On the contrary, flat paint offers a chalky, matte finish that doesn't reflect light. Therefore, flat paint is a good choice when it comes to applying on ceilings. Flat paint actually lowers down the light glare, making it an appropriate choice for ceilings.
Although a flat finish is most popular, more ceiling paint finishes are available: Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.
Ceiling Paint
A flat white is always the best paint finish for ceilings, as the non-reflective finish reduces glare from artificial lights overhead and the clean white helps reflect natural light around the room, making it feel brighter and more open.
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. Eggshell sheen can potentially give a room a greater visual depth than the flatter matte finish.
Eggshell on ceilings also makes a room feel taller, and brighter. This beautiful coffered ceiling looks amazing, especially with the new wood trim paneling I installed in our foyer after I removed an arched doorway between that foyer and our family room.
Although paint experts recommend the use of eggshell paints in any other paint projects, they are not suitable to use on ceilings. The reason behind this is that the eggshell paints reflect light and therefore, you should not use it on ceilings.
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.
Why are ceilings usually painted with flat interior house paint? Probably the biggest reason to use flat paints on ceilings is that it does not draw attention. Flat paint does not reflect light, so it does not catch your eye. This allows the walls to be more of a focal point in your room.
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.
Most painting experts agree that using flat latex paint for ceilings is best. This goes for both light and dark ceilings. Accordingly, too much gloss on a ceiling may become distracting in a room. This becomes even more of an issue when paired with eggshell or satin walls.
Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.
Flat Acrylic Ceiling Paint
As the most common type of ceiling paint, this is best suited for low-humidity rooms, such as the bedrooms and living spaces. Flat paint does not reflect much light, which is appropriate for most ceilings.
Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149. Check out our most popular whites on the White Color Family page, then head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer to buy a paint sample: We always recommend you “live” with any color before you buy it-even white!
Therefore, flat paint should be your obvious choice if you want a saturated, velvety flat finish on your ceiling. If you ceiling has imperfections like uneven textures, cracks and joints, flat paint will surely absorb light and make them less noticeable.
However, if satin or eggshell is used, those spots generally cannot be touched up, so the entire wall has to be repainted. This is not cost-effective for the general contractor, the painters, or the homeowner. Therefore, builders use low-grade flat paint we painters refer to as builder-grade flat.
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, a flat paint finish typically has no sheen, while a matte paint will have a very low level of sheen, sometimes referred to as a velvet finish. Always check with your supplier before purchase, because manufacturers' formulas vary.
Choosing a Sheen
Rec rooms and bedrooms will benefit from a sheen you can scrub clean, such as a semi-gloss. Ceilings, no matter what room they are in, have their own special needs. Flat, or matte paints as they are sometimes called, are ideal for ceilings in any room because they provide a smooth finish.
Areas with high humidity will need a paint with at least a little sheen. Satin sheen acrylic paint is a good choice for most areas like that. Semi-gloss can be used if more water resistance is needed, such as ceilings in shower stalls.
'A matte white paint color is a classic choice for the ceiling for a reason,' says Valspar's Sarah Lloyd. 'The non-reflective finish reduces glare from lights. The clean white shade also reflects natural light, too, so it makes the room feel more open and brighter.
There are a few reasons why your ceiling may be left looking patchy after painting. You may have used the wrong paint, applied too few coats, applied a second coat too soon, or used the incorrect equipment. It may be because you rushed the job.
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.
Thin paint – a cheaper grade of paint or a previously opened can of paint that is now watered down could cause a patchy look. Poorly done – if not applied with a 9-inch roller and not enough paint when applying your paint can cause you to have an uneven spread of paint on the ceiling.
Eggshell paint sheen is popular for many good reasons. It is an attractive, one-size-fits-all paint sheen that draws out the best in a paint's color. At the same time, eggshell is cleanable and somewhat resistant to wear and tear.
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.