Durability: Semi-gloss paint is more durable than satin paint. However, if dings, dents, or blemishes appear, they will be more noticeable with a glossy finish. Both options will be easy to clean, although semi-gloss paint will hold up better against moisture and protect the surface beneath it against water damage.
What about semi-gloss paint? Semi-gloss is almost the same, but has more reflective qualities than satin paint, and can be slightly more durable. In general, the glossier the paint, the more durable it is, although some paints are designed specifically to be very durable, regardless of sheen.
Semi-gloss paint is perfect for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains often end up on the walls—like your kitchen or bathroom. It's durable paint and can be easily scrubbed clean of any imperfections due to its high level of sheen—which also makes it the perfect choice for kids' bedrooms and playrooms.
Most notably, semi-gloss has more sheen than satin.
The types of finishes you'll likely find in most paint collections—ranging from most to least reflective—are glossy/high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat/matte.
In most cases, the best paint for baseboards is a water-based or Acrylic-Alkyd hybrid paint with a semi-gloss paint sheen is the best choice for painting baseboards and trim. Benjamin Moore Advanced is a popular choice; it can be purchased at one of their paint stores.
Trim and baseboards should be painted with gloss or semi-gloss paint sheens for best results. It is important to use gloss, semi-gloss paint finish, and not satin trim, woodwork, or baseboards.
A gloss paint is typically more robust and durable than a satin paint, but a poorly prepped gloss finish is not as good as a well-prepped satin finish. Both paints can withstand the odd scuff or mark but gloss is less likely to retain them.
Best paint finish for trim and baseboards is gloss or semi-gloss paint sheens. All trim, woodwork, baseboards which are painted, needs to be in gloss, or semi-gloss paint finish, and not satin. Semi-gloss offers more scrubbing, wiping, and deep cleanings than satin paint finishes.
The more gloss and shine the paint you pick has, the easier it's to remove stains. So, semi-gloss is a higher sheen paint than satin; thus, it's typically easier to clean it without making it lose its shine.
Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish.
Semi-gloss paint is always best for trim, doors and cabinetry because it's so easy to wipe clean. You can also choose gloss paint because it's also so easy to clean, but it's significantly shinier.
Satin paint can easily be cleaned, though it can lose its sheen if scrubbed too roughly. It is advised that you clean it with a wipe and avoid abrasive scrubs. WHEN TO USE SATIN PAINT: Because of its durability, many people choose a satin finish for bathrooms, kitchens, and kids rooms.
Summarizing Semi-gloss Is Best Paint For Bedrooms
Semi-gloss is very good for bedroom trim. If you're wanting the cleanest bedroom wall paint, satin is the way to go. Stepping down a notch to eggshell on large wall surfaces, still using semi-gloss on trim, will give you more distinction than satin.
Best Paint Sheens for Bathrooms
The experts at Consumer Reports recommend satin paint for bathrooms. They claim that it is shinier and more durable than eggshell and easier to clean. Semigloss is also durable and easy to clean. However, it does look shiner and can make wall imperfections more noticeable.
A satin (or “eggshell”) finish is much more forgiving of holes and patches than a paint with more sheen. Low-sheen paints such as satin or flat are good on walls that have a lot of holes or holes that have been filled in.
Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors.
Satin is my go-to sheen for bathroom walls, interior doors, trim, baseboards, and exterior walls. Semi-gloss paint is great for frequently cleaned areas and rooms that deal with excess moisture.
Semi-gloss finish is more durable and easier to clean. The higher the gloss, the easier the cleanup of unwanted messes like fingerprints and smudges. Therefore, semi-gloss finish is actually better to use on trims that get a lot of use and therefore require frequent wipe-downs – for e.g. window trims.
When it comes to painting your skirting boards (and architraves for that matter), we'd recommend opting for a satin finish as you get the best of gloss and eggshell.
Semigloss paint has some sheen, but not nearly as much as gloss paint. It represents a good compromise between gloss and flat paint, which has very little sheen. Semigloss paint is easy to clean and can withstand high levels of moisture. It will show flaws in construction, but not as much as gloss paint does.
A flat paint finish tends to absorb light, while a semigloss finish reflects light. Flat finishes can help to camouflage minor surface imperfections, such as dings, drywall seams and other flaws. Conversely, semigloss finishes are inclined to make wall blemishes even more pronounced.
Paint the Trim First, Then the Ceilings and Walls
Pros usually follow a certain order when painting a room. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls. That's because it's easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls. And you certainly don't want to tape them both off!