhesion

• Superior moisture resistance

• Long-lasting color

• Outstanding durability

• Flexible finish that resists peeling

It's a great choice for homeowners looking for maximum longevity. We love this paint for exterior siding in Flat, Matte, or Satin, and for exterior trim in Satin or Gloss. While Duration Exterior isn't available in a Semi-Gloss sheen, its Gloss finish provides a very similar appearance to the Semi-Gloss finish found in many other paint lines.

Why Paint Quality Matters

Lower-quality paints often require:

• More coats

• More maintenance

• Earlier repainting

• Additional labor

Premium paint may cost more initially, but it often lasts several years longer, providing better value over the life of the finish. Professional painters also know which products perform best on different surfaces, helping ensure beautiful, lasting results.

Trust Norby Painting to Choose the Right Paint

With so many paint products and sheen options available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. That's where our experience makes all the difference.

At Norby Painting, we help homeowners select the best Sherwin-Williams products based on each room, surface, and lifestyle. Whether you're painting your home's interior, refreshing the exterior, updating kitchen cabinets, or giving trim and doors a new look, we'll recommend the right combination of product and finish for lasting beauty and performance.

If you're planning your next painting project, contact Norby Painting today for a free estimate. We'll help you choose the perfect paint, sheen, and color so your investment looks great for years to come.