Paint Finish

The term sheen level refers to the glossiness of the paint finish. Colours can differ in appearance depending on their sheen level. For every wall emulsion or interior wood paint, you can identify its sheen level by using our numerical scale (which are typically noted in the product names).

Gloss level is measured according to internationally recognised standards. The minimum gloss level is 0 and corresponds to a completely matt surface and the maximum is 100 gloss units corresponding to a very glossy surface.

0-5 Full matt
6-10 Matt
11-35 Semi-matt
35-60 Semi-gloss
61-80 Gloss
80 Full gloss

Where no gloss level is noted, this usually means the product is non-film forming and a gloss level cannot be measured.  Wood Oils are such an example - there is no sheen to be noticed or measured.

In general, flat and low sheen paints do not have a high amount of scrubability. However, Tikkurila’s durable range can protect your wall from those everyday marks and spills that can be easily wiped away (and are available in matt and flat matt finished) and is ideal for use in those busy areas of the home. View the washable products here.

LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, refers to how light or dark a paint colour will look on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white). The higher the LRV number is, the lighter the colour is. The lower the LRV number is – the darker the colour is. This can greatly affect your room depending on how much natural or artificial light your room gets. Any colour will look lighter when hit with direct natural or artificial light.

Tikkurila do not publish the LRVs of their colours online, but if you do require an LRV please contact enquiries@valtti.co.uk with detail of the colour.