Paint finish guide NZ
What Paint Finish Should I Use? NZ Guide to Matte, Low Sheen, Semi-Gloss and Gloss
Choosing the wrong paint finish is one of the most common and costly mistakes NZ homeowners make. The right finish depends on the room, the wall condition, how much traffic the surface gets, and NZ's specific humidity and coastal conditions. This guide covers every finish from flat matte to high gloss, with room-by-room recommendations and specific Resene and Dulux product names.
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For most NZ living areas and bedrooms, use low sheen or eggshell. For kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries, use satin or semi-gloss. For trims, doors, and joinery, use gloss or semi-gloss. For ceilings, use flat matte. Avoid high-gloss on walls as it highlights every imperfection. In high-humidity NZ homes or coastal properties, go one sheen level higher than you think you need: satin where you might otherwise use eggshell, semi-gloss where you might use satin.
The finishes explained
Paint Finishes from Flat to Gloss: What Each One Does
Paint finish refers to the sheen level of the dried paint surface. Higher sheen means more light is reflected, which makes surfaces easier to clean but also shows imperfections more clearly. Lower sheen hides wall flaws but is harder to wipe down. Most NZ interior painting jobs use a combination of finishes across different surfaces in the same room.
Flat / Matte
No sheen (0-5% reflectivity)
Absorbs light rather than reflecting it, giving walls a soft, velvety appearance. Hides surface imperfections better than any other finish. Difficult to clean: marks and scuffs cannot be wiped without leaving a dull patch. Not suitable for high-traffic areas or wet rooms.
Best for: Ceilings throughout the home. Feature walls in low-traffic adult bedrooms. Formal dining rooms and sitting rooms that see limited daily use.
Ceilings Low-traffic wallsLow Sheen
Very slight sheen (10-15% reflectivity)
The most popular finish for NZ interior walls. Slightly more washable than flat matte while still hiding minor wall imperfections. The go-to recommendation for most living areas and bedrooms in NZ homes. Sits between matte and eggshell on the reflectivity scale and is the default for most residential painting projects.
Best for: Living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, hallways in good condition.
Most NZ wallsEggshell
Soft sheen (20-25% reflectivity)
Named for its resemblance to the surface of an eggshell. More washable than low sheen, with a slight lustre that makes rooms feel a little brighter. Increasingly popular for NZ living areas and hallways as homeowners move away from completely flat finishes. Shows moderate imperfections under raking light.
Best for: Hallways, living and dining areas, kids rooms, any wall that needs occasional wiping down.
High value Shows some imperfectionsSatin
Medium sheen (35-45% reflectivity)
A practical, durable finish that is easy to clean and resists moisture better than lower-sheen options. The standard recommendation for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries in NZ. Shows wall imperfections under direct light. In NZ's coastal and high-humidity homes, satin on bathroom walls is the minimum recommended finish.
Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, kids rooms, rental properties throughout.
Wet areas Easy to cleanSemi-Gloss
High sheen (55-70% reflectivity)
Highly washable and moisture-resistant. The standard for trims, architraves, skirting boards, and doors in NZ homes. Noticeably shiny on walls and will highlight every imperfection in the plaster. Rarely used on walls except in utility spaces. Used on joinery throughout the home regardless of the wall finish chosen.
Best for: Interior trims, doors, skirting boards, window frames. Bathroom walls in very humid or coastal properties.
Trims and doors Too shiny for most wallsGloss
Full gloss (80-90% reflectivity)
The most durable and washable finish. Mirror-like sheen that is very easy to clean but unforgiving of any wall or surface imperfection. Standard for exterior trims, front doors, and handrails. Rarely used on interior walls in modern NZ homes. Requires thorough surface preparation to look good.
Best for: Front doors, exterior trims, joinery on heritage homes, handrails and balustrades.
Trims and doors Prep criticalRoom by room
Which Paint Finish to Use in Each Room in a NZ Home
The right finish for each room depends on how much traffic it gets, how easy it needs to be to clean, and how much moisture or humidity the space experiences. Here is the standard recommendation for each room type in a NZ home.
Living and dining areas
Low sheen or eggshell
Low sheen for older or textured plaster that would show imperfections under eggshell. Eggshell for newer GIB walls in good condition. Both are wipeable enough for everyday marks.
