Explained: Different paint finishes and where to use them at home

11 Sep 2025

So you know you want blue, or green, or white, in your home, and you’re about to start your amazing home makeover, but there’s one more question to think about… What type of finish should you use?

From super glossy to fabulously flat, each Resene finish has qualities that make it suitable for different areas in your home. Often lower sheen finishes are chosen for their softer look and ability to hide flaws, but high gloss can really make your colour, especially darker colours, pop!

Inside or out, whether you’re opting for gloss, matte, or the flexibility of a mid-sheen, we’ve got the perfect guide to simplifying your paint finish choices:

Gloss

High gloss paints like Resene Hi-Glo, Resene Enamacryl and Resene Super Gloss offer a striking, light-reflecting surface. They’re also durable and easy to wipe clean, which makes them a smart choice for busy zones that see plenty of fingerprints and marks, like kitchens, bathrooms or the kid’s playrooms. Outdoors, a high gloss finish is perfect for adding punch to window trims or highlighting architectural details, and in a bold colour it can turn a front door into a real statement!

Semi-gloss

Semi-gloss paints like Resene Sonyx 101, Resene Lustacryl and Resene Lusta-Glo have a softer shine than full gloss, which makes them a touch more forgiving when it comes to surface imperfections, but they still offer good durability and easy cleaning qualities. Their balance of resilience and subtle sheen makes them ideal for timber cabinetry, furniture, weatherboards or cement-based exteriors.

Satin

Satin paints like Resene Summit Roof sit comfortably in the middle of the gloss scale. They offer a touch more richness and depth than a matte or flat finish, but don’t quite match the stain resistance of gloss or semi-gloss options. They’re durable enough to handle regular wipe-downs. Over time, satin finishes have shifted towards lower sheen levels, reflecting the growing preference among decorators for a softer, less reflective look.

Low-sheen

Paints like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and Resene Zylone Sheen tend to be the most popular finish for interior broadwall areas and are a safe choice where some sheen is desired but good cleaning properties are necessary. Outside low sheen finishes like Resene Lumbersider or Resene X-200 are good over timber, concrete and plaster finishes. If you really want to use just one finish over your whole interior, low-sheen is probably your best bet.

Flat

Because they diffuse light, flat paints are great at disguising surface imperfections. The trade-off is that their matte finish can hold onto dust and marks, making them harder to clean than higher-sheen paints. They can make your chosen colour look velvety and refined, and work best in lower-traffic spaces such as adult bedrooms or formal dining and living areas, rather than busy family zones. Flat finishes are also a top choice for ceilings, though their more porous nature means they’re not the best option outdoors. Good picks include Resene SpaceCote Flat and Resene Ceiling Paint.

For a glossy front door that creates a striking welcome, use Resene Enamacryl in your chosen paint colour. Homeowner Michael’s front door pops in Resene Black with its sophisticated high gloss shine. For a similar look on weatherboards use Resene Half Baltic Sea.

These walls are painted in Resene Tea with arches in Resene Napa using a Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen finish. The floor is in Resene Double Tea, floating linear shelves in Resene Casper, coffee table in Resene Double Napa, bench seat and round vase in Resene Casper, cat ornament in Resene Tea and small vase in Resene Napa. Sofa from nood, rug, coffee cup and cream/white cushions from Freedom, blue cushion from Farmers. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

“If you have an area in your home for pets, it is a good idea to use harder-wearing waterborne enamel products such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for walls. It’s durable and easy to clean,” says Resene Colour Consultant Jackie Nicholls. “You could also use Resene Lustacryl, which has a semi-gloss finish and is even tougher on the lower half of the wall. 

Does the finish impact colour?

Once you’ve decided how the space will be used, grab a few Resene testpots and trial your chosen colours out first. Remember that flat finishes can make certain tones look a little muddier or darker, while a high-gloss finish will bounce light around and change how your colour, and other colours in the room, appear. If you’re leaning towards deep, dramatic hues, consider choosing a lower sheen. It will highlight the richness and moody depth of the shade.

It’s also worth checking out the sheen sample boards at your local Resene ColorShop. View them from different angles too as the amount of sheen can shift depending on how the light hits it. For instance, a low sheen might seem quite matte when you face it directly but have a subtle glow when seen from the side.

There is no wrong answer though, it all comes down to the look and feel you want in the finished room.

Your local Resene ColorShop will have fandecks and displays showcasing the different sheen levels and paint finishes so you can make an informed choice. As seen above, more pigmented colours like black and red pop with a high gloss finish, while looking refined and velvety with a lower sheen. When using neutrals, like Resene Tea (right) consider layering the different gloss levels to add depth – read more below.

Mix and match

To add subtle visual interest in a monochromatic scheme try mixing different finishes. For example, walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and your ceiling and trims in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss. Or try a high gloss finish like Resene Enamacryl or Resene Super Gloss on architectural features or furnishings you want to highlight against a flatter background.

Fancy finishes

Beyond the level of sheen you choose for your paint finish, you can also try something a little more creative. Try Resene FX Faux Rust Effect on wooden, concrete or plaster surfaces to create an aged and industrial style rust-like finish. Once applied the look will continue to develop as the coating ages. You can leave it as is or protect it with a clear finish such as Resene Waterborne Aquapel.

For something glamorous, try the Resene FX Metallic range, suitable for most interior and exterior surfaces. Try traditional metallics like gold, silver or copper or experiment with different shades like Resene FX Metallic Sputnik to resemble the night sky or the warm pink of Resene FX Metallic Sugar and Spice. For a pearlescent finish try Resene FX Pearl Shimmer over your base colour.

This space showcases some wonderful, fancier finishes you can apply in your home. The floor pot and table tray are in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect and the wall is painted in Resene Half Sisal with Resene FX Paint Effects tinted with Resene Half Blanc over the top, creating a limewash effect. The floor is stained in Resene Colorwood Bask and large pot painted in SpaceCote Flat in Resene Charcoal. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.

The end result

It’s always best to live with a new paint finish for a few weeks to see how you find it once it cures. Much like a new haircut, sometimes it takes a little time to get used to the new look. If you apply your paint and do find it too glossy or too flat however, you can apply a Resene clear finish that will adjust the gloss level to a higher or lower sheen.

If in doubt, head to your local Resene ColorShop for more advice, or Ask a Resene Paint Expert online for free today!

Published: 11 Sep 2025