Paint Guide • Family-Owned Since 1970 • CSLB #265709
How to Choose Paint Sheen for Every Room
Sheen is how shiny the paint is. Higher sheen cleans easier and shows every joint. Pick the room first, then make sure the drywall finish can take that light.
We Finish. Your Painter Picks the Can.
Ron Hogan Drywall has been family-owned since 1970. We tape, texture, and skim. Paint is only in the job if it is written in the estimate. Use this chart with your painter — and tell us the sheen before we quote Level 4 vs. Level 5.
Sheen in One Line
- Flat / matte — least shine, hides more
- Eggshell — slight sheen, most living spaces
- Satin — wipeable, hallways and kids’ rooms
- Semi-gloss / gloss — hardest film, shows everything
By Room
Living room
Flat or eggshell. Big windows? Stay flatter or go Level 5 if you want more sheen.
Bedroom
Flat or eggshell. Soft light is forgiving.
Hall / entry
Eggshell or satin. Hands and bags mark flat paint.
Kids’ room
Satin. Washable without going full gloss on the field wall.
Kitchen
Satin or semi-gloss on walls that get wiped. Watch side light on smooth walls.
Bath
Satin or semi-gloss. Moisture-resistant board still matters more than sheen. Board types →
Ceiling
Flat. A shiny ceiling shows every fastener.
Trim and doors
Semi-gloss is normal. That is woodwork, not the field of the drywall.
Sheen vs. Finish Level
Flat on a Level 4 wall is usually fine. Satin or gloss on a smooth wall in window light is a Level 5 conversation. Texture hides more than any sheen will. What Level 5 is → | Lighting →
Get the Wall Ready for That Sheen
1. Name the Sheen
Text (925) 791-9099 the room and whether it is textured or smooth.
2. We Finish to It
Texture, Level 4, or Level 5.
3. Prime, Then Paint
Your painter unless paint is in our written scope. Paint types →
Sheen FAQs
Can I use one sheen through the whole house?
Eggshell is a common compromise. Baths and kitchens often go a step shinier.
Will satin hide a bad patch?
No. Repair and match first. Repair →
Planning a Shinier Paint?
Tell us the sheen. The family-owned Bay Area crew since 1970 will finish the wall so it can take it.
Call / Text (925) 791-9099