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 is cheaper.
Paint usually costs $1 to $2 dollars more per gallon for each step up you go in sheen. This makes satin, while a middle-of-the-road price option on the overall sheen spectrum, pricier than eggshell.
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. Eggshell finishes are often used in bathrooms, kitchens, kids' rooms, and other high-traffic areas.
While it's not as cheap as flat paint finishes, eggshell isn't much more expensive and will probably save you money in the long run since it's more durable and long-lasting. In addition, eggshell paint tends to be much less costly than higher-priced finishes like satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.
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.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
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.
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.
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.
“Eggshell, or low-luster, finishes are so named because the slight sheen they provide is similar in appearance to the surface of an egg,” Moran says. Unlike flat paint, eggshell bounces light around the room while resisting the inevitable stains and scuffs of everyday life.
Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint. You can clean scuffs and marks on the wall easily with a warm, damp cloth. The finish lasts many years longer than flat.
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.
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: Slightly more sheen than a flat finish, with very little reflection that creates a velvety look. Ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. Eggshell: Offers a slight sheen with a smooth, elegant appearance; it is washable with good stain resistance, yet still forgiving of wall imperfections.
Does Eggshell Need Primer? It is important to clean, dry, and free of loose or flaking materials for the best application. It is necessary to apply a primer such as Leyland Trade All Purpose Primer before applying Hardwearing Acrylic Eggshell to bare or new metal surfaces.
Pigment Volume Concentration
Consequently, if you want to change a can of paint from gloss to flat, you have to add enough pigment to increase its volume by roughly a quarter. This means that, if you have a gallon of gloss paint, you need to add approximately a quart of pigment to make it flat.
Flat has a chalky appearance in finish, absorbs light, and can make a color look slightly lighter. Semi-gloss/gloss will make a color look darker. The sheen will reflect the light, causing the color to be darker. Matte or eggshell usually the most true to color when considering finish.
Surfaces that are coated with eggshells have a light sheen that enhances their appearance. If the existing coating is abraded, flat paint will not bond to eggshells.
If the satin paint is fresh, you can paint over it with the eggshell paint straight away. However, if the paint job is older than a couple of weeks, you'll need to prep the walls first, including sanding and priming the walls.
Dust, dirt, oil or grime on the surface prevent the paint from permanently sticking to the surface. When the paint is disturbed by cleaning or scrubbing, it peels away from the wall. Lack of primer also can cause the paint to come away from the wall. Primer helps create a strong bond between the wall and the paint.
Eggshell-finish paint is a bear to touch-up. So, too, are dark paint colors. But if you must, moisten the wall first with a wrung-out terry-cloth towel.
Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections.
Eggshell is always an interior designer's preferred paint finish, which is why our founder, Nicole, an interior designer, chose this as our ultimate finish for walls. The name eggshell stems from the fact the finish appears mostly flat with just a touch of luster... similar to a chicken egg!
Flat paints have the least amount of gloss so they help conceal surface imperfections better than other finishes and are ideal for walls that are rough or dented. They also touch-up better, which makes a flat paint an ideal choice for family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.