A satin finish delivers higher durability than an eggshell finish. It's scuff-resistant, making it a great choice for painting molding and walls in high-traffic areas such as living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, kids' rooms, and entryways.
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.
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. Flat, Gloss or Satin Paint - How Do You Choose? An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
Eggshell paints are a far better choice for walls and low-traffic areas of the home because they are harder to clean effectively. Satin is a nice middle ground between high-gloss and eggshell, and might be the best choice if you are trying to determine if the aesthetic is more important than longevity.
Matte or eggshell sheens are great choices for family and/or living room spaces. Eggshell's low sheen looks great on family or living room walls. It's not the most durable type of paint sheen, which is why it's optimal for lower traffic areas.
The flat sheen is good at hiding surface imperfections, such as dents, nail holes, patches and other surface flaws in new construction. It is also a good choice for ceiling painting. Flat finishes often require fewer coats than semi-gloss and gloss paints.
Satin and low-lustre paints have a slightly higher sheen than eggshell finishes. Paints in this category are warmer and provide a greater appearance of depth than flat paints.
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.
A satin finish delivers higher durability than an eggshell finish. It's scuff-resistant, making it a great choice for painting molding and walls in high-traffic areas such as living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, kids' rooms, and entryways.
Eggshell. Havenly interior designer Melissa Wagner always recommends clients use satin or eggshell finishes, as “they're middle-of-the-road and aren't as 'controversial' as gloss or flat finishes.”
Often confused with other finishes, the difference between eggshell and satin paint is that satin delivers a higher gloss, while offering better stain resistance and durability than lower sheens, including eggshell.
Best for: Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin, which is a little more hard-wearing than eggshell, works well in those rooms, too, but also in kitchens, dining areas, children's bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many satin finishes are tough enough to use on trim as well.
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.
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.
The glossier satin sheen translates to a slicker surface that's slightly quicker and easier to wipe clean of dust, dirt, mildew, and mold. Eggshell requires more elbow grease to get clean because it has more pigments, and the coarse pigment particles make for a rougher surface.
Satin: Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but it can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas that get a lot of traffic.
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.
If you are working with a new wall, professionally finished with a perfectly smooth surface, satin paint is a great option. However, if there are any imperfections in the surface, such as bumps, cracks, or holes that have been filled but still are visible, flat paint is a better choice.
Eggshell finish
"It is the easiest paint to wipe clean and is great for all areas of the home, including bathrooms and kitchens," she says.
However, for multiple reasons, eggshell is typically more suitable for use in areas that receive a lot of wear and tear. Therefore, eggshell paint would usually be the better choice when it comes to painting your living room. As we mentioned above, both eggshell and flat paint can be and are used for living rooms.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
Can Eggshell Paint Be Painted Over? If you apply flat paint directly over eggshell finishes, the new paint will peel off. If you want to remove portions, do not oversand the eggshell finish. If the existing finish has a slight grit, sand it only until it is smooth.
Satin paint is a semi-gloss finish. This means that it will not stick if used directly over eggshell paint. To make satin paint stick to eggshell paint, you need to remove the glossy sheen on the eggshell paint first.
If you don't want to paint or wallpaper your lumpy walls, the easiest way to camouflage the bumpy texture is to hang photos, artwork or other framed items to cover the problem areas. Because the uneven texture may span a large section of wall, one or two framed pieces are probably not enough to hide the lumps.