Bedrooms
Flat or low sheen
Low traffic means washability matters less. Flat or low sheen gives bedrooms a soft, restful quality. Upgrade to eggshell in kids rooms where walls get more contact.
Hallways and stairs
Eggshell or satin
The highest-traffic wall surface in any home. Needs to withstand regular contact and occasional cleaning. Eggshell minimum, satin preferred in homes with children or pets.
Kitchen
Satin or semi-gloss
Grease, steam, and cooking splatter require a washable finish. Satin on walls, semi-gloss on the ceiling if the kitchen is particularly steamy. Avoid low sheen or flat in kitchens.
Bathroom
Satin on walls, flat on ceiling
Satin walls handle moisture and cleaning. Flat ceiling paint with a mould inhibitor for ceilings. In poorly ventilated bathrooms, use semi-gloss on walls. Combine with a mould-resistant product.
Laundry
Satin or semi-gloss
High moisture and cleaning products mean a durable finish is essential. Semi-gloss is appropriate in laundries given the utilitarian purpose of the space.
Ceilings (all rooms)
Flat matte
Flat matte hides ceiling texture and minor imperfections. Any sheen on a ceiling reflects light downward and makes the room feel lower. Kitchen and bathroom ceilings: use a flat paint with a mould inhibitor.
Trims, doors, skirting boards
Semi-gloss or gloss
Joinery gets more contact and cleaning than walls. Semi-gloss throughout is the standard NZ approach. Gloss for heritage homes with detailed timber work or for front doors.
NZ conditions
How NZ's Climate Affects Your Paint Finish Choice
NZ's variable climate means finish choices that work well in a dry inland home may be inadequate in a coastal or high-humidity property. Two NZ-specific conditions consistently influence what finish professional painters recommend.
Coastal salt air
Homes within 1-2km of the coast in areas like Auckland's North Shore, Wellington's south coast, Napier-Hastings, Nelson, and Christchurch's Banks Peninsula face accelerated paint degradation from salt-laden air. On exterior surfaces, salt air increases the frequency of repainting and requires premium paint systems. On interior surfaces, higher humidity levels in coastal homes make a case for going one sheen level higher than the standard recommendation. A satin where you might normally choose eggshell, for example, gives better wipe-ability in a home that naturally accumulates more airborne moisture.
High humidity and older NZ housing
NZ has a significant stock of older homes built before modern insulation and ventilation standards. These homes run at higher interior humidity levels, particularly in winter, which accelerates mould growth on painted surfaces and shortens paint life. In these homes, using a satin finish in living areas rather than the more common low sheen gives the walls better moisture resistance and makes mould easier to wipe off before it takes hold. Combine with a mould-resistant paint product rather than relying on finish alone.
The NZ rule of thumb
If your home is older than 1980, near the coast, or has had mould issues in the past, go one sheen level higher than the standard recommendation for each room. Living area: eggshell instead of low sheen. Hallway: satin instead of eggshell. Kitchen: semi-gloss instead of satin. The extra sheen gives better moisture resistance without looking noticeably shinier in everyday conditions.Product recommendations
Specific Resene and Dulux Products by Finish
Both Resene and Dulux produce quality interior paint ranges. Most professional NZ painters work comfortably with either brand. Note that the two brands use different terminology: Resene does not have a product labelled "eggshell" or "satin": their range moves from flat to low sheen to semi-gloss to gloss. Dulux Aquanamel comes in Low Sheen, Semi-Gloss and Gloss only. There is no Aquanamel Satin. Use the table below as a guide to which product corresponds to each finish level.
