Have you spoken to a paint consultant about the different finishes for different areas and you don't have to do the whole apartment the same. Semi-gloss is the second to the top in regards to shine and is usually used in limited areas - there are many other options that create a softer feel and are very washable. Matte is usually used for the ceiling. The info below may help. http://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-choose-an-interior-sheen

Thank you, Maureen.

Did you like the satin ceiling you have been living with?

The semi-gloss would be a higher gloss.

Most of the ceilings here are flat white or flat off white.

I just read 2 Houzz articles and each had a small bit of information about ceiling paint. Links below:

[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bulletproof-decorating-how-to-pick-the-right-kind-of-paint-stsetivw-vs~29846825 [(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bulletproof-decorating-how-to-pick-the-right-kind-of-paint-stsetivw-vs~29846825)

[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bulletproof-decorating-how-to-pick-the-right-kind-of-paint-stsetivw-vs~29846825[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bulletproof-decorating-how-to-pick-the-right-kind-of-paint-stsetivw-vs~29846825)

The higher the gloss the more imperfections that will show they say.

Your ceiling may seem higher with a high gloss ceiling, they say.

I think you are in a good position to make a decision b/c you have already lived with a satin ceiling. Do any neighbors have a semi-glass finish on their ceilings you could view?

I'd probably stick with the satin finish, but I am not sure.... :). The photo of the bedroom ceiling below, looks like a high gloss. The gloss adds a lot of life to the room & *does* make the ceiling look higher, I think.

Let us know what you decide to do!

Unless the ceilings are perfectly smooth avoid satin or semi gloss on the ceiling. Matte or eggshell is best

I agree with the above, use flat or matte. I usually use Ben Moore ceiling white. Maybe tint that? Another thing to be careful about is the roller you use. Keep track of the brand and nap depth, This will make it easier if you have to do touch ups later as ( as I learned the hard way) using a different nap, and sometimes brand will show when you touch up.

The ceilings in the bathroom and kitchen should be semi gloss as the walls. I agree with mixing a little wall color into the ceiling mix. The gloss will soften down in time. It would be à bright look on the other ceilings if that is the look your going for and the condition of your ceilings can handle the semi gloss.

I can think of no ceiling anywhere that needs any more luster than EGGSHELL. It's not a boat, right? It's not a stir fry kitchen? Nothing shinier than eggshell in the kitchen or bath, and flat elsewhere.: )

ugh if you use semi gloss it will look like you have vaseline on the ceiling and it is shiny bright and reflective and annoying.....Flat flat flat on ceiling and eggshell on walls; it is washable these days....hope it isn't too late.

I agree. People use different techniques these days.. doesn't hurt to try.

Should I spray the semi gloss on ceilings or roll it ?

Using a higher sheen (satin, or semigloss) will make any imperfections in the walls stand out. The lower the sheen (flat, eggshell) the more imperfections are hidden due to the shine being less. Typically ceilings are painted in flat (non glare, or flat paint) of course depending on the look you are going for a higher sheen can be used and will work to give you the look of a shiny ceiling if that is what you are going for.

Using a higher sheen (satin, or semigloss) will make any imperfections in the walls stand out. The lower the sheen (flat, eggshell) the more imperfections are hidden due to the shine being less. Typically ceilings are painted in flat (non glare, or flat paint) of course depending on the look you are going for a higher sheen can be used and will work to give you the look of a shiny ceiling if that is what you are going for.

That’s what they want me to paint ceilings with. Should I roll the semi gloss or spray it ?

Spray the darn ceiling. With no higher a gloss than satin. .......and I still think you are crazy : ) Who are "they" if I may ask???

I agree but it’s what home owner wants

my concern is which is best way spraying or rolling

because of imperfection

To answer your question: neither semi-gloss or satin on ceiling.

You did not ask, but no semi-gloss on wall, either. I would use B.M Regal matte which is very washable.

Why are you cutting plain old ceiling white with wall color? I wouldn’t recommend it…ceiling will look dirty next to the true color of the walls.

I like the white semi-gloss ceiling in my kitchen. Many of the classic pre-WWII houses in this area have semi-gloss kitchen and bathroom ceilings. With only one central light source, and possibly a light over the sink, reflection was important. Now that most kitchens have sufficient lighting and reasonable range hoods, semi-gloss paint is more traditional than a practical requirement. Also, a semi-gloss ceiling only works when the ceiling shows no bumps, divots, patches, texture changes, cracks etc and that is rare without extra work and money.

