What gloss paint do professionals use?

Professional painters do not use a single gloss level for every surface, they select the sheen based on the function and location of the surface to achieve both beauty and durability. For most interior walls in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and dining rooms, professionals typically use eggshell, which has a very soft low sheen around 5 to 10 percent gloss that hides imperfections while being more washable than flat, or satin for higher traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and homes with kids and pets because it offers more washability and moisture resistance. For ceilings, the standard is flat or matte white because it absorbs light and hides drywall flaws and does not create glare. For trim, baseboards, crown molding, window casings, interior doors, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom vanities, the industry standard is semi-gloss, because it dries to a hard, durable, non-porous film that is easy to scrub and its shine creates a crisp contrast with lower sheen walls. High-gloss is reserved for special applications like front doors, high-end cabinetry, and furniture where a dramatic, glass-like enamel look is desired and meticulous prep is possible.

Professional painters use different gloss levels for different surfaces rather than one gloss everywhere, and their choices are based on durability, washability, and appearance. For interior walls in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and dining rooms, professionals most commonly use eggshell, which has a very low sheen that hides imperfections while being slightly more washable than flat, or satin for higher-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and homes with children and pets because satin is more durable and moisture-resistant while still looking elegant. For ceilings, pros use flat or matte white to hide flaws and prevent glare. For trim, baseboards, crown molding, window casings, interior doors, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets, the professional standard is semi-gloss, because it is hard, durable, easy to scrub, moisture-resistant, and its higher shine creates a crisp contrast with walls. High-gloss is used selectively for front doors, accent trim, or high-end cabinetry where a dramatic, glass-like enamel finish is desired and the surface is perfectly prepped. For exteriors, pros typically use satin or low-lustre for siding and semi-gloss for doors and trim. They also favor high-quality acrylic latex paints for most jobs.