| Finish level | Resene product | Dulux product | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat / Matte (ceilings) | Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene Ceiling Paint | Dulux Wash&Wear Matt | Ceilings throughout |
| Low sheen (walls) | Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Zylone Sheen | Dulux Wash&Wear Low Sheen | Most NZ interior walls (living areas, bedrooms) |
| Semi-gloss (trims and wet-area walls) | Resene Lustacryl | Dulux Aquanamel Semi-Gloss | Trims, doors, skirting boards; wet-area walls |
| Gloss (trims and doors) | Resene Enamacryl | Dulux Aquanamel Gloss | Front doors, exterior trims, heritage joinery |
| Wet areas with mould inhibitor | Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom | Dulux Wash&Wear +PLUS Kitchen & Bathroom Low Sheen | Bathroom and kitchen walls; includes built-in mould inhibitor |
| Ceilings in wet areas | Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom | Dulux Wash&Wear +PLUS Kitchen & Bathroom Low Sheen (on walls and ceiling) | Bathroom and kitchen ceilings; mould-resistant flat finish |
A note on mould treatment
A mould-inhibiting paint does not replace mould removal. Any existing mould on walls or ceilings must be killed and removed first. Use a bleach solution or a dedicated product such as Selleys Rapid Mould Killer, then allow to dry fully before applying any paint. Painting over active mould will not stop it returning regardless of which product you use.Testpot first
Finish affects how a colour appears as much as sheen level does. The same colour in a flat finish and a satin finish will look noticeably different on the wall, with the satin appearing slightly richer and more saturated. Always apply a testpot in the actual finish you plan to use before committing to a colour. Resene ColorShops provide free colour consultations and testpots can be purchased for under $10.Common mistakes
Paint Finish Mistakes NZ Homeowners Make
Using the same finish throughout the house. Wall finish and trim finish should always be different. Using the same satin on walls and trims makes the joinery disappear into the walls and the room loses definition. Walls in low sheen or eggshell with trims in semi-gloss is the standard combination for good reason.
Choosing gloss for walls because it looks good in the tin. High-gloss wall paint looks impressive in a paint store but is unforgiving on a real wall. Every roller mark, brush stroke, plaster imperfection, and dent will be amplified under any light source. Unless the walls are perfectly prepared and you are after a very deliberate contemporary look, avoid gloss on interior walls entirely.
Using flat matte in bathrooms or kitchens. Flat paint in a wet room is a false economy. It absorbs moisture, stains immediately, cannot be wiped clean without leaving patches, and will show mould growth faster than a washable finish. Always use a minimum of satin in any wet room.
Ignoring wall condition when choosing finish. A higher-sheen finish on a poorly prepared or textured wall will look worse than a low-sheen finish on the same wall. If your walls have visible texture, old fibrous plaster, or minor dents and repairs, a lower sheen finish is more forgiving. Talk to your painter about wall condition before settling on a finish.
Mixing finish levels between adjoining rooms. If your living room is low sheen and your hallway is eggshell, the difference will be visible where the two rooms meet, particularly in the transition area around doorways. Either use the same finish throughout open-plan areas or choose the transition point carefully so it falls on a door frame or corner.
Not briefing the painter on finish preferences. Many homeowners assume the painter will choose the finish. Some will ask, others will apply whatever they use by default. When getting quotes, specify the finish you want for walls, ceiling, and trims in each room. Your painter can advise if your choice is unsuitable for the wall condition.
Exterior finishes
Paint Finishes for NZ Exterior Surfaces
Exterior finish choices are simpler than interior because the primary criteria are durability and weather resistance rather than aesthetics. Exterior paints have different formulations to interior paints and are not interchangeable.
Exterior walls (weatherboard, plaster, fibre cement): Low sheen or flat exterior paint. High sheen on exterior walls looks cheap and fades unevenly under UV. Most NZ exterior wall paints are formulated as low sheen. Resene Lumbersider and Dulux Weathershield are the most commonly specified exterior wall paints in NZ.
Exterior trims and fascias: Semi-gloss or gloss. Trims need to be durable and easy to clean. Gloss is traditional on heritage homes, semi-gloss on modern homes. White or off-white trims in gloss give a crisp contrast against most body colours.
Front doors: Gloss or semi-gloss. The front door is a feature element that benefits from a higher sheen finish. Full gloss on a front door in a contrasting colour is one of the most cost-effective ways to lift the kerb appeal of a NZ home.
Decks and floors: Specific deck and floor paint only. Never use wall paint on a deck or floor surface. Deck paints and stains are formulated to handle foot traffic, UV exposure, and moisture from below. Resene Deckstain and Dulux Weathershield Deck are commonly used NZ products.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs About Paint Finishes in NZ
What is the most popular paint finish for interior walls in NZ?
Low sheen is the most widely used interior wall finish in NZ. It sits between flat matte and eggshell on the sheen scale, hides minor wall imperfections better than eggshell, and is more washable than flat matte. Most NZ painters default to low sheen for living areas and bedrooms unless a client specifies otherwise. Eggshell is growing in popularity for higher-quality finishes where wall condition is good, while satin remains the standard for kitchens and bathrooms.