For a ceiling in a large space, use regular white flat ceiling paint and put the personality elsewhere is my favorite theory. I'm not into colored ceilings, except traditional blue porch ceilings.

There used to be dirty coal heat. Dirty Greasy kitchens too! The need to "shine " the ceiling is gone. You don't need to wash it twice a year unless you are nicotine addicted

Are you kidding? I've never seen a smoker wash a ceiling, or even a wall, in their own house. My painter friends comment about how homeowners always want washable paint but no one washes walls any more. When we were kids, everyone learned that you wash walls from the bottom up...who knows that now?

For all purposes outside of historical renovations, semi-gloss ceilings should be relegated to the history books, a paragraph or two after popcorn ceilings

I wash walls AND all doors/windows/ trim. You can't BELIEVE the dust that goes in a sudsy Spic and Span bucket every six months, bottom up... I do the ceiling in the bath, : ) It's eggshell finsih. lol

I got this from my grandmother... what can I say? I love the super clean fresh smell too. : ) I iron sheets.................................double heaven

Linda, why DID they clean bottom up? That seems counterintuitive to me since you will be dripping water down where you just cleaned. I’m so curious that I had to sign up for Houzz just to comment and ask lol. Jan Moyer, your cleaning puts me to shame! I have forced air heat in our new place and wow does it get dusty. However I am only 5’2” so there are many places that I don’t see so I don’t realize they are dusty, and anyone taller than me probably thinks very poorly of me haha!

Too funny! You wash walls bottom Up for exactly that reason! Water may drip. Once it drips "through " dirt or a greasy wall? The drip mark will remain. Thus... You give drippy water a clean path via gravity! No streaks.

"And now you know " as the old radio host once said and I may add you will have tons of fun here and learn quite a lot! Welcome to Houzz:)

I've cleaned too many walls in ceilings to not give my opinion :). Flat finish ceilings don't wash, they get repainted. Satin finish allows a little more washing, especially in a kitchen and bathroom. Semi-gloss on walls is a rich look. Never will I use flat again. It just doesn't stand the test of family life.

my wife wants to paint the ceiling flat white and the walls a satin white. Do you think that will look ok living room and bedroom?

Flat on the ceiling, flat on thewalls and satin on trim.

Or

Flat on ceiling, eggshell on walls and semi gloss on trim.

Depends paint brand, but semi gloss is quite a bit of luster

eggshell would be satin? Could I use eggshell on walls and trim?

I might agree with all these folks, but then you see a ceiling like this:

Walls are Benjamin Moore Ashwood OC-47 in eggshell. Ceiling is Benjamin Moore White Dove in Pearl. Trim is White Dove in Latex Satin Impervo. Pearl ceiling

This thread is 3 1/2 years old! it's dead. Let it rest.

It still comes up in search and was useful to me 4.5 years later, tatts.

I sure learned a lot from the past 5 min. Also, it gave me some laughs for the day! Seriously, it’s your house, your ceilings do what you WANT!
“Be out of the box or stay in the box. “

PS. It’s now 2021. Let’s keep this post going😁

Should I do a flat ceiling, semi gloss trim, and satin on the walls? Or an eggshell ceiling, semi gloss trim, and satin walls? My kids touch everything in their room and I want finishes that I can easily wipe off.

@Kelly Faulkner if you want this to live, talk about not painting a ceiling white instead of the wall color or completely different. Many are vehemently against this.

I'm moving into new construction and I'm forced to use flat paint which I hate. In my last house, I used eggshell and it was so pretty. And I use the wall color on my ceiling but in flat.

We painted bathrooms and dining rooms semi gloss ceiling. I absolutely love it. I want to paint the entire house with ceilings semi gloss. The painters obviously are like huh? They see the semi gloss we have and are surprised how good it looks. :)

K.Z. do you have any pictures? I think that is what we need here. More photos to visualize how the ceiling will look with a little sheen.

It will look shiny. It will show every tiny flaw in drywall or skim. You may think you're on a boat? A dining room in a fabulous color? Perhaps . A metallic paint in a glam powder room ? That too. A bathroom? Maybe. Beyond those ? Maybe not : )

Here's a picture

Gorgeous