Paint Sheen Selector

Where are you painting?

Sheen is measured in gloss units at 60 degrees. Pick the surface first, everything else adjusts from there.

Room or areaUsed to preset the traffic and moisture answers below
Surface

How the surface gets used

Each answer moves the recommendation by a set number of sheen steps.

Traffic levelHands, bags, prams, dogs, bikes
Moisture exposureSteam, splash, condensation
Washability needHow hard you expect to scrub it
Wall conditionThis one overrides everything else

Test pot planner

A 250ml Australian sample pot covers roughly 1 m2 at two coats. Paint your swatches on the wall, not on a card, and look at them morning and night.

Colours you want to test
Swatch size per colourSquare metres of wall you will paint per colour
Recommended sheen
Low sheen

How we got there

Sheen steps: matt, low sheen, satin, semi gloss, full gloss.

Sample pots to buy

Two coats on the wall itself, then look at it morning and night.

Get a colour and sheen consult Call 1300 044 206
What this recommendation assumes
  • Gloss units are measured at 60 degrees: matt under 5, low sheen 5 to 15, satin 15 to 35, semi gloss 35 to 70, full gloss over 70.
  • Low sheen is the Australian default for interior walls. Overseas guides say eggshell or satin, which sit higher and show more wall flaws under our raking afternoon light.
  • Wall condition beats every other input. On wavy or old plaster we cap the recommendation at low sheen, whatever the traffic and washability answers say.
  • Broad exterior areas are capped at satin. Full gloss on a long weatherboard run telegraphs every board join and nail hole.
  • Ceilings stay flat or matt so joins, butt straps and cornice lines stay invisible.
  • Bands are ranges, not single numbers. Sheen levels vary between Dulux, Haymes, Taubmans, Wattyl and Resene, so check the gloss level printed on the tin.
  • A 250ml sample pot covers about 1 m2 at two coats. Two coats matter, one coat reads the wrong colour and the wrong sheen.
Recommended sheen
Low sheen
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Dulux
Haymes Paint
Wattyl Solagard
Taubmans
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