How To Use High-Gloss Paint on Your Walls

When it comes to choosing a paint sheen for walls, most homeowners opt for medium- to low-sheen paints, such as eggshell or matte. They reserve higher-gloss paints for special projects or rooms that encounter high moisture.

But interior designers have begun to see the greater possibilities for these types of paints. This has spurred many to try to learn how to use interior high-gloss paints.

Choosing a Space for High-Gloss Paints

As mentioned, painters tend to favor higher glosses for rooms with higher moisture; the higher a paint’s sheen, the more durable and easier to clean it is. However, the bright sheen also makes it an excellent choice to add a dramatic and eye-catching flair to a space, giving these kinds of paints a wider range.

A few popular options for spaces to add high-gloss paints include:

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Front doors
• Trim
• Ceilings
• Accent walls

Keep in mind that you can pair high-gloss paints with lower sheen paints. For instance, if you wanted to paint your ceiling with high-gloss paint, you could use eggshell or matte on the rest of the walls to make the space a focal point. Or, for a particularly dramatic room, you can paint all the walls with it.

Prepare the Surface

One of the caveats of high-gloss paints is that it tends to magnify any imperfections in the walls rather than covering them up. So it’s even more important to prepare surfaces properly before applying these types of paint than it is for lower sheens.

Start by spackling and filling any holes and cracks in the surface, then add one or two coats of primer. You should also be sure to sand down surfaces after the primer has completely dried to ensure that the surface is completely level and that your paints can adhere to the walls effectively.

Applying the Paint

The tendency for high-gloss paints to show imperfections also makes them somewhat challenging to apply. Brushstrokes, for instance, tend to be more visible than they would be with eggshell or matte paint, so knowing how to use high-gloss paints on your walls before you start is essential.

For a smooth finish, some recommend adding thin coats using a high-density roller instead of a brush for most of the project. Otherwise, you can avoid brushstrokes altogether by using an airless sprayer. Also, keep in mind that high-gloss paints take longer to dry than others, so be careful of applying a second coat too soon.

High-gloss paints can be challenging to work with, but the impact they can have on a space is unmatched. That’s why our wide range of non-toxic* interior paint colors all come in a variety of sheens, including high gloss.

*Non-toxic - Conforms to ASTM-D4236, specifically concerning oral toxicity, skin irritation and respiratory effects.