Finish Guide
Wall and paint finishes explained
Eight finish types, from everyday emulsions to specialist decorative finishes. For each one: how it looks, where it suits, what it needs underneath and what can go wrong.
The short answer
Finishes fall into three groups. Smooth paints (interior matt and silk, exterior coatings, gloss enamels) cover most homes. Textured coatings give a raised pattern. Decorative finishes such as stone effect, Venetian plaster, microcement and metallics create a particular look and usually need a specialist. Every finish depends on a sound, dry surface, and the product's data sheet decides the details.
Smooth finishes
Paints that leave a flat or sheened, even surface: interior emulsions, exterior coatings and gloss enamels.
Interior Matt & Silk Finishes
The everyday interior wall finishes: flat matt or soft-sheen silk.
Application: Everyday decorating
Exterior Smooth Coating Systems
Smooth painted outside walls, from standard exterior emulsions to silicone-based systems.
Application: Experienced painter
Gloss & Enamel Finishes
Hard, high-sheen paints for doors, woodwork, gates and metalwork.
Application: Experienced painter
Textured finishes
High-build coatings that leave a raised pattern.
Textured Wall Coatings
High-build coatings with a raised, patterned surface, inside or outside.
Application: Experienced painter
Decorative finishes
Specialist finishes for a particular look: stone effect, polished plaster, microcement and metallics.
Stone- & Granite-Effect Coatings
Decorative coatings that imitate the flecked look of stone or granite.
Application: Specialist applicator
Venetian Plaster
A thin, trowelled and polished decorative plaster with depth and movement.
Application: Specialist applicator
Microcement
A thin, seamless cementitious coating for walls, floors and furniture.
Application: Specialist applicator
Metallic & Decorative Effects
Metallic, pearlescent and glazed effects for accents and feature areas.
Application: Specialist applicator
Finish images: conceptual illustration, not a photograph of a real applied finish.
Finishes at a glance
| Finish | Look | Common uses | Application | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Matt & Silk Finishes | Matt is flat, so the colour looks the same from most angles. | Living rooms and bedrooms (often matt); Kitchens, corridors and children's rooms (often silk, or a washable matt) | Everyday decorating | Silk shows wall flaws and touch-ups. |
| Exterior Smooth Coating Systems | A flat to low-sheen, even colour. | Outside walls of houses and maisonettes; Boundary and perimeter walls | Experienced painter | No paint stops water getting into a wall from a leak, rising damp or a failed gutter. |
| Textured Wall Coatings | From a fine, sand-like grain to a deep, pronounced pattern. | Exterior walls, boundary walls and gate pillars; Feature walls and columns | Experienced painter | Repairs are hard to blend: a patch rarely matches the surrounding pattern exactly. |
| Gloss & Enamel Finishes | A shiny, reflective surface that makes colours look deeper and richer. | Doors and door frames; Timber trims and skirting | Experienced painter | Not for ordinary interior walls: on walls it shows every flaw and is a different system from wall emulsion. |
| Stone- & Granite-Effect Coatings | Speckled or flecked colour that resembles granite or stone from a distance. | Columns, pillars and plinths; Feature walls and entrance areas | Specialist applicator | Patches and repairs are very hard to match. |
| Venetian Plaster | Cloudy, marble-like variation with depth, from a soft lustre to a high polish. | Feature walls in living and dining rooms; Reception and entrance areas | Specialist applicator | Repairs are hard to blend into the surrounding pattern and polish. |
| Microcement | A seamless, softly mottled concrete look without grout lines, from matt to a light sheen depending on the sealer. | Feature walls and living-area floors; Bathroom walls, only where the specified system and waterproofing allow | Specialist applicator | Not inherently waterproof: wet areas depend on the specified waterproofing and sealing. |
| Metallic & Decorative Effects | Shimmer that changes with viewing angle and light. | Feature walls and niches; Ceiling features | Specialist applicator | Looks very different under different light. |
Whatever the finish, the surface comes first
No finish fixes damp, active cracks or loose plaster. FinishGrid's surface method checks moisture and cracks first, then the surface condition, before any finish is planned.
Thin, shiny and polished finishes show every flaw underneath, so they usually need more preparation. Textured finishes can disguise minor unevenness, but never a defect.
Check My Wall · Wall Preparation Before Painting · Damp Walls Before Painting
Interior Matt & Silk Finishes
The short answer
Matt (Vinyl Matt) is flat and hides small wall flaws; silk (Vinyl Silk) has a soft sheen and is easier to wipe but shows bumps and patches more. Choose by room, wall condition and how often the wall will be cleaned. The full comparison is in FinishGrid's Silk vs Matt guide.
What it is
Water-based interior emulsions sold in different sheens. In Kenyan shops and quotations they are usually called Vinyl Matt and Vinyl Silk.
How it looks
Matt is flat, so the colour looks the same from most angles. Silk reflects more light and gives a gentle glow, which can make a colour look slightly richer.
Where it is commonly used
- Living rooms and bedrooms (often matt)
- Kitchens, corridors and children's rooms (often silk, or a washable matt)
- Ceilings (normally matt)
Surfaces and conditions it may suit
- Sound, clean, dry interior plaster or skimmed walls
- Previously painted walls in good condition
Preparation
- Preparation is the same for both: a sound, clean, dry surface, with filling and sanding done first.
- Silk shows unevenness more, so walls that will be silk need careful preparation; uneven walls are easier to live with in matt.
- New plaster and old paint follow FinishGrid's preparation guidance; the guides below cover them.
Application complexity
Everyday decorating Applied by roller and brush. Even, consistent rolling matters most on silk, where lap marks show.
Cleaning and maintenance
- How well a finish stands up to cleaning depends on the product, not on the sheen alone; some matts are made to be washable.
- Matt touch-ups usually blend more easily; silk touch-ups can show as patches of different sheen.
Limitations and drawbacks
- Silk shows wall flaws and touch-ups.
- Some matts mark easily if they are not described as washable.
Common misconceptions
- “Silk is always tougher than matt.”
- Durability depends on the product; some matts are made to be washed.
- “The sheen changes how much paint you need.”
- In FinishGrid's method the quantities and number of coats are the same for both.
Questions to ask before choosing
- How often will the wall be wiped or touched?
- Are the walls smooth, or patched and uneven?
- Does the product data sheet describe it as washable?
FinishGrid tools and guides
When a professional assessment may help
Rarely needed for the choice itself. An assessment helps when walls are uneven, patched or have defects, and you are deciding between preparation and a more forgiving finish.
Plan the next step
Check the wall before choosing a finish, check that a quotation includes the system your finish needs, or ask for advice on your project.
Free tool
Check My Wall
Damp, cracks or peeling? Check what the wall needs before choosing a finish.
Free tool
Check My Quote
See whether a quotation includes the preparation and system your finish needs.
Free tool
Project Estimator
A planning budget for interior walls, exterior walls or a textured finish.
Paid service
Paint, Colour & Finish Consultation
A paid FinishGrid Advisory service: written, brand-neutral advice on colours and finishes for your actual property, scoped with you first.