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.
From Waiting bungalows to Southern Maine two-stories and Southern Maine commercial spaces, our Southern Maine team handles the full painting scope: interior, exterior, cabinets, decks, fences, and specialty finishes. Every project is built around Maine weather realities, harsh winter freeze-thaw, ice dams, and salt-laden coastal air drives our prep schedule.

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

My name is Tony Arsenault. I’m a husband and proud father of four amazing adult children. Professionally, I spent more than 30 years as a Corporate Sales Executive before transitioning into the next chapter of my journey as an entrepreneur and business investor. After decades in the corporate world, I realized it was time to channel my experience, leadership, and unwavering drive into building something with deeper purpose—a local company rooted in service, community, and people-first values. My vision is to create a culture where everyone matters: our employees, our painters, our referral partners, and of course, our clients. While we bring the expertise and professionalism of a big business, we operate with the heart, care, and personal touch of a small business. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to create meaningful impact, deliver exceptional results, and change people’s lives for the better.
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 Southern Maine is a locally owned and operated painting company led by Tony & Sue Arsenault, serving Southern Maine and surrounding communities with licensed, insured, background-checked crews and a 3-year transferable warranty.

From our base in Yarmouth, Tony and Sue Arsenault's crews cover a wide stretch of Southern Maine — 138 towns reaching from Portland and the working waterfront inland across the region — all served by the same local team and a free estimate.
A look at the craftsmanship we bring to homes and businesses across Southern Maine. From full-home interior repaints and kitchen cabinet refinishing to exterior siding, stucco, and trim work, every Southern Maine painting project 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 Southern Maine trust us to deliver.

Every year, our Austin 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 Southern Maine, ME in 2026: this guide is built from completed jobs across Waiting, Southern Maine, and Southern Maine, priced for Maine's cold-winter Northeastern climate and the prep depth it demands.
* All prices include materials, labor, and prep. Based on 2026 Southern Maine averages.
Average House Painting Cost Per Square Foot in Southern Maine, ME (2026): Professional interior painting in Southern Maine typically runs $2.50 to $4.75 per square foot in 2026, with most Southern Maine homeowners paying $3.25 to $3.75 for prep, two coats, and trim. A standard 2,200 sq ft home in Waiting or Southern Maine usually lands between $6,200 and $9,800 fully painted. Pricing scales with ceiling height, trim package, and color-change complexity.
Why Southern Maine Exterior Estimates Include Carpentry Allowances: Most Southern Maine exterior estimates include a carpentry allowance because harsh winter freeze-thaw, ice dams, and salt-laden coastal air drive wood rot at fascia, sill nosings, and bottom siding courses. We carry a small-carpentry crew so Waiting and Southern Maine projects don't stall waiting for a separate contractor. Typical rot allowance: $400–$1,500 per home.
Why Exterior Projects Often Cost Less Per Square Foot in Southern Maine: Exterior projects in Southern Maine 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.
Cold-Weather Cracking and Caulk Failure in Southern Maine, ME: Expect 8–15% of total exterior labor in Southern Maine to go toward winter-damage repair: re-caulking, spot priming, replacing rotted sill nosings, and resetting nails that have backed out. Skipping this step is the fastest way to repaint again in three years instead of eight.
Historic District Painting Rules in Southern Maine: If your home sits in a registered historic district near Waiting, paint colors and even sheen levels may require commission approval. Our Southern Maine crews are familiar with historic palettes and the gentler prep methods (low-pressure wash, hand-scraping, lead-safe practices) required on pre-1978 substrates.
Low-VOC and Eco-Friendly Paint Options in Southern Maine: Low- and zero-VOC interior products have closed the durability gap and now perform on par with traditional paints. For Southern Maine families with kids, pets, or sensitivities, we default to low-VOC interior systems, particularly in nurseries and kitchens across Waiting and Southern Maine.
Why Southern Maine Homeowners Refinish Cabinets Instead of Replacing: A professional cabinet repaint in Southern Maine 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).

If it peels, cracks, or bubbles — we fix it. No questions asked.
Download WarrantyEverything Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine team.
Explore every service That 1 Painter Southern Maine offers across Yarmouth, Maine.
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.