What Is the Best Paint Sheen for Interior Walls?
Choosing between flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss depends on the room's traffic, lighting, and function. Professional painters break down when to use each sheen for the best results.


Upload a photo of any room or exterior and instantly preview thousands of paint colors before you commit.
Enter your room dimensions and get an accurate estimate of how many gallons you need for the job.
Answer a few quick questions about your project and get a personalized cost estimate in under 60 seconds.
Our Charleston, SC crews paint everything: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, cabinets, exteriors, decks, and commercial interiors. We work across Awendaw, Charleston, and Charleston AFB with the durability standards required by a humid southeastern climate.

Transform your living spaces with flawless color and finish.

Curb appeal that lasts. Expert coatings for every climate.

Professional-grade finishes that elevate your business space.

Refresh your kitchen with a smooth, factory-quality finish.

Authentic European lime-based finishes for timeless texture and depth.

Breathe new life into brick with lasting, beautiful color.

Transform your living spaces with flawless color and finish.

Curb appeal that lasts. Expert coatings for every climate.

Professional-grade finishes that elevate your business space.

Refresh your kitchen with a smooth, factory-quality finish.

Authentic European lime-based finishes for timeless texture and depth.

Breathe new life into brick with lasting, beautiful color.
Trusted Paint Partners

Owned by Tyler Austin, That 1 Painter Charleston brings local accountability and a 3-year warranty to every Awendaw, Charleston, and Charleston AFB project. We invest in our Charleston crew so the same painters finish what they start.
Your painting project means as much to us as it does to you. We're licensed and insured — and our promise is simple: we'll be your best house guests, treating your place with the utmost care and leaving it even more pristine than when we arrived.
That 1 Painter Charleston is a locally owned and operated painting company led by TYLER AUSTIN, serving Charleston and surrounding communities with licensed, insured, background-checked crews and a 3-year transferable warranty.

We bring our Charleston painting crew to Awendaw, Charleston, Charleston AFB, and surrounding South Carolina communities, same standards, same warranty, same crew on every job.
A look at the craftsmanship we bring to homes and businesses across Charleston. From full-home interior repaints and kitchen cabinet refinishing to exterior siding, stucco, and trim work, every painting project in Charleston is prepped, primed, and finished by licensed, insured local painters. Browse recent residential and commercial painting projects to see the color matching, surface prep, and clean lines homeowners across Charleston trust us to deliver.

Every year, our Charleston team teams up with franchise owners across the country to gift complete paint transformations to deserving families, small businesses, and non-profits. It's our way of giving back to the community that's given us so much — one home, one story, one fresh coat at a time.
Learn More About Paint It Forward
What painting really costs in Charleston, SC in 2026: this guide is built from completed jobs across Awendaw, Charleston, and Charleston AFB, priced for South Carolina's humid southeastern climate and the prep depth it demands.
* All prices include materials, labor, and prep. Based on 2026 Charleston averages.
Average House Painting Cost Per Square Foot in Charleston, SC (2026): Charleston interior painting averages $3.25 per square foot in 2026, while exterior work averages $3.10. Pricing reflects humidity, summer thunderstorms, and pollen-heavy spring seasons, which drives the prep workload more than labor itself. Whole-home interior projects in Awendaw typically invoice between $6,000 and $11,000 fully completed.
Wood Rot, Siding Repair, and Carpentry Add-Ons in Charleston: Most Charleston exterior estimates include a carpentry allowance because humidity, summer thunderstorms, and pollen-heavy spring seasons drive wood rot at fascia, sill nosings, and bottom siding courses. We carry a small-carpentry crew so Awendaw and Charleston projects don't stall waiting for a separate contractor. Typical rot allowance: $400–$1,500 per home.
Cabinet Refinishing Cost in Charleston, SC (2026): A professional cabinet repaint in Charleston delivers a factory-grade finish at roughly 25% the cost of new cabinetry. Expect $3,500–$7,500 depending on door count, current finish, and whether you're changing from stained wood to a painted color (which adds tannin-blocking primer work).
Why Humidity Control Drives Prep Costs in Charleston: Charleston's humid southeastern climate means moisture is constantly working against your finish. Before any coating goes on, our Charleston crews wash, treat mildew, scrape failed paint, and prime bare substrate, a prep cycle that often represents 35–45% of total project hours in this region. Skipping prep in South Carolina guarantees peeling within two summers.
Why Tall Homes Cost More to Paint in Charleston, SC: Two-story and three-story homes in Charleston carry an access surcharge, typically 12–20% of exterior labor, covering scaffolding, ladder jacks, and OSHA fall protection. Awendaw and Charleston have a heavy share of taller homes, so estimates from any reputable Charleston painter will line-item this access cost transparently.
Interior vs. Exterior Painting Costs in Charleston, SC: Exterior projects in Charleston look bigger but often invoice lower per square foot because siding is repetitive surface area. Interior pricing climbs with cut-ins, doors, closets, and ceiling work. The honest comparison is total project price, not per-square-foot rate.
Choosing Colors That Work in Charleston Light: Light in Charleston reads cooler in winter and warmer in summer, which can shift how a paint chip looks on the wall. We provide complimentary in-home consultations and large drawdown samples so Awendaw and Charleston clients can see colors at full scale before committing. South Carolina-popular palettes lean toward warm whites, deep greens, and limewash earth tones in 2026.

If it peels, cracks, or bubbles — we fix it. No questions asked.
Download WarrantyEverything Charleston homeowners should know before hiring a painter — services, seasonal timing, colors, HOA rules, and how to get the most value from your project. Written by the That 1 Painter Charleston team.
Explore every service That 1 Painter Charleston offers across Charleston, South Carolina.
Book an Appointment
Three simple steps from request to wow-worthy finish.
Book your appointment
Pick a service, date & time that works for you.
Walk the project & get your quote
A local pro confirms scope and sends a clear written estimate.
We paint — you say wow
Our crew shows up on time and leaves the space spotless.
Pick a service, date & time — we'll handle the rest.
Honest product reviews, pro painting techniques, and helpful articles from professional painters who do this every day.
Choosing between flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss depends on the room's traffic, lighting, and function. Professional painters break down when to use each sheen for the best results.
Both are popular mid-tier Sherwin-Williams paints, but they perform differently on walls, trim, and cabinets. See how professional painters compare coverage, feel, and durability.
Behr Premium Plus is one of the most affordable paints at Home Depot. Professional painters test its coverage, durability, and finish quality to see if it's worth the price.
Behr Urethane Alkyd is a hybrid paint that combines oil-based durability with water-based cleanup. See how it performs on trim, cabinets, and doors in a real-world test.
Behr Dynasty claims to be their most durable, stain-repellent paint. Professional painters put it to the test on walls and high-traffic areas to see if the claims hold up.
The Gallery Series is Sherwin-Williams' newest premium line. Professional painters review its unique properties and explain why it may not be the best choice for beginners.
Choosing between flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss depends on the room's traffic, lighting, and function. Professional painters break down when to use each sheen for the best results.
Both are popular mid-tier Sherwin-Williams paints, but they perform differently on walls, trim, and cabinets. See how professional painters compare coverage, feel, and durability.
Behr Premium Plus is one of the most affordable paints at Home Depot. Professional painters test its coverage, durability, and finish quality to see if it's worth the price.
Behr Urethane Alkyd is a hybrid paint that combines oil-based durability with water-based cleanup. See how it performs on trim, cabinets, and doors in a real-world test.
Behr Dynasty claims to be their most durable, stain-repellent paint. Professional painters put it to the test on walls and high-traffic areas to see if the claims hold up.
The Gallery Series is Sherwin-Williams' newest premium line. Professional painters review its unique properties and explain why it may not be the best choice for beginners.
Painting cabinets is one of the most cost-effective kitchen upgrades. If your cabinets are structurally sound, painting them can save thousands compared to replacing. Use a quality cabinet paint like Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane for best results.
Painter's tape helps achieve clean lines, especially for DIYers. Professional painters often cut in freehand, but tape is essential for crisp edges on trim, ceilings, and two-tone walls. FrogTape prevents bleed better than standard blue tape.
White paint has hundreds of variations with different undertones. Test large swatches in both natural and artificial light. Popular picks include Benjamin Moore White Dove, Sherwin-Williams Pure White, and Behr Ultra Pure White.
Prime on new drywall, when going dark to light, on stained surfaces, and on slick or glossy finishes. Self-priming paints work for minor color changes on previously painted walls in good condition.
Smooth walls need 3/8" nap, lightly textured walls use 1/2", and heavy texture requires 3/4". Microfiber rollers leave the smoothest finish. Invest in quality rollers — they hold more paint and distribute it evenly.
Old paint can still be usable if it's been stored properly with a tight seal. Stir it thoroughly and strain out any lumps. If it smells rancid or has hard chunks that won't blend, it's time to dispose of it properly and buy fresh paint.
Yes, you can paint over wallpaper, but only if it is smooth, fully adhered, and structurally stable. If the wallpaper is lifting, bubbling, or separating, painting over it will fail.
Most rooms are painted with clear boundaries — walls one color, trim white, ceilings ignored. Color drenching breaks all those rules for a bold, immersive look.
Painting brick is one of the most common exterior questions homeowners ask, and also one of the easiest places to make costly mistakes without proper prep.
Paint bubbles are a symptom, not a random defect. The most important step is identifying the cause — moisture, heat, or poor adhesion — before repainting.
Standing in the paint aisle feels simple until you hit the chemistry question. The right answer depends on your surface, durability needs, and application method.
Ever been in the middle of a paint project and had to stop and ask 'why is my paint peeling?' The answer is almost always prep, moisture, or product mismatch.
Clear answers about pricing, timelines, services, warranty coverage, and working with That 1 Painter.