Choosing the right paint finish for your bedroom walls is an important decision. You’ll want to pick a paint that looks good, but it should also stand up to everyday wear and tear. So what about high-gloss paint? Is it a good choice for bedroom walls?
High-gloss paint can be used for bedrooms with very high traffic. It’s durable and easy to clean, but it reflects light more than other types of paint. It could make your bedroom feel brighter and bigger, but it can also create a lot of glare. If your room has high-humidity levels, high-gloss paint is recommended.
This article will teach you:
- The advantages of using high-gloss paint
- The drawbacks of using high-gloss paint
- How high-gloss paint compares to other finishes
5 Benefits of Using High-Gloss Paint in Your Bedroom
High-gloss isn’t likely to be the best paint finish for your bedroom, but it does have its benefits. Here is a list of the 5 reasons why you might want to choose it.
Durability and easy maintenance
High-gloss paints are durable and can withstand wear and tear better than other types of paint. This makes them ideal for bedrooms since they won’t chip or fade as easily as other paints.
Additionally, this paint is much easier to clean than other types. All it takes is a damp cloth to remove dust or dirt from the walls, which makes maintaining your bedroom a breeze.
Brightness and shine
High-gloss paint gives off an amazing shine that adds a brightness to any room. It reflects light more efficiently than other paints, so it’s great for dark rooms with little natural light coming in from windows.
This can help make your bedroom feel brighter and more inviting. Additionally, high-gloss paints come in a wide variety of colors, so you can find just the right shade for your bedroom.
Aesthetics
High-gloss paint provides an elegant look that instantly transforms any room into an oasis. It creates an airy atmosphere with its reflective properties, making it perfect for small spaces or rooms with low ceilings.
Stylish accents
High-gloss paint is perfect for adding stylish accents to your room. It can create a focal point on one wall or highlight window frames, doorways, and other architectural features.
Long-lasting beauty
Finally, due to their superior durability, high-gloss paints have longer lifespans than other types of paint finishes, which means less frequent repainting projects in the future. Plus, they retain their luster over long periods, ensuring that your space looks beautiful for years to come.
3 Drawbacks of Using High-Gloss Paint in Your Bedroom
Despite its many benefits, here is a list of reasons why high-gloss probably isn’t the right choice for you.
Visible imperfections
High-gloss paint is highly reflective, which means any imperfections on your walls will be amplified. If you have uneven surfaces or cracks in your walls, they will be much more noticeable when painted with a high-sheen finish.
As a result, if you want to use high-gloss paint in a room with significant wall damage, you should fix these issues first before painting.
High cost
Since high-gloss paints are resistant to scratches and fading over time, they come with a higher price tag than other finishes. If budget is an issue for you regarding painting projects, then opting for a low-gloss finish might be the better option here.
Light reflection
High-gloss paints have a strong reflective quality that can be both a blessing and a curse depending on how much natural light enters your bedroom during the day. On the one hand, this reflective quality can help make dark rooms appear brighter.
But on the other hand, it can be too glossy for most bedrooms. It creates a lot of glare on sunny days, making it hard to sleep or relax. Children’s bedrooms are the exception, as they often leave behind fingerprints and smudges that require higher gloss paints to make them easier to clean.
How Does High-Gloss Paint Compare to Other Finishes?
Semi-gloss
Semi-gloss has a reflectivity level of 35-70%, which is lower than that of high-gloss paint but still provides a glossy shine to your walls. Semi-gloss paint in bedrooms can also be tinted with different colors for various looks, such as muted pastels or bolder hues.
Although high-gloss is more durable and moisture-resistant than semi-gloss paint, semi-gloss is still very durable. It is a great choice for bedrooms where humidity levels are high. In addition, it wipes well if dirt or grease occurs over time.
The strong reflective properties of high-gloss paints are usually too much for a bedroom. A semi-gloss finish is slightly more subtle and, therefore, a better option for creating an inviting atmosphere in this space.
Satin
Satin paint is often a great option for bedroom walls due to its soft luster and slight sheen. It has a deeper, stronger color than eggshell finish paint but does not produce as much reflection in low-light areas like semi-gloss paints.
The moisture-resistant nature of satin paint also means that it is resistant to water damage and staining. In comparison, high-gloss paints have become increasingly popular for bedroom walls due to their ability to reflect light and make rooms seem brighter.
However, this effect also means that any imperfections in the wall are much more visible since the sheen highlights them rather than blending them as other finishes do. High gloss paints are much harder to apply since brush strokes or air bubbles will be highly visible once painted.
Eggshell
Using eggshell paint in your bedroom will provide a slight sheen that reflects light but not too much. It creates an inviting atmosphere in which colors appear richer than with flat paints while still providing a subtle shine.
High gloss paints are highly reflective, making rooms look bigger and brighter by bouncing light off the walls. However, they can easily show imperfections, so they are better used on smooth surfaces.
Eggshell paints tend to be more affordable than high gloss paints. Although high gloss paints can cost 30-50% more than eggshell, their durability and resistance to fading mean they hold up better over time.
Eggshell finishes are more susceptible to wear and tear than higher sheen alternatives like high gloss finishes due to their low reflectivity level. High gloss finishes have superior durability because they contain more resin, making them resistant to moisture and chipping. This also makes high-gloss easier to clean.
Flat (matte)
Flat and matte paints are very popular in bedrooms because of their low-gloss finish. This type of paint creates a soft, subtle look with minimal sheen. It’s also generally more affordable than high gloss paint, making it an attractive option for many homeowners.
On the other hand, high gloss paint creates a vibrant, reflective finish that can give your walls an extra pop of color. Although it’s more expensive than flat paint, its durability is generally higher and offers better protection against scuffs and dirt.
If you want a softer feel in your room or need to cover up existing damage on your walls, then matte or flat paint may be the best choice. On the other hand, if you prefer brighter colors or want maximum durability, then high gloss might be the way to go.
What Paint Finish Is Best for Trim, Baseboards, Doors, and Casings?
Trim, baseboards, doors, and casings in your bedroom need a paint finish that will last. Gloss is the best paint finish for these elements as it is durable and can withstand wear and tear.
It resists moisture, which helps protect it from water damage. It also has a high resistance to stains, making it great for rooms with high traffic, like bedrooms, where dirt can be tracked in from outside. Additionally, gloss is easy to clean, making it ideal for busy households with kids or pets.
Glossy paints also have a bright sheen that adds an elegant touch to any room. The reflective nature of glossy paints also helps draw attention to details like crown molding or other decorative accents in bedrooms. Glossy paints are available in various colors, so you can easily find one that matches your decorating style and complements your wall color or furniture pieces.
