Stencil - Paint sheen choices?

[wawa]

I think I'm finally going to get the stencil on the wall in the nursery next week.  Which means I need to pick up paint for it.  I'm doing a big enough area that I'm planning on just getting a quart of regular wall paint rather than trying to mix up the color I want from acrylic craft paint.  

Background is a purpley-gray color.  Stencil (birch trees) will be in a dark charcoal gray with purple undertones.  (the effect is supposed to be trees silhouetted against the sky at dusk)

What finish would you use?  The base color is in flat/matte paint.  I'm thinking maybe satin?

[simpsongal]

I've been thinking about the same issue w/my bathroom stencil project. I'd definitely do satin or semi-gloss. Are you hesitant to go full semi-gloss? You'll probably get more of a raised effect w/semi-gloss b/c of the consistency of the paint. I have eggshell and semi-gloss stripes in our hallway. I love how the semi-gloss reflects the light -- you almost don't need the stairway light b/c of the reflective properties.

If the contrast is subtle, I'd go with semi-gloss. If the charcoal really stands out against the wall color, satin should be fine. But I think the silhoutte effect you're describing would look cool in low to no light with semi-gloss paint.

Be sure to PIP when you're done!

[ktzmoh]

I vote semi-gloss.

[magdala]

I have stenciled several rooms in my houses (apartments) over the years. If you plan to do any blending (shading) in your stencils do not use a satin or higher finish. For blending, the best paint is the stencil paint available at craft stores, but flat and eggshell can work. If you are not blending colors, then any sheen that is at least the same sheen level of the base coat can be used. Sheens are: 1) flat (also called matte by some paint brands) 2) eggshell, 3) satin, 4) semi gloss and 5) high gloss. With flat paint as your base coat, you can use any level of sheen. My current home is all eggshell sheen and I stenclled the bathroom in a bamboo pattern using eggshell over eggshell. In the bathroom in the old house, I stenciled satin over matte in the same color to give a subtle leaf pattern around the tub and windows. The greater the difference in the sheens, the more the sheen will stand out.

[magdala]

duplicate post - please delete

[emjacobs]

Satin or Eggshell I think that semi-gloss would give it a different look then what I remember you going for.

[FoxInFiji]

Jan 16, 2013 11:20:31 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

If the contrast is subtle, I'd go with semi-gloss. If the charcoal really stands out against the wall color, satin should be fine. But I think the silhoutte effect you're describing would look cool in low to no light with semi-gloss paint.

This is what I would do.