You've picked the colour. Now the paint counter asks the next question: which finish? Matte, eggshell, pearl, semi-gloss... the names sound alike, but the choice changes how your colour looks, how well the wall cleans and how much every bump and patch shows.
This guide explains what each sheen does, which one to use in every room, and how the finish names line up across the Benjamin Moore paints we sell. It's for homeowners picking paint for a room and for painters who want a quick refresher.
The short answer
- Ceilings: flat
- Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms: matte or eggshell
- Kitchens, kids' rooms, hallways and stairs: eggshell or pearl
- Bathrooms: pearl, or a matte made for humidity like Aura Bath & Spa
- Trim, doors and baseboards: pearl or semi-gloss
- Cabinets: satin, pearl or semi-gloss in a cabinet enamel
What "finish" actually means
Finish, or sheen, is how much light the dry paint reflects. The more sheen, the more the paint shines. Sheen changes three things:
- How it cleans. Shinier paint has a tighter, smoother surface, so marks wipe off more easily.
- How much it shows. Shine highlights everything underneath it: patches, nail pops, roller marks and dents. Flatter paint hides them.
- How the colour reads. The same colour looks a little richer and deeper in a higher sheen, and softer and chalkier in a flat.
Quality matters as much as sheen. Today's premium matte and eggshell paints, like Aura and Regal Select, are scrubbable, which wasn't true of flat paint a generation ago. You no longer have to choose shine just to be able to wash a wall.
The sheen ladder, from flat to high-gloss
| Finish | Looks like | Cleans | Hides flaws | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat / Ulti-Matte | No shine, velvety | Least washable | Best | Ceilings, low-traffic walls |
| Matte | Almost no shine | Good in premium lines | Very good | Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms |
| Eggshell | A soft, low glow | Very good | Good | Most walls, hallways, family rooms |
| Pearl / Satin | A noticeable soft sheen | Excellent | Fair | Kitchens, bathrooms, kids' rooms, trim |
| Semi-Gloss | Shiny | Excellent | Poor | Trim, doors, baseboards, cabinets |
| High-Gloss | Mirror-like | Best | Poorest | Statement doors, furniture, cabinets on a perfect surface |
The names aren't standard between brands, or even between paint lines. One line's "pearl" can sit close to another's "satin". If you're matching an existing wall, bring us a chip or tell us the product it was painted with.
Which finish in which room
| Room or surface | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat | Cuts glare, hides imperfections and touches up without showing. Waterborne Ceiling Paint K508 is made for it. |
| Living and dining rooms | Matte or eggshell | A rich, even look that's easy on the eye. Matte if your walls have flaws, eggshell if you want a little more wipeability. |
| Adult bedrooms | Matte | Calm and low-glare, and the walls don't get much wear. |
| Kids' rooms and playrooms | Eggshell or pearl | Hands, crayons and toys. A washable premium paint like Regal Select helps marks come off. |
| Hallways, stairs and entries | Eggshell or pearl | The highest-traffic walls in the house. For really busy homes, Ultra Spec Scuff-X is built to resist scuffs. |
| Kitchens | Eggshell or pearl | Grease and splatter need a finish you can wash. |
| Bathrooms | Pearl, or Aura Bath & Spa Matte | Steam and moisture. Kitchen & Bath (pearl) and Aura Bath & Spa (matte) both resist mildew on the paint film. |
| Basements | Matte or eggshell | Hides uneven drywall and works with low light. |
| Trim, doors and baseboards | Pearl or semi-gloss | Takes knocks from vacuums, shoes and hands, and wipes clean. |
| Kitchen cabinets | Satin, pearl or semi-gloss | Use a hard cabinet enamel, not wall paint. See our kitchen cabinet guide. |
A good default: walls in matte or eggshell, trim and doors in semi-gloss, ceilings in flat. It's the classic combination for a reason. The slight change in sheen between walls and trim makes the trim look crisp.
Finish names by paint line
Here's what each Benjamin Moore and INSL-X paint we sell comes in, flattest first.
| Paint | Finishes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aura Interior | Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss | Benjamin Moore's top line, with rich colour and a scrubbable matte |
| Regal Select Interior | Ulti-Matte, Eggshell, Pearl, Semi-Gloss | Stain release, so everyday marks wash off. Ulti-Matte is its flattest finish |
| ben | Matte, Eggshell, Satin/Pearl, Semi-Gloss | Zero VOC and easy to touch up, the value choice |
| Ultra Spec Scuff-X | Matte, Eggshell, Pearl, Semi-Gloss | Scuff-resistant for hallways, stairs and busy homes |
| Aura Bath & Spa | Matte | A matte made for steamy bathrooms |
| Kitchen & Bath | Pearl | Mildew-resistant for kitchens and bathrooms |
| Waterborne Ceiling Paint | Flat | Ultra flat to cut glare, self-priming over drywall |
| Advance | Pearl, Semi-Gloss, High-Gloss | Oil-like enamel for trim, doors and cabinets. It takes up to 30 days to reach full hardness and final sheen |
| INSL-X Cabinet Coat | Satin | Factory-smooth cabinet enamel, no primer over sound finishes |
Know your finish?
Every Benjamin Moore paint is tinted to order in any of their colours.
Four questions to pick your finish
- How much wear will it get? Hands, kids, pets and furniture all point you up the sheen ladder, or toward a tougher paint line.
- What shape are the walls in? Old plaster, lots of patches or a big open wall with side light from a window? Go flatter. Shine will show every flaw.
- Is there moisture? Bathrooms and laundry rooms need a mildew-resistant paint, either in pearl or a humidity-rated matte.
- What look do you want? Matte reads soft and modern. Pearl and semi-gloss read crisp and traditional. Both are right if they suit the room.
Exterior finishes
Exterior sheen names are a little different. Here's how we'd use them on a house:
| Surface | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Siding, wood, fibre cement and vinyl | Low Lustre, the most popular body finish |
| Stucco, brick and rough surfaces | Flat, which hides texture and patches |
| Trim, shutters and fascia | Satin or Soft-Gloss |
| Front doors | Soft-Gloss, or High-Gloss for a statement |
Aura Exterior comes in Flat, Low Lustre, Satin and Soft-Gloss. Regal Select Exterior and Element Guard come in Flat, Low Lustre and Soft-Gloss. Staining a deck instead? See our deck stain guide.
Mistakes that ruin a good colour
- Semi-gloss on walls with flaws. Every patch, seam and roller mark shows, especially near windows.
- Flat in a busy kitchen or kids' room. A basic flat paint scuffs and won't take scrubbing. If you love the flat look, use a premium matte.
- Touching up a shiny wall. Touch-ups in eggshell and up can show as shiny or dull patches. Flatter finishes touch up best. Keep leftover paint and repaint wall to wall when you can.
- Mixing products on one wall. "Eggshell" from two different lines won't match exactly. Use the same product and finish when you patch.
- Judging the sheen on day one. Paint keeps curing for weeks. Advance in particular can take up to 30 days to reach its final sheen.
- Skipping prep under a high sheen. The shinier the paint, the better the surface underneath needs to be. Fill, sand and prime first.
Sheen and colour
Sheen changes how a colour reads. The same white can look cool and chalky in a matte and brighter in a semi-gloss. When you test colours, paint your samples on the wall you're painting and look at them in morning and evening light. If you're torn between whites, our Top 10 Benjamin Moore Whites compares the favourites.
Want to see the sheens side by side?
Every one of our three Mississauga stores has finish samples you can hold up to the light.
FAQ
1What is the best paint finish for walls?
For most rooms, matte or eggshell. Matte hides flaws and gives a soft, modern look. Eggshell has a slight glow and is a little easier to wipe. Premium lines like Aura and Regal Select make both washable.
2What's the difference between eggshell and satin?
Satin, also called pearl, is one step shinier than eggshell. It's more washable but shows wall flaws more. Use eggshell for most walls and satin or pearl where walls need frequent cleaning.
3Is pearl the same as satin?
They sit at about the same spot on the sheen ladder. Benjamin Moore calls it Pearl in some lines, like Regal Select and Advance, and Satin in others, like Aura. ben calls it Satin/Pearl.
4What finish should I use in a bathroom?
A pearl like Benjamin Moore Kitchen & Bath, or Aura Bath & Spa if you want a matte look. Both resist mildew on the paint film. Good ventilation still matters, so run the fan.
5What finish is best for trim and doors?
Semi-gloss is the classic choice, because it's tough and wipes clean. Pearl gives a softer, more modern look. For the smoothest result, use an enamel like Benjamin Moore Advance.
6What finish should I use on a ceiling?
Flat. It cuts glare, hides imperfections and touches up without showing. Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint K508 is an ultra-flat ceiling paint that's self-priming over drywall.
7Does sheen change the colour?
It changes how the colour looks. Higher sheens reflect more light, so colours look a little richer and brighter. Flatter finishes look softer. Test your colour in the room before you commit.
8Can I paint over a glossy finish with a flat one?
Yes, with prep. Clean the surface, then sand it until it's dull so the new paint can grip. On very slick surfaces, use a bonding primer first.
Product details are from Benjamin Moore and INSL-X. Always follow the directions on the can and the product data sheet.