Should you use flat paint on living room walls?

Author: Miss Jannie Schamberger  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 15, 2023

On Walls. Flat paint can also be used on walls in low-traffic areas, such as formal living and dining rooms. It could also be a good choice for a home office space, depending on how much wear and tear it gets. You may even get away with using it in infrequently used guest rooms.

Should I use flat paint for living room?

Flat paint works best in low-traffic areas, such as the master bedroom, a study, or a formal living room. “Be careful if you are someone like me who is constantly moving furniture around or has children with particularly grubby fingers—flat doesn't clean up quite as easily,” Henderson says.

Should living room walls be flat or satin?

If your space has huge windows and lots of natural light, a flat paint finish can work well. If you want something more shiny and reflective, choose satin or semi-gloss. If you don't want your walls totally lustrous, you can paint trim or crown molding with a semi-gloss sheen.

Should living room paint be flat or eggshell?

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.

What kind of paint do you use on living room walls?

We advice that when painting the living room, you use eggshell and satin sheens. While flat paint is best for hiding surface imperfections and is easy to touch up, satin sheens offer a nice gloss and are easier to clean. Eggshell is more durable than flat paint, but not as shiny as satin paint.

Why We Paint with Flat (Matte) White Paint! - Ray Hayden

What is the best paint finish for living room walls?

In the living room and dining room, opt for an eggshell or satin finish. It hides flaws and imperfections — especially on uneven walls — and makes the room look more high-end, which you definitely want when you're showing your house.

What paint finish is better for a living room?

Eggshell paint offers luster, rather than shine, making it a stellar option for your living room. To achieve a clean finish, eggshell and satin finishes are the standout choices. With just enough luster or shine, your paint colors will look crisp and fresh.

Do designers use flat or eggshell paint?

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.

What rooms is flat paint good for?

You should be using flat paint on walls and areas that have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes. Since it can conceal these blemishes easily, it'll be the one paint finish you'll want to be using. It's best for low-traffic rooms that have a ton of light like offices and more formal rooms, like dining rooms.

Why do builders use flat paint?

In many such situations, the builder, seller, or low-cost painter used a low-grade flat paint for three reasons: the first is that it is inexpensive; the second is that it is easy to touch up; the third is that it hides imperfections in the drywall walls.

What are the cons of flat paint?

If your wall has imperfections like uneven texture, patches or joints, flat paint will absorb light and make them less noticeable. However, flat finishes are not very durable and need to be carefully cleaned. Scrubbing flat paint could wear down the finish and cause sheen to appear in patchy spots.

Is satin too glossy for living room?

Its balanced look makes it highly durable without being too reflective. If you were to ask an interior designer or painting professional, they'd likely tell you that satin is the glossiest sheen you should use on interior walls.

Should living room be satin or eggshell?

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.

What are the pros and cons of flat wall paint?

Matte and Flat
  • Pros: Matte and flat finishes cover imperfections in surface and application, making them a great choice for ceilings as well as walls in the bedroom, dining room and living room. ...
  • Cons: In general, they hold dirt and are difficult to clean because cleaning can actually remove the finish.

Is flat paint hard to keep clean?

But flat paints can be hard to clean since their porous texture can trap dirt and grime. And since flat paint doesn't resist water like glossier paint does, cleaning it may leave behind unwanted streaks that can make an already dirty wall seem even worse.

Should I use matte paint in living room?

Are Matte Paint Good For Walls? 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.

When should you use flat paint?

Flat and Matte finish paints are ideal for covering walls that have flaws or blemishes. Even larger imperfections, such as extensive scuffs and nail pops can get covered and camouflaged since Flat Paints are effective at absorbing light, in essence, “hiding” the bumps and lines that exist on every wall.

What are the pros and cons of matte 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.

What paint finish do interior designers use?

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!

What is the best finish for interior walls?

Satin. Perhaps the best all-around player when it comes to durability. The look: Right in the middle of the sheen spectrum, a satin finish is more light-reflecting than eggshell without appearing as shiny as semigloss. The Lowdown: Hides imperfections like bumpy walls reasonably well, and it's easy to clean.

Why is eggshell paint so popular?

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.

Which paint is best for interior walls?

Emulsion Paint

It is the best paint for home walls as it dries quickly and remains flexible even when exposed to high temperatures. Emulsion paint is highly durable, long-lasting, and washable. It is resistant to fungus, mildew, and other contaminants that can cause discolouration.

What is the most common house paint finish?

  • One of the most popular types of wall paint, eggshell finish provides a low sheen and a soft, smooth finish just like a true eggshell.
  • Perfect for low- to mid-traffic areas like hallways, living rooms, entryways and family rooms.
  • Eggshell paint is more washable than flat sheens, and it resists stains and scuffs.

What is the best white paint finish for living room?

An eggshell finish, also called a satin finish, is best for white walls. It won't look dull or show wear quickly, as a flat finish might, but it's not too shiny, which can highlight imperfections. It's also easier to clean than other finishes. Save the semi-gloss and high-gloss for trim and baseboards.

Is eggshell finish good for living room?

It offers what you may expect - it's shinier than flat (but not as glossy as satin), and it's easier to clean than flat (but not as easy to clean as satin). Eggshell paint is a good choice for living rooms, hallways and bedrooms.

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