Matte paint is less resistant to scuffs and bumps and is therefore more difficult to clean, so is a less practical choice for hallways and children's bedrooms. 'Eggshell has a slightly higher sheen level but is far more durable than matte finishes.
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.
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.
Eggshell paint reflects more light than matte to produce a low luster. This low luster pulls out more of the paint's color than a flat sheen and it gives the room a soft glow.
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.
Pros: Matte paint hides the imperfections and flaws of the painting surface, making it great for walls in your bedroom, dining room and living room. It is also great for ceilings and any sort of touch-up or remodeling work. Cons: It takes a lot of work to keep the imperfections hidden.
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 paints are ideal for low to medium traffic rooms, such as living rooms. Eggshell paint is generally used on walls, however it can still be used on trim such as skirting boards, especially with interiors that want a modern look!
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.
In the paint world, sheen refers to how reflective the paint will be when it's dry. In other words, how “shiny” it is. The names of matte and eggshell paint are suggestive of their sheens. Eggshell paint is slightly more reflective than matte paint.
Because eggshell is less lustrous than satin, it is also slightly less durable. That being said, it will still hold up better than flat or matte finishes would. Eggshell paint is a great option for walls in medium- to low-traffic areas, and can be easily cleaned.
Eggshell finishes are more durable and easier to clean than flat finishes, but the subtle texture can show inconsistencies like roller marks.
We recommend matte paints for bedrooms and as living room paint finishes where the walls are exposed to less moisture, choosing a glossier eggshell finish for kitchens and as a paint finish for bathrooms, which are more prone to moisture, as well as children's rooms, which might need more regular cleaning.
Use matte paints for low-traffic areas like bedrooms, formal dining rooms, and living rooms. Likewise, matte sheens work great on both ceilings and walls or as an accent paint color. Just remember that matte has a little gloss finish which means scuff and fingerprints will show over time.
Generally, the shinier the paint sheen, the easier it is to clean and the better it resists moisture. Many people recommend using a semi-gloss in bathrooms since it virtually repels moisture. Eggshell and satin sheens are recommended for a bathroom doesn't get too much use — like a powder room or guest bathroom.
High Gloss
The most durable and easy to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors.
Matt finish paint is great for walls because it makes them look smooth and elegant. The material absorbs light instead of reflecting it so it can be used in high-traffic areas like kitchens and hallways. Matte or Matt paint is ideal for guest bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms.
Emulsion Paints -The Popular Choice
(Emulsion paints are the best quality paints for interior walls and are great for high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens.) Now this one is a sure-shot winner! Firstly, it is water-based paint, so there are no uncouth odours.
For paint that will provide decent durability without the reflectivity of high-gloss finishes, choose a satin finish. Cost: Eggshell paint is more cost-effective than satin paint. Homeowners looking to save at the paint store or repaint large areas are better off going with an eggshell finish.
Satin is more durable—an advantage in high-traffic spaces.
This is why satin paint is more resistant to dents, divots, scuffs, scratches, and stains, and more durable on the whole. Eggshell paint is more likely to become damaged by these impacts and abrasions because it has fewer binders and more pigment.
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.
Eggshell is durable and washable, but not as much as high-gloss paint. It adds more dimension to a room compared to a flat finish. Flat paint is not easy to wash either. You can say eggshell is the best of both worlds.
Patchiness usually happens if you don't use enough paint, or apply it unevenly. Using a touch more paint, and painting in small sections one at a time, usually does the trick. Also, rolling in a grid fashion will get you an even finish too. But, sometimes, changes in the gloss level leave things patchy.
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!