Choosing the perfect paint color is one thing, but picking the perfect paint finish for your home is another skill entirely.
It’s made even more complicated by the fact that certain paint finishes look different in varying circumstances. For example, something that looks beautiful in an inspiration photo might not work in your own space simply because the sheen can photograph totally differently.
We were curious to know what mistakes people make when choosing their paint finishes, so we tapped in two designers for their thoughts.
The Paint Sheen Designers Say Looks Tacky
According to designer Amanda Bell, the one paint finish she never uses is high-gloss.
“I consistently steer homeowners away from high-gloss on large wall surfaces,” she says. “Its reflective nature highlights every imperfection—uneven seams, past repairs, even minor texture variations.”
To make matters worse, because it’s so unforgiving, Bell says it makes small touch-ups tricky, too.
“It demands precision, expert prep, and flawless application,” she says. “It’s generally not a DIY weekend project. It’s best handled by a professional painter with experience in high-sheen finishes.”
Designer Brittny Button wholeheartedly agrees—with one exception.
“It tends to make the walls look less elevated and of poor quality,” says Button. “I only use this if I want to highlight an area, such as a banister, that’s more of a statement-making moment.”
Otherwise, Button says this is a finish that should be avoided for main areas from kitchens to bathrooms to bedrooms.
“It will make the walls look almost as if they’re sweating,” she says.
Instead, if given the choice, Bell says she prefers to pick her finish based on what each room requires. For high-traffic or moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms, consider satin or semi-gloss finishes. These, says Bell, are durable and easy to clean.
“Bedrooms and living rooms, in contrast, shine with matte or eggshell finishes, which soften light and create a calm, sophisticated atmosphere,” she says.
How to Make High-Gloss Look Nice If You Can’t Repaint
If you can’t fix your high-gloss walls by repainting them, don’t stress. Button says you have a few options.
“Lightly sanding the walls will reduce the shine,” she says.
Still, renters might be wary of tackling a DIY project in a home they don’t own. In that case, peel-and-stick wallpapers are a great options.
3 Other Tacky Paint Choices
Ultra-Bright White
As Bell points out, many people opt for light colors because they believe it will make rooms feel larger and more open. But in the case of ultra-bright white, it can feel clinical and stifling.
Instead, she loves using deep, rich hues to make a room or space feel expansive—yes, even if it’s a fairly small area.
“Dark paints absorb light and blur the boundaries between walls and ceilings, softening edges and giving the room a sense of depth,” she says.
Overused Gray
Designers mostly agree millennial gray is over, and Bell includes herself in that category. Instead, she’s a big proponent of hues that add drama, richness, and sophistication to a space—which gray, unfortunately, does not.
Instead, she’s turning to inky navies and other blues with green undertones.
“[These] offer rich, layered depth, adding dimension and sophistication while keeping spaces feeling open and balanced,” she says.
Harsh, Flat Hues
If you feel like your room is lacking depth, Bell says this can be the result of choosing a paint color that lacks nuance or subtlety.
Instead, you should look for nuanced colors that offer subtle undertones and reflect light without feeling harsh.
“[This will] keep the palette fresh and timeless, avoiding the sterile or uninspired look that can date a space,” she says.