Gloss paint has been around for centuries. Though it is used less often that flat or eggshell finish gloss finish paint is still produced and still has its uses.

Gloss is the shiniest paint of all. They were once always oil based, but there have been water based versions for many years that are reasonably hardwearing but much better for cleaning up (with plain water). Gloss is vivid looking, and that is exactly what is needed in some applications. The only real disadvantage of gloss is that the shiny finish highlights any imperfections in the walls; surfaces must be very well prepared.

The most common use for glossy paint is trim- the windowsills, door frames and sometime doors and skirting boards. This gives a pleasant outline to a room already finished in matt, flat or eggshell. If the room has obvious fixtures such as radiators, railings or exposed piping the use of gloss paint can make these functional items seem like part of the décor. Likewise, wooden or cane furniture can look very vivid with gloss paint, and if it matches the colour or the trim and walls the room can look very slick.

Many front and back doors have a gloss finish. Even under fairly harsh conditions. Garden furniture does equally well.

Occasionally a room’s walls are painted in gloss. This can work well if the owner wants a vivid finish. Rooms can look extremely modern and bright with primary colours, though the décor must suit this. Alternately, brown gloss can look classically old fashioned, especially with crème or tan colours. This suits vintage or even rustic furniture.

These days the most common type of finish for interior wall paint is eggshell. But it would be a mistake to think that other types of finish are obsolete. As always there are the right materials for the right circumstances. Other finishes continue to have their use as either trimming in ordinary house painting, or occasionally as the main product in specialist circumstances.

Eggshell finish.

Eggshell finish refers to the sheen of interior wall paint. Eggshell is slightly glossier than flat paint by much less shiny that full or semi-gloss. It first appeared on the painting market in the 1970s, and steadily proved popular because of its look and resistance to stains.

Gloss and semi-gloss paints always had the advantage of easy cleaning, but were a little too intense, too bright, for many applications. Their shiny look also tended to expose any imperfections in the painted surface or less than ideal brush technique. Good glossy finishes could only be achieved by professionals or experienced amateurs.

Flat finish paints often looked good, and could be applied with general handyman skills. They were quite tolerant of any minor imperfections in the wall and proved popular for many years. Their only downside was the tendency to stain.

Eggshell finish had almost the same stain resistance of glossy paint, and it covers imperfection in the wall surface almost as well as flat finish paint. It represents the best of both types of paint.

Glossy paint is still often used for window sills, door frames and some skirting boards. Matching the right glossy paint for this trim with the right wall colour and finish is one of the many details that indicate a professional painting project.

Eggshell can also refer to a paint colour, a type of pleasant off white tint. Care should be taken not to confuse the terms.