Elizabeth Ann Designs

Lil Paint Lesson

People tend to be pretty timid when it comes to paint but my advice is to just dive right in! You can always paint over it if you don't like the results.  Below are some basic paint facts that can help you get started and not feel as overwhelmed as you stand in front of thousands of paint samples at the Sherwin-Williams store!

 My newest client wants to paint her dining room gray and have white plantation shutters and bamboo shades. I cannot wait to see the progress!  The painting company she is using only uses Sherwin-Williams, so here are some of my favorites from their store! 

Repose Gray

Gray Clouds

Silverplate

Classic French Gray

Light French Gray

Magnetic Gray

Flat Finish

Also called 'matte' finish, this paint finish will give a room an elegant chalky look. Flat paint hides imperfections, is easy to touch up, but difficult to clean. Flat or matte finish paints are best reserved for rooms that are seldom used, like a formal living or dining room. The finish is perfect for ceilings too.

Eggshell Finish

This is the most popular paint finishes because it of it's versatility. Eggshell finish has a slight sheen, hides imperfections and creates a surface that is easy to touch up and easy to clean.

Satin Finish

Aptly named for the smooth, satiny surface it creates, satin finish paint works well in high traffic areas like kitchens, children's rooms, family rooms and bathrooms. The satin finish is durable, has a slight sheen and easy to clean. The only drawback with satin finish paint is any touch-ups will be very noticeable.

Semi-Gloss Paint

Slightly glossy, this is the paint finish applied to trim work and moldings around the room. Semi-gloss finish is easy to clean and very forgiving when a baseboard or door molding gets bumped or scuffed. Semi-gloss is like satin, touch-ups are very visible because of the paint sheen.

High Gloss Paint

Glossy, glassy paint finish that provides a lacquer-like look to whatever t is applied too. Kitchen or bathroom cabinetry, room moldings and furniture are the pieces which normally get treated to a high gloss paint finish. High gloss paint provides the most durable, easy-to-clean finish of all paints, but it also highlights every imperfection.

Primer

Painting is such a daunting task that we tend to skip the most important step for a beautiful finish and just get right to rolling on the paint. That oft-skipped step is priming the surface before painting. Applying a coat or two of primer will smooth out surface imperfections and make paint adhere better, leaving behind the smoothest and most durable finished surface possible.