Finish choice changes both look and maintenance.
Matte hides uneven walls and feels soft, but marks show more easily in high-traffic areas. Satin and soft sheen clean better in kitchens, corridors and kids’ rooms. High gloss is rare on full walls — use it for doors, trim and feature details.
Before you lock a shade card, ask: which rooms get direct sun, which get oily cooking vapour, and which walls children touch every day. PaintEx usually recommends one system per zone so the house feels consistent without forcing one finish everywhere.
Preparation still decides longevity. Clean substrate, the right putty, and a proper primer matter more than the sheen label on the tin.