Eggshell is the best all-around paint finish for most walls in a house. It offers a soft, low-luster sheen that beautifully hides minor wall imperfections while remaining durable and washable.
For the best whole-house paint finish, use eggshell on walls for an ideal balance of soft luster and cleanability. Pair this with flat paint on ceilings to hide imperfections, and use semi-gloss on trim and doors to withstand heavy wear and tear.
The best whole-house colors are versatile neutrals like warm whites, greiges, and soft beiges. These shades offer a cohesive flow from room to room, maximize natural light, and create a welcoming backdrop that adapts easily to changing furniture and decor styles.
Eggshell is better for most walls because it offers a practical balance. It provides a soft, subtle sheen that hides most imperfections while being washable and durable enough for everyday scuffs. Flat paint absorbs light to conceal flaws perfectly, but it is notoriously difficult to clean.
While standard exterior paint lasts 7 to 15 years, true "25-year" lifespan is only achieved using heavy-duty, ceramic-infused elastomeric coatings. Instead of repainting every decade, these professional applications expand and contract with fluctuating temperatures to prevent cracking, peeling, and moisture buildup.
What Exterior Paint Colors Make a Home Look Expensive? Neutral shades like white, gray, and greige, along with bold tones like black and navy, are known to create a high-end look. These colors enhance architectural details and improve curb appeal when paired with contrasting trims.
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
When Would you Not Use Eggshell Paint? It would help if you did not use this finish in high-traffic areas or on constantly touched objects—for example, kitchen cabinets and bathrooms. Instead, you would use a gloss because it's washable and withstands moisture better.
Builders use flat (or matte) paint primarily because its lack of shine hides drywall imperfections, scuffs, and texture flaws. It is also highly forgiving for quick touch-ups without leaving visible overlap or roller marks. This makes it a highly cost-effective and efficient way to deliver a uniform finish.
Flat paint is a term for a finish that does not reflect light, resulting in no sheen at all. This lack of reflection allows more paint pigment to come through, is more forgiving of flaws and allows for excellent hide, creating a uniform surface.
To make a home look expensive, rely on sophisticated neutrals, earthy greens, or muted blues rather than stark whites or highly saturated brights. High-end spaces feel cohesive and intentional, using layered tones, natural materials, and high-quality finishes to create a calm, custom feel.
Houses painted in neutral, universally appealing colors like warm whites, soft grays, and greige (gray + beige) sell the fastest. These colors act as a blank canvas, making spaces feel larger, brighter, and move-in ready, which is crucial for attracting the maximum number of buyers.
Colors that never go out of style are universally versatile, deeply tied to nature, and serve as the perfect base for your wardrobe or home. These timeless hues—ranging from crisp neutrals to earthy classics—provide long-term flexibility and elegance regardless of passing trends.
Satin Paint sits right in the middle of the sheen spectrum—not flat, not super shiny. It has this soft, velvety glow that feels elegant and lived-in. The light reflection is subtle enough that it won't highlight every wall imperfection, and it's durable enough for moderate traffic areas.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
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.
Warm, nature-inspired off-whites and "greiges" (a balance of gray and beige) are the most popular wall colors right now. Homeowners are moving away from stark, cold grays in favor of soft, inviting tones that make spaces feel cozy and bright.
Flat paint (or matte finish) is highly porous and lacks protective resins, making it highly susceptible to scuffs, stains, and moisture. It is notoriously difficult to clean, as scrubbing can strip the pigment or leave a chalky residue. Because it absorbs rather than repels dirt, it generally isn't suited for high-traffic zones.
Many contractors are impressed by the fact that Sherwin-Williams has more than 140 years of experience behind them, which means they've had a long time to perfect what they do. And they've done it well, as they are among the most trusted suppliers of quality paints in the industry.
Eggshell and satin are both excellent mid-sheen paint finishes, but they differ primarily in durability and shine. Eggshell has a softer, less reflective glow that easily conceals wall imperfections. Satin is glossier, more durable, and much easier to clean, making it better for high-traffic areas.
The 5 main paint sheens are Flat/Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss.
The four main types of paint are Acrylic, Oil, Watercolors, and Gouache. Each offers unique drying times, finishes, and blending properties, making them suited for different artistic styles and projects.
Interior designers are moving away from stark cool whites, "millennial gray," and heavily saturated accent colors. These rigid hues can make spaces feel cold or clinical. The shift is toward warmer, earthy, and highly nuanced tones that prioritize depth and coziness.
Blue: calmness, serenity, peace
Blue has the opposite effects of red and is the most soothing color. Primary blue is used in therapeutic settings for meditation and relaxation because it helps you unwind, find peace, and become more comfortable expressