Satin or Gloss?

Mahsroh

The title is probably self explanatory…. About to start a DIY project in the next couple of weeks and I realise I’m probably going to get lots of differing opinions but I’ll ask anyway……

What’s the better option for painting the woodwork (skirtings, doors, frames, balustrades etc?). Gloss or Satin? I would always have said gloss but chatting to a decorator who’s priced some separate external work for us he’s suggesting Satin, saying that’s the ‘norm’ these days…. 

Jimmithecat

I’ve always gone for gloss but had some decorating done this summer and the decorator said this was quite old fashioned now and eggshell is more popular. 

I went for the eggshell and it does look lovely and would now opt for this over gloss.

Doozergirl

Gloss is quite dated, I'd agree.  We've used satinwood at work for years.   Eggshell is nice too, for an even flatter finish. Looking at my woodwork, I think we have eggshell.    Satinwood is a happy medium.  

Mahsroh

Thanks both. That definitely answers my question! 

SaverRate

When I moved into our house the entire woodwork in the house was Satinwood. When we renovated I did all the woodwork in Gloss because I hated the satinwood.

Its down to everyone's opinion but I personally prefer gloss. 

neilmcl

Gloss vs Satinwood is purely down to personal taste but when it comes to DIY satinwood is so much easier to work with, especially if you're using a water based product. I don't dislike the look of gloss but I tend to use satin now purely because it's a lot quicker to do and less hassle cleaning up afterwards.

Mahsroh

neilmcl said:

Gloss vs Satinwood is purely down to personal taste but when it comes to DIY satinwood is so much easier to work with, especially if you're using a water based product. I don't dislike the look of gloss but I tend to use satin now purely because it's a lot quicker to do and less hassle cleaning up afterwards.

The fact it’s easier to work with is probably enough to make my mind up for me!! lol 

badger09

We've converted from gloss to satin in our new (to us) home.

The lustre/sheen is much more subtle but still provides a great contrast to some of my bolder wall colour choices. Gloss woodwork would have screamed 'look at me! look at me!' which isn't the effect I wanted

Alter_ego

I  changed our last house from satin to gloss, satin shows dirty handprints much more than gloss and is harder to clean. I worked in engineering so dirty hands were the norm.

casper_gutman

neilmcl said:

... I tend to use satin now purely because it's a lot quicker to do and less hassle cleaning up afterwards.

Satin is certainly easier to get a good finish, because gloss really shows every brush mark and every defect in the surface it's applied to. 

The difference in ease of clean-up is mainly down to using water-based rather than oil-based paint though, isn't it? If you really want to use gloss then there are good water-based gloss paints, e.g. https://www.decoratingcentreonline.co.uk/johnstones-aqua-gloss-paint.html

As a bonus, water-based doesn't turn yellow like modern formulations of oil-based gloss do, either.

Silvertabby

Just to be different we have gloss downstairs and in the bathrooms (easier to keep clean) and satinwood in the bedrooms (looks softer).