Your living room is one of the most frequented areas of your home. It’s where family and friends gather and memories are made, so choosing the perfect paint finish to bring this space to life is key as a homeowner. Whether you’re hosting kids’ sleepovers or family holidays, read on to discover the best sheen for living room walls so you can create a stunning space that you love, that looks great for years to come.
In This Post
Why Choosing the Best Paint Sheen For Your Living Room Walls Matters
Many homeowners and beginning DIYers think that painting their walls is as simple as picking the color they want and busting out the paint roller. However, not all paints are created equal and not all paint sheens will work in every room in your home.
Sheen is the level of light that is reflected off of the paint, which determines the paint’s level of shine. A paint sheen is also referred to as a paint finish. These paint sheens/finishes range from dull flats to mirror-like high-glosses.
Keep in mind, the overall look of the paint finish depends on the products you choose and the techniques used to apply the paint.
While there are definitely certain sheens that look best in specific areas of your home according to the traffic, light, and use of the room, choosing the best sheen for living room walls ultimately comes down to your personal preference and style.
Shinier, glossy walls can be stunning, but also require more maintenance to keep them looking great. Lower sheens are less demanding and offer a warmer, simple look. Again, the choice is yours!
When choosing a paint sheen for your living room, you’ll want to take into consideration a few things, such as the condition of your walls, the level of traffic in the space, and how the room will be used.
Paint finishes with lower sheen levels are best used on surfaces with imperfections, as they can hide them more easily and are simple to touch up. High-gloss finishes are extremely durable, but they also require more maintenance to keep them looking in tip-top shape. These shinier finishes will draw the eye in and reflect more light, so imperfections will be more noticeable.
You can learn more about the 5 different types of paint sheens for interior walls in this blog post.
What is the Best Paint Sheen for Living Room Walls?
There may not be one single best sheen for living room spaces, but there are some popular options that we see in overall trends and in our work with clients.
Flats
Flat sheens tend to show fewer surface imperfections and are easier to touch up if you ever dent or scratch your wall and need to do a quick spackle job and paint touch-up. If your living room is prone to kids’ toys hitting the walls or pets bumping into them, this could be a great option for you.
Mattes
Mattes offer a low sheen option that are more cleanable than flats since they have some sheen. However, with the slight increase in sheen level, they do show imperfections a bit more. Touch-ups are not quite as seamless, but are still easy to do. Matte finishes offer a soft, warm look, which is great for living rooms.
Eggshells and Satins
Eggshell and satin finishes are more cleanable, durable, and stain resistant than mattes. Satin finishes are in between matte and glossy finishes. They’re not super shiny, but they do show more surface imperfections and touch-ups are more challenging than on matte finishes. Satins can be a very versatile finish for your living room, bedroom, or even a bathroom due to their durability and stain resistance.
Semi-Gloss and High-Gloss
Semi-gloss and high-gloss paint finishes are shinier and reflect a lot more light off the wall. Think of these finishes as glossy and dramatic, which may be a great option if you’re going for a WOW effect in your living room. Just remember, every little imperfection will show and maintenance and cleaning will take more effort and time to keep it looking nice. However, these finishes are easy to wipe down and clean.
How to Choose the Best Sheen For Living Room Walls
Choosing the best sheen for your living room space depends on your needs and preferences. You have to decide which finish will be best for your home and family.
For instance, in our home, the drywall and stud work from construction is not perfect, so we prefer to hide imperfections as best we can, especially with two young boys who like to play in our living room. There are typically toys flying through the air as they race matchbox cars through the house, so it’s not uncommon for us to have to go around the house with spackle and touch up paint from time to time. For that reason, we use a flat finish paint in our living room to help hide those imperfections and make touch-ups a breeze.
What Are The Best Paint Sheen Products For Living Rooms?
When choosing the best paint sheen products for living rooms, we always recommend choosing a high-quality paint. We opt for the Emerald Flat from Sherwin-Williams since it is considered a washable flat and has the most durability and cleanability of any flat finish we have used before.
Overall, the best paint sheen for your living room space is completely up to you, your style, the condition of your walls, and the level of traffic and wear and tear in the room. By considering these key factors and the specs and nuances of each sheen, you can choose a paint finish that makes your living room a beautiful, functional place.
If you’re looking to update your living room space with a fresh paint job, we’d love to help you choose the perfect sheen and products, and give you the professional quality paint job you need.
Visit our contact page to book your free estimate with our team today!
