A satin finish has a beautiful luster that is often described as appearing velvety. It is slightly less lustrous than semigloss and can appear to be both flat and glossy, depending on the lighting in the room. Satin has a slightly higher
Cons: May highlight surface imperfections more than eggshell paint due to its reflective quality. Not suitable for hiding blemishes and imperfections on walls, as the higher sheen can make them more noticeable. May require more coats than eggshell paint to achieve full coverage.
As a rule, satin paint is a superior choice in case you're worried about blemishes. It mirrors less light, making the edges of scratches and dings less perceptible. Also, it might turn out best for bigger rooms where a lot of sparkle could be overpowering. By considering those focuses, you can limit your choices.
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.
If you mean walls and ceiling, in most cases, satin is better. The flatter the paint sheen, the less wall imperfections show through. But the less washable/wipe-able it is. A ``flat'' paint, under a microscope, has a rough surface. Cured paint is essentially a lot of small irregular flakes.
Living room: Satin finishes are great for living rooms where you want to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. They provide a subtle sheen that adds warmth and depth to the walls without being too shiny.
Poor quality of some trades, like drywall contractors, or framers, can make imperfections pop out if there is a sheen in the paint. Using flat paint keeps imperfections from being so noticeable.
A satin or semi-gloss sheen is ideal, as it can withstand moisture. Imperfections: If you're looking to cover or hide imperfections, flat or eggshell finishes are best. Durability: Areas with high traffic or exposure to moisture require more durable finishes, such as semi-gloss or satin.
Eggshell is always an interior designer's preferred paint finish, which is why we 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!
A satin finish paint has just a slight shine so it offers clean-ability while at the same time hiding minor imperfections in your wall's surface.
Professional painters frequently utilize premium paints, such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, for their work. Sherwin-Williams is widely regarded as one of the top paint brands, providing a broad range of premium quality paints, including environmentally friendly options.
A little varnish added to the paint will help to give it a glossy sheen and is another approach to make your paint glossier. Adding extra gloss media to the paint is another option.
Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.
This is because satin isn't a fabric, it's a type of weave. And these cheap satins are actually. made out of polyester.
Satin paint has some sheen to it, and is an excellent choice for hardworking rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms.
The Disadvantages of Satin
Satin can be difficult to sew and work with because of its shiny, slippery texture. Satin can also snag, this because of the way the threads interlace, creating those longer runs in one direction.
For low-traffic areas like bedrooms, go for flat or eggshell finishes. They're elegant and don't shine too much. But if you're tackling high-traffic spots like hallways or kitchens, satin or semi-gloss finishes are the way to go. They're durable and easy to clean, perfect for those inevitable messes.
Color Considerations
We all know that lighter colors emphasize imperfections while darker colors hide them. This also has to do with light and reflection. Lighter colors reflect more light while darker shades absorb it.
The most common and best sheen for interior trim is a satin or semi-gloss finish. Satin paint finishes have a medium sheen and are durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss paint finishes have a higher sheen and stand out in a room. They are easy to clean and stand up to dirt, stains, mold, and mildew.
Eggshell is the most commonly used sheen for interior walls.
Eggshell Finish
"It is the easiest paint to wipe clean and is great for all areas of the home, including bathrooms and kitchens," adding that "[She] only uses a gloss or semi-gloss paint on base, case, trim, and cabinetry."
Satin Paint: When To Go with It
Satin paint also does a good job of moisture resistance which makes it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. And, it offers a moderate time window for drying and curing, which makes it a great option if you're on a tight timeline but don't want to use flat paint, which cures even faster.
Flat paint has a low-sheen finish that helps reduce glare in high-glare areas. This makes it great for ceilings or rooms with lots of light reflectors, like bathrooms or living rooms. However, the lower level of gloss can make flat paint vulnerable to staining and marks from spills and fingerprints.
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. They also resist stains better than flat paints.
Contractors are often requested to use low- or zero-VOC paints, and this is something they can get from Sherwin-Williams in a variety of their paint lines. Sherwin-Williams paint is thick because it uses more solids, which makes it easier to work with and will cover more surface area.