Eggshell paint finishes are low-luster, with a very subtle sheen that can be compared to the surface of an eggshell. While eggshell does not have too much luster, it will reflect and bounce light throughout a room, creating depth in a space without appearing overly shiny.
White reflects the most light out of any color, so feel free to stick with the classics if pure white isn't too stark for your space.
Builders don't use satin or eggshell because it is often impossible to touch up and it also reveals imperfections in the drywall work which is often rushed to finish the job on budget.
Semi-gloss and gloss paints reflect light, giving them a bright, shiny finish. While semi-gloss and gloss paints require more prep work and sanding than their matter counterparts to ensure a smooth application, paints with a glossy finish can be scrubbed once dry and are easy to clean.
The sheen will reflect the light, causing the color to be darker. Matte or eggshell usually the most true to color when considering finish. It neither reflects nor absorbs the light. It does not have the chalky appearance of a flat nor the sheen of a semi-gloss.
You can't really go wrong with eggshell finish on your walls. Sometimes called satin finish, eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but you won't be left with shiny walls. It also resists stains better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag.
Flat latex paint is usually the preferred paint for textured ceilings. If the ceiling is not textured, or not covered in what is known in the industry as "a layer of popcorn," then an eggshell or satin paint can add a glossy sheen to the uniform surface of the ceiling.
WHEN TO USE EGGSHELL PAINT: Eggshell is commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms, as it is durable and does not pick up dirt easily. If your walls have bumps or imperfections, an extra coat of eggshell can disguise them more easily than satin or high-gloss finishes.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
Use your gloss paint as it is, applying one or two coats as necessary, then apply a topcoat of flat varnish. You can buy varnish products specifically made for this purpose.
The best paint finish for kitchen walls is one which is very washable, but not too glossy. Eggshell and satin finishes offers just that. They also work best painting darker colors in your kitchen.
Unlike flat paint, eggshell bounces light around the room while resisting the inevitable stains and scuffs of everyday life. Select a satin finish for a slightly more reflective look. Satin also offers more durability, making it a great finish for family rooms, hallways, and kids' spaces.
Matte finishes absorb light rather than reflect it. This means they will hide bumps and other little flaws in your walls rather well. These type of finishes are not very durable, but they make for rather easy touch up jobs. Experts recommend matte finishes for bedrooms and studies.
Even the paint's name has a cool, slightly ominous vibe: Singularity Black. Developed for NASA to reduce incidental glare on telescopes and other equipment used to study faint, distant stars, Singularity Black sucks up 98.5 percent of the light that enters it. A typical matte black paint absorbs only about 80 percent.
Eggshell. Between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale is eggshell, so named because it's essentially a flat (no-shine) finish with little luster, like a chicken's egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don't get a lot of bumps and scuffs.
The shiny reflective property of a paint's sheen comes from a reflective particles in the paint. The more layers that are put on, the more light gets reflected back to the viewer. It's odd that this has happened with a low sheen; I have seen this with satin and eggshell quite a bit myself.
Eggshell is commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms — it is durable and does not pick up dirt easily. “Eggshell paint is best suited for areas such as ceilings, bedrooms, dining rooms, and living areas where there is not a lot of dirt buildup or traffic,” she points out.
Flat paint costs significantly less than eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss. If I were building a new home, I would want eggshell painted on my walls. Eggshell is wipeable, and is also stronger on the walls than a flat paint.
Eggshell paint is easy to paint over but only if you follow the right steps. To paint over eggshell paint, you'll need to clean, sand, and in some cases prime the eggshell paint before the new paint is applied. This is to allow the new paint to stick well to the existing eggshell paint.
You can apply eggshell paint over flat paint. This is because eggshell paint and flat paints are water-based paints. So both paints are very compatible. You can even mix eggshell paint and flat paints since both paints have no sheen or gloss.
Where Should You Use Eggshell Paint? Ideally, eggshell paint is also best suited for areas such as 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 a flat finish does not.
It is great for covering up any imperfections a wall or ceiling might have because light will not highlight these blemishes. Paint with an eggshell finish will mimic the shine of an eggshell. It is low-luster, and though not overly shiny, it will still reflect light around the room.
White is a popular ceiling paint color, and it's not just out of an adherence to tradition. Homeowners and designers favor white as a ceiling color because: White Reflects Light: The ceiling reflects light as much, or more than the other four walls.
Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.