Guide to High-Gloss Paint: Is the Luxurious, Mirror-Like Finish Right for You?

High-gloss paint is having a major moment in home design. Once reserved for front doors and trim, this daring finish is now gracing everything from library ceilings to kitchen cabinets, creating a striking, mirror-like effect that speaks of pure luxury.

High gloss paint has a 98 score of the reflective index; that is about as high as it gets. Perhaps that is why interior designers are increasingly recommending it to make a bold statement and distinguish their projects.

But what does it truly take to achieve this flawless, lacquered look? It’s more than just a different can of paint; it’s a different approach to the entire painting process. If you’re a homeowner captivated by this fashionable gloss paint trend, this guide will walk you through where high-gloss paint works best, what it demands, and how to decide if it’s the right investment for your home.

Why Designers and Homeowners Favor High Gloss Paint

1. The Allure of High Gloss: More Than Just Shine

The primary appeal of a high-gloss finish is its ability to manipulate light. With its high reflective qualities, it acts like a mirror, bouncing both natural and artificial light around a room. This can make a space feel brighter, deeper, and more dynamic.

2. Making a Design Statement:

In a world of flat and matte walls, a high-gloss surface is an immediate declaration of style. It’s rare, unexpected, and creates an instant focal point. As the expert notes, “When you create a surface that can support a high gloss finish, it’s quite a striking appearance.”

3. Dramatic Effect in Any Light:

Don’t assume you need a sun-drenched room. High gloss can create incredible drama in spaces with little to no natural light. A deep teal or even a high-gloss black in a windowless powder room, for example, can turn a small, forgotten space into a remarkable jewel box, reflecting the light from fixtures in a captivating way.

Applying any color of paint in a high-gloss finish can result in a statement surface that creates a bold and dramatic look.

Where High-Gloss Paint Truly Shines: Best Applications

While you can put it anywhere, high gloss is best suited for specific applications where you want to emphasize architectural details or create a durable, elegant surface.

Woodwork, Doors, and Shutters: This is the traditional and most common use. High-gloss enamel on trim, doors, and cabinetry is not only beautiful but also exceptionally durable and easy to clean, making it perfect for high-traffic areas.
Statement Ceilings and Accent Walls: This is where designers are getting creative. A high-gloss ceiling can add unexpected depth and glamour to a dining room, library, or bedroom. An accent wall in a bold, glossy color becomes a piece of living art.
Cabinetry and Furniture: Want to give your kitchen cabinets or a vintage piece of furniture a high-end, custom-lacquered look? High-gloss paint is the answer, providing both a stunning finish and a tough, wipeable surface.

As you can see from the list above, it has ideal uses for both painting your home’s interior and exterior applications.

The Secret to a Flawless Finish: It’s All in the Prep

This is the most critical takeaway for any homeowner: the final result of high-gloss paint is 90% preparation and 10% application.

Anything you put this much reflective coating on has to be nearly perfect. It’s like painting a car. You don’t choose high gloss paint for a quick and easy job. You choose it as a strategic investment when you want to elevate a specific element from a simple “painted surface” to a durable, high-impact architectural feature.” – William Nunn

Because the finish is so reflective, it will magnify every single imperfection—every tiny bump, nail pop, or wave in the drywall. A standard “fresh coat of paint” prep job is not enough.

What is Involved to Gain a Great Looking High Gloss Painted Surface?

Achieving a glass-smooth surface suitable for high gloss requires a master painter’s skill who has experience to manage the following.

Intensive Surface Correction: Filling, sanding, and re-sanding wall surfaces until they are perfectly flat. This may involve skim-coating entire walls or using specialized products like Swedish Putty.
Meticulous Priming: Using the right primers to ensure the topcoat adheres perfectly and has a uniform, deep finish.
Patience and Precision: This level of work is time-consuming and cannot be rushed. It is the primary reason why a high-gloss project is a significant investment. As the expert states, “It’s really about the complete approach to improving the surface… that is the name of the game.”
The High-Gloss Investment: Durability vs. Cost: Given the intensive labor, is a high-gloss finish worth it? It comes down to weighing the long-term benefits against the upfront cost of a special paint finish.

The Benefits:

Exceptional Durability: High-quality oil-based enamels, like the marine-grade options from Fine Paints of Europe, are incredibly robust. They create a hard, non-porous shell that resists moisture and is easy to wipe clean.
Longevity: This finish is built to last. It’s popular in Europe precisely because it’s easy to care for and it lasts longer than most paints that are used to expedite a sale or redecorating.
Enhances a specific surface: The key is to be mindful of the paint’s characteristics and use it strategically to enhance a space without overwhelming it.
Highlights architectural details: Due to its reflective, smooth finish, it can marvelously enhance the appearance of features like your home’s interior trim, molding, and doors. It can also be used to add a modern touch to a vintage setting or to create visual contrast in a room.
Up stage your room’s favorite feature: If a room has an exceptional fireplace, bookcase, or built-in, lighted display cabinets, a high gloss finish can guide the eye throughout the room and to your family heirlooms for exquisite marble mantle.

What to Consider Before Using High Gloss Paint?

High gloss paint finishes are an aesthetic decision for superior wall surfaces.

The cost is in the labor:

The customer must be “willing to pay for that level of workmanship.” The higher price tag is a direct reflection of the many hours a skilled painter must invest in surface preparation before a can of paint is even opened.

Existing surface:

A painting project consultation will consider, for example, is your door made of open wood? A varnish application is more see through than a paint application. Time to fill the grain can be extensive. The surface, after being primed and sanded, must be sufficiently smooth. This highlights what a speciality high gloss surfaces are.

Requires gentle care:

While durable, the finish is not indestructible. Avoid scrubbing it with an abrasive pad, as this may scratch or dull the mirror-like surface. A simple wipe-down is all that’s needed.

Creating desired contrast with deep colors:

Lighter shades of high-gloss finishes can accentuate architectural detail without overwhelming an existing color scheme. However, if you are seeking added drama or intensity, a dark-colored, high-gloss paint color is a better choice. Rich, dark shades of paint provide more contrast between the dark color of the surface and the areas where light is reflected.

Using high gloss with whites and neutrals:

What does high-gloss white look like? While teal, black, reds or yellows are dramatic, homeowners with a more traditional or minimalist style often ask how white shades of high gloss can work for them. A high-gloss white, cream, or pastel paint color can look incredibly chic and clean, often used in modern or coastal designs to maximize light. It can prevent a white room from looking flat or sterile.

The level of gloss you want:

It is important to note that Fine Paints of Europe Hollandlac Brilliant is primarily used as an oil-based paint; a water-based version is an option. However, the wall surfaces in the end result are less shiny. Other modern high-gloss options, including some from Italy, are water-based or acrylic-based.

Creating decor balance:

The glass-like finish of a high-gloss wall or cabinet surface creates a significant amount of reflectance. Depending on the room’s features and lighting, this may create glare and eye fatigue if overdone. It’s important to balance this finish with nearby matte surfaces; this may be accomplished on other walls, textiles, or rugs.

Will this increase my home’s resale value?

Homeowners often weigh more expensive paint upgrades against their potential return on investment.
High-gloss paint is a highly “taste-specific” feature. For the right buyer who appreciates high design, it can be a major selling point. For example, adding it to a front door or shutters can greatly enhance a home’s curb appeal. It makes a home stand out. Other potential home buyers may think it is something they want to change.

Additional high gloss Italian paint brands

There are several high-quality Italian paint brands that offer high-gloss finishes and can be considered competitors to Fine Paints of Europe, which is a Dutch company known for its high-performance enamels. Here are a few notable options:

Milesi: A brand of the IVM Group, Milesi is a major European wood coatings manufacturer and offers high-gloss, wet-look finishes suitable for various surfaces like wood, cabinets, and millwork.
Ilva Ilva offers high gloss finishes, particularly within their polyurethane and polyester product lines, designed for a wet-look, durable, and scratch-resistant finish. These finishes are commonly used for furniture, cabinetry, and other woodworking projects where a high-quality, glossy aesthetic is desired.
Renner Italia: While primarily known for wood coatings, Renner Italia also produces high-performance paints and topcoats, including clear acrylic urethane high-gloss options suitable for furniture and various wood products.
Novacolor Italian Finishes: This company specializes in high-end decorative plasters and paints, including high-gloss finishes like lime plasters and metallic coatings.
Impera Italia: Located in the UK but specializing in Italian paints, Impera Italia offers various high-gloss options like Luciano High Gloss Acrylic-Based Polished Plaster and other decorative finishes.

In the last couple of years, there has been an increase in inquiries from clients looking to achieve a high gloss finish. High gloss paints are known to be tough and durable. In addition, they also provide a mirror-like finish that speaks luxury.” – Fine Paints Of Europe | Quality High Gloss Paints

High Gloss Finish are Best for Personal Enjoyment

The best choice will depend on:

Your specific project.
Desired aesthetic.
Application preferences.

A homeowner can absolutely view this as a long-term investment. You are paying for a superior, more durable finish that delivers a unique aesthetic.

William Nunn Painting frequently recommends a high-gloss finish for applications such as doors to create a striking visual statement. We often collaborate with designers to execute their vision for these specialized surfaces. Achieving a flawless high-gloss finish requires meticulous preparation, and we ensure our clients are aware of the investment required. Ultimately, this is an aesthetic choice that, while not suited for every project, provides a uniquely sophisticated look for the right situation.

The prep time expense is the price of admission for a finish that provides decades of durability and a level of sophisticated style that is simply unattainable with other sheens.

Conclusion: A Matter of Taste and Trust

Ultimately, choosing high gloss is an aesthetic decision. It’s not for every home or every style. It is for “situations where the room can support that much detail and interest” and where you want to make a truly unforgettable impression.

If you’re considering this path, the most crucial step is to hire a professional painting team with proven experience in these demanding finishes. They can properly assess your home’s surfaces, manage your expectations on cost and timeline, and deliver the stunning, flawless result that makes high-gloss paint a true work of art.