What is the difference between matte and eggshell paint?
Matte (or flat) paint has no reflectivity and gives walls a soft, velvety appearance that hides imperfections well but is difficult to clean. Eggshell has a slight sheen, named for its resemblance to the surface of an eggshell, and is noticeably more washable than matte. Under a light source, an eggshell finish has a subtle lustre that matte does not. In NZ, low sheen sits between these two and is the most common interior wall finish, offering a practical balance of washability and imperfection-hiding.
Should I use satin or eggshell for my NZ hallway?
Eggshell is the minimum recommended for a NZ hallway, with satin preferred in homes with children, pets, or high traffic. Hallways receive more wall contact than any other room: bags, shoulders, hands, and furniture all brush against the walls regularly. Flat or low sheen finishes in hallways show marks quickly and cannot be wiped clean without leaving dull patches. Eggshell handles light wiping well and satin handles heavier cleaning without marking. In rental properties, satin throughout is a common landlord choice for durability across all high-traffic areas.
What paint finish should I use for a NZ bathroom?
On walls, use a semi-gloss finish from a product designed for wet areas: Resene Lustacryl or Dulux Aquanamel Semi-Gloss are the standard choices. On the ceiling, use a flat or low-sheen paint specifically formulated for wet areas with a mould inhibitor built in, such as Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom or Dulux Wash&Wear +PLUS Kitchen & Bathroom. The ceiling is a higher mould risk than the walls in most NZ bathrooms because heat and moisture rise. Before painting, kill and remove any existing mould with a bleach solution or Selleys Rapid Mould Killer and let the surface dry fully. In bathrooms with poor ventilation or a persistent mould history, use semi-gloss on the walls as well as the ceiling.
Is eggshell or satin better for kitchen walls?
Satin is better for kitchen walls in most NZ homes. Kitchens produce grease, steam, and cooking splatter that require a finish that can be wiped clean thoroughly. Eggshell is washable but satin handles heavier cleaning with degreaser more reliably without dulling. For kitchen ceilings, use a flat or low sheen paint with a mould inhibitor rather than a high-sheen product, as gloss or semi-gloss ceilings look industrial and magnify any drips or roller marks.
What paint finish makes a room look bigger?
A flat or low sheen finish in a light colour makes a room feel larger because it absorbs rather than reflects light, reducing the perception of boundaries. High-gloss finishes make surfaces look harder and more defined, which can make a small room feel smaller and more boxed-in. For a small NZ room, use a warm white or light neutral in a flat or low sheen finish and paint the ceiling and walls the same colour to remove the visual boundary between wall and ceiling. This is one of the most effective ways to make a small room feel larger without structural change.
Can I use the same paint finish on walls and ceilings?
Technically yes, but it is not standard practice. Ceilings are almost always painted in flat matte because any sheen on a ceiling reflects light downward and makes imperfections visible, and makes the room feel lower. If you paint a ceiling in low sheen or eggshell you will see every roller mark and surface variation under certain light conditions. Flat ceiling paint is specifically formulated to apply cleanly without sheen, even in two coats. The exception is when a designer deliberately uses the same satin or eggshell finish on both walls and ceilings for a specific contemporary look, but this requires careful preparation and application.
How do I tell my painter which finish I want?
When briefing a painter, specify the finish for walls, ceiling, and trims separately for each room. For example: "Living room walls in low sheen, ceiling in flat matte, trims in semi-gloss. Kitchen walls in satin, ceiling in flat matte with mould inhibitor, trims in semi-gloss." If you are unsure, tell the painter the rooms and ask them to recommend a finish based on the wall condition and your household. Ask them to confirm what finish they plan to use in writing on the quote. A good painter will also advise if the wall condition means a lower sheen is recommended to hide imperfections.
Related guides
More Resources for NZ Homeowners
House paint colours NZ: what is popular in 2026: the most popular interior and exterior colours with specific Resene and Dulux recommendations.
Why winter is the best time for interior painting in NZ: better availability, competitive pricing, and ready for spring.
House painting cost NZ: full pricing guide by job type and city for 2026.
How to paint your house before selling in NZ: what colours and finishes to choose, timing, and costs.
Free painting cost calculator: estimate your repaint cost in 60 seconds.
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