The sheen of your paint can impact how quickly it fades over time. Flat, matte, and eggshell paints tend to absorb light more than satin or semi-gloss and, therefore, tend to fade sooner.
Concurrently, satin works perfectly on smooth walls in higher-traffic areas like hallways, family rooms, and kids' rooms. This is because satin finishes are easier to clean and more durable than lower sheen paints like matte or flat.
The big difference between these two paints is the finish. Satin has a little sheen while matte is more flat. Satin is also more durable and easier to clean though it is trickier to apply and touch up if any marks do appear over time. Matte paint gives better coverage than satin and it's more cost-effective too.
Vibrant tones like reds, yellows, dark blues, and deep greens fade faster. In contrast, neutral tones like whites, greys, greiges, and beiges last longer. Not only will these paints stay color-true longer when they fade, but it will also look more natural.
You should be using flat paint on walls and areas that have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes. Since it can conceal these blemishes easily, it'll be the one paint finish you'll want to be using. It's best for low-traffic rooms that have a ton of light like offices and more formal rooms, like dining rooms.
If your wall has imperfections like uneven texture, patches or joints, flat paint will absorb light and make them less noticeable. However, flat finishes are not very durable and need to be carefully cleaned. Scrubbing flat paint could wear down the finish and cause sheen to appear in patchy spots.
In many such situations, the builder, seller, or low-cost painter used a low-grade flat paint for three reasons: the first is that it is inexpensive; the second is that it is easy to touch up; the third is that it hides imperfections in the drywall walls.
More neutral colours like tan, beige, brown, and various shades of white fade the least over time. Compared to brighter pigments like red, blue, and yellow, these and other milder earth tones tend to degrade far more gradually in UV radiation and harsh weather.
Whites and lighter neutrals are going to get you the most fade-resistant results.
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.
Using flat paint means less work for builders and painters. BUT, flat paint is recommended for ceilings and very low traffic areas for a reason. It's not as durable or easy to clean as eggshell or other higher sheen paints.
A paint color with a flat sheen can look lighter or darker than the same color with a satin or gloss sheen. While evaluating a color's appearance, you should also judge the effect of your preferred paint sheen.
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.
Pros: A satin finish reflects more light than matte and stands up well to washing. Use in high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, the kitchen and a kid's room as well as on trim and molding throughout the house. Cons: This finish does not hide imperfections in surface or application; any touch-ups will stand out.
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
Flat paint costs significantly less than eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss.
Black and red are—by far—the hardest colors to care for. They need to be cleaned, waxed, and buffed often due to how easily they show everything.
White is the longest lasting colour among all car paint options. Or, if you choose to pick faster fading car paints such as red and blue, keep the vehicle shaded to protect it from dust, dirt and UV rays.
Daily shampooing can dry out your tresses and cause your hair color to fade quickly. To stretch out the time between salon visits and maintain your vibrant color, wash your hair every other day at most—longer, if you can manage!
White. White is, of course, always a good paint choice, because it feels elegant, fresh and clean. Plus, Gibbons says, “black and white are the most timeless colors you'll find anywhere and the most timeless color combination.”
White is the easiest color to keep clean over time.
It's the best color for hiding imperfections and scratches, as well as water spots. White also hides dirt easily, so you don't have to worry about black or grey making it look like you have a dirty car.
One way to prevent paint fading is by keeping the car out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Try to park in a covered garage, in the shade, or a car park. If you can't find an enclosed or covered space to park your car, use a car cover to protect the auto body paint.
This depends on whether you've maintained the proper storage conditions. New, never-opened cans of latex or oil paint usually last about three years. If you store a can of opened paint properly and don't expose the paint to air, it may last up to a couple of years.
Flat and Matte finish paints are ideal for covering walls that have flaws or blemishes. Even larger imperfections, such as extensive scuffs and nail pops can get covered and camouflaged since Flat Paints are effective at absorbing light, in essence, “hiding” the bumps and lines that exist on every wall.
You can wipe flat paint clean, but you'll want to use a light hand so you don't remove any paint along with dirt and debris. Wipe the walls with a dry cloth and then run a sponge soaked with warm water over any stains. Don't scrub. If the stain doesn't lift, try adding a few drops of gentle dish soap or detergent.