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.
For ceilings, a flat or matte finish with water-based or latex paint is ideal for minimizing glare and hiding imperfections. For walls, the best choice depends on the desired look: Flat or matte for a smooth appearance. Eggshell or satin for a subtle sheen and durability. Semi-gloss or gloss for high-traffic areas.
Primarily if your going to paint a house 90% of the paint you use should be eggshell. The other 10% is more than likely going to be a semi gloss (with a few exceptions) and will be used only in the kitchen and bathroom. Semi gloss finishes usually contain things like mold and mildew resistant additives.
Satin sheen is generally recommended for use in a child's room, while flat or matte sheens are optimal for adult or spare bedrooms because the walls are less likely to be scuffed. Eggshell and pearl sheens also hold up well in a child's room.
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.
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.
Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.
Matte has a low luster reflective finish that is durable, easy to clean, touches up well, and also hides minor surface imperfections. It is great for low to moderate traffic areas, such as bedrooms, and interior walls.
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!
Where to Use Eggshell Paint. Eggshell paint is ideal for walls in medium-to-high-traffic areas, such as bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms. While generally used on walls, eggshell paint can also be used on trim, molding, and skirting boards.
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.
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.
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.
Using a semi- or high-gloss can help enhance your space. Higher sheens are more reflective, giving the illusion of more light.
While you can use eggshell paint on ceilings, and it does offer benefits in terms of durability and looks, it's not always the best choice. When you're deciding whether to use eggshell paint on your ceiling, think about what you really need, what shape your ceiling is in, and how you want your room to look overall.
Short or medium pile microfibre mini rollers are the best when applying water-based, woodwork paints, such as Quick Dry Eggshell, Quick Dry Satinwood or Quick Dry Gloss. Avoid using foam mini rollers when applying Quick Dry products, as these can cause paint bubbles to form when rolled onto the surface.
Eggshell paint works great in bedrooms and living rooms.
It's closer to matte than satin and is wipeable.
Flat paint can be good in a bedroom to create a cozy space because it won't reflect much light. Flat paint is the best choice for your bedroom if you want to sleep in past sunrise and don't want excess glow from your walls.
Low gloss, flat and satin finishes are popular for living areas and bedrooms where the lower sheen finish complements the soft furnishings and dècor.
Best for: Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin, which is a little more hard-wearing than eggshell, works well in those rooms and also in kitchens, dining areas, children's bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many satin finishes are tough enough to use on trim as well.
Flat or matte is the most common ceiling paint sheen – and for good reason. Most modern homes have untextured drywall ceilings that make a uniform finish difficult to achieve.