3 Simple Tips for Making White Walls Less Glaring in Your Home

Adding a beautiful white paint to any room can completely transform a space, adding light and brightness. But when that pristine white paint is applied, and it appears too glossy, it can be disappointing. Rather than having to start over, there are methods available to tone down that glossy finish.

First, start with a good cleaning. Wipe down the glossy wall with a wet cloth, focusing on the paint itself, not the entire wall. Make sure to use a soft cloth–not anything abrasive–such as an old T-shirt, then allow the wet wall to air dry. After the wall has dried, take a fine-grit sandpaper and lightly rub it over the glossy surface. The sandpaper will remove the sheen from the paint without making any major color changes, so it’s a great place to start.

If wiping, drying, and sanding the wall hasn’t achieved the desired results, it may be time to add a new coat of paint. Over the glossy white paint, add a coat of matte white paint, which will naturally reduce the amount of sheen that the wall reflects.

Finally, if you haven’t painted the wall yet and want to start on the right foot with a less glossy paint, you can mix sand in with the paint. Most retail paint departments can provide you specialized sand that works well when mixed in with paint to reduce the overall sheen.

In conclusion, there are multiple ways to tone down the gloss on white walls. From a thorough cleaning with a soft cloth to lightly sanding the surface to mixing in specialized sand with the paint to adding a coat of matte white over the surface. With patience and a little bit of elbow grease, you can turn any glossy white wall into a beautiful matte dream.