Quick answer: Use matt on living room and bedroom walls and on ceilings, silk or satin in kitchens, bathrooms and corridors, and gloss or enamel on doors, frames, skirting and metal. The shinier the finish, the easier it is to clean, and the more it shows imperfections in the wall.
The “finish” or “sheen” of a paint is how much light it reflects. Choosing the right one makes a bigger difference to how your room looks and wears than most people expect.
Paint finishes from flat to shiny
| Finish | Shine | Washability | Hides imperfections | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat / matt | None | Low to medium | Excellent | Ceilings, bedrooms, living rooms |
| Washable matt | None | Good | Excellent | Busy living areas, rentals, offices |
| Eggshell / satin | Low | Good | Good | Corridors, children’s rooms, offices |
| Silk | Medium | Very good | Fair | Kitchens, bathrooms, stairwells |
| Semi-gloss | High | Excellent | Poor | Trims, kitchen cabinets |
| Gloss / enamel | Very high | Excellent | Poor | Doors, frames, metal gates, grills |
Matt paint
Matt (or vinyl matt) emulsion absorbs light instead of reflecting it. It hides small dents, patched plaster and uneven skimming, which is common in Kenyan houses, so walls look smooth and modern. Standard matt is harder to clean: scrubbing can leave shiny marks. Modern washable matt paints solve most of this, and they are our usual choice for living areas.
Silk and satin paint
Silk has a soft sheen and a tougher, less porous surface, so steam and grease wipe off more easily. That makes it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and high-traffic corridors. The downside is that light skimming along the wall shows every bump, so the wall must be well prepared before silk goes on.
Gloss and enamel
Gloss paint is oil-based or water-based enamel with a hard, shiny surface. It protects wood and metal from knocks, moisture and rust, which is why it is used on doors, frames, skirting boards, gates and grills. It needs a properly sanded surface and an undercoat. On metal, it also needs a rust-inhibiting primer. Read our guide to painting metal gates and grills.
Exterior finishes
Exterior walls in Kenya usually get a matt or low-sheen weatherproof acrylic, or a textured coating. A slight sheen sheds dust and rain better, but very shiny exterior finishes highlight defects in plaster. See the best paint for exterior walls in Kenya.
Common mistakes with paint finishes
- Silk on poorly prepared walls: every patch and crack shows.
- Standard matt in kitchens: grease stains soak in and won’t wipe off.
- Mixing finishes on one wall: touch-ups in a different sheen look like patches.
- Gloss with no undercoat: leads to poor adhesion and peeling.
- Touching up old paint: sheen changes with age, so repaint wall to wall, corner to corner.
Our recommended finishes for a typical Kenyan home
- Ceilings: flat white
- Living room and bedrooms: washable matt
- Kitchen and bathroom: silk or moisture-resistant paint
- Corridors and children’s rooms: washable matt or satin
- Doors, frames, cabinets: satin or gloss enamel
- Exterior walls: weatherproof acrylic, matt or low sheen
- Gates and grills: rust primer plus gloss enamel
Unsure which finish suits your home? Our painters will advise during a free site visit. Find out more about our interior painting service or read the best paint for interior walls in Kenya.
