It's no secret that modern day oil-based paint such as gloss, satinwood and eggshell will start to discolour and turn yellow fairly quickly do to the alkyd oil used in the paint, and EU restrictions on VOCs.
Where possible, choose a top quality water-based paint and/or a non-yellowing varnish, we recommend Dulux Aquanamel®. Acrylic paints do not tend to yellow as much as solvent-based paints, and are the only sure way to protect against premature yellowing.
Unlike a lot of conventional paints, it will not discolour or fade over time. Once completely dry, you can clean the surface easily and it will not delaminate. Oil Based Eggshell has extremely good adhesion properties. We recommend 3 coats for the best performance.
If you are looking for a paint that doesn't yellow very much and you are happy with a satin/eggshell finish, then I'd recommend that you use Zinsser Permawhite or Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood. Gloss paints will yellow a bit more but the Dulux Quick Dry gloss doesn't yellow much and outperformed the other brands.
Eggshell Finish
The Cons: It is very hard to touch up. Because it has the slight sheen to it, it's almost impossible to only add a new layer in small areas without it being visible. Usually a “touch-up” of eggshell means re-doing a full wall. Best For: Walls in any room where you want a little more sheen.
Eggshell, as its name suggests, is a no-shine finish with very little luster to it. While this paint isn't as durable as the higher gloss products, it covers wall imperfections very well and works on walls that don't get a lot of bumps or scuffs.
The easiest option is to apply a clear, water-based finish such as Minwax's Polycrylic. Two brushed coats are enough for the table's base, but apply three to the top for added protection. For more of an in-the-wood look, brush or wipe on a coat of blond shellac, such as Zinsser's pre-mixed SealCoat.
Oil-based paints contain alkyd resins which are prone to yellowing over time. White gloss paint is particularly susceptible, especially where there are low levels of natural sunlight. Water-based paints contain synthetic resins which are not light sensitive, so will stay white for much longer.
Lack of ventilation. Use of varnishes that harden in a humid environment, causing the vapours to settle down on the paint. Fresh water-based paints when applied before a floor varnish will quickly turn yellow following the application of urethane-based varnishes which harden when expose to humidity.
Eggshell paint sheen is popular for many good reasons. It is an attractive, one-size-fits-all paint sheen that draws out the best in a paint's color. At the same time, eggshell is cleanable and somewhat resistant to wear and tear.
The texture of eggshell paint, combined with its slight shine helps to scatter light that hits surfaces coated in this paint, hiding surface imperfections and adding colour depth, in a similar way to paint with higher-gloss finishes but without the gloss-like shine.
Ideally, eggshell paint is best suited for ceilings, bedrooms, dining rooms and living areas where there is not a lot of dirt build-up or traffic. In addition, its medium-level durability provides added protection that a flat finish does not. For areas such as walls, eggshell works best and is easier to clean.
Learn all about Sherwin-Williams Pearly White in this color review (Sample Here). This is a muted creamy white paint color that doesn't look yellow. it is a versatile white that looks great in a bright or dark room.
If your yellow is ever too bright or saturated, then use purple to help mute your yellow color. Doing so will also take out some of the brightness of the yellow shade. In the color chart below, mixing purple makes the shade of yellow less bright and less of a yellow color.
If you've been painting furniture regularly, it's inevitable that at some point you would have run, or going to, run into this problem. Did you know that all bright white paint will yellow a little over time?
Acrylic paints are known for their ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, resist other natural variables and maintain their pigment over a long period of time. Acrylic paints are a great choice if you're looking for a long-lasting paint for your exterior walls.
Acrylic exterior house paint lasts the longest in general when compared to other standard paint types. Acrylics are well-known for resisting damage caused by weather and other natural contaminants.
To avoid a yellowing wood finish, use a water-based polyurethane instead of an oil based polyurethane. The best water-based polyurethane is Minwax's Polycrylic, which is formulated for easy consumer use.
Moisture is a common cause of white paint turning yellow on wood and white painted cabinets turning yellow, as cabinets are often located in places that receive more moisture. For example, kitchens and bathrooms are among areas most exposed.
Eggshell finishes are more durable and easier to clean than flat finishes, but the subtle texture can show inconsistencies like roller marks.
We recommend two coats of this eggshell interior paint in order to achieve full depth of colour. Each coat of Interior Eggshell will be surface dry within one hour, and ready for a second coat after four hours of drying time.
From the perspective of a Color Designer/Consultant, I typically specify eggshell on walls for multiple reasons that benefit the people who are dwelling in the home. Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint.