In the three years I’ve been working in the interior design industry, one trend has excited me more than all the rest. We all know that paint is one of the easiest ways to update and change the feel of your home. The right finish can turn something ordinary into a total statement piece, and there is no greater statement than using high gloss.
While high gloss paint and lacquered finishes have previously been reserved for front doors (we can thank the Brits for this stunning trend), homeowners and designers everywhere have started to embrace it in every room. Finally we are starting to see it here across the pond, and I think it’s time you hopped on board! Here are 5 of my favorite ways to incorporate high gloss into your home.
Painted Furniture
One of the easiest ways to breathe new life into an old piece is with a can of paint. A high gloss finish takes even the most traditional of pieces and gives it a modern, updated feel. Choose a piece you love and make it a statement with a fun pop of color and some new hardware.
Leave No Surface Unfinished
Library in high gloss blue
One of the most dramatic and stunning changes you can make to a room is to lacquer every surface in a bold, daring color. I’m talking molding, walls, built ins and ceilings. The whole enchilada. Of course this is an enormous commitment, and you need an expert before taking on a project like this. High gloss paint is notorious for showing any and all imperfections found within your walls, so every surface needs to be prepped and cleaned before a brush is even picked up. The end result, however, is a one of a kind and completely stunning room like this library pictured above.
On the Ceiling
If an entire room feels too daunting to you, then you can always choose one surface to paint in high gloss. My suggestion is the ceiling, which is one of the most under appreciated and under utilized surfaces in our homes. Not only does a high gloss ceiling reflect light and brighten even the darkest of spaces, but it makes any room feel even larger. While we can’t all call a view like the one above our own, the simple white gloss paint is a perfect example of how sheen, not color, can make all the difference. If your ceiling is not suitable for gloss, feel free to paint the crown molding for a pop of interest.
High Gloss Front Door
Notting Hill, London U.K.
Notting Hill will always have a special place in my heart. If you are looking for front door inspiration, look no further than this charming London neighborhood and its stunning lacquered doors. High gloss is an easy way to add curb appeal to your home, not to mention it holds up longer and better against nicks and dings.
Be sure that your painter has painted using gloss before he begins, and keep in mind that the finish can often change the color of your paint. Gloss has a higher reflective quality than a satin or semi-gloss, so colors can appear a shade or two lighter once on the door. If you need to darken the formula in order to maintain the color you have chosen, be sure to do so.
Paint Your Interior Doors & Frames
Design Dare: Paint Your Trim Black High Gloss
One of the easiest ways to make your home feel more expensive and custom is to paint your interior doors black. To take this look one step further, consider painting the trim in all the common areas to match. Hallways, entry ways, and other common spaces are the perfect place to put your mark and add some interest. They typically lack furniture and can feel boring without the proper finishes and colors. Black exudes sophistication and gives this space a sleek and updated feel.
What do you think about the high gloss trend? Would you ever use it in your own home?
Let me know in the comments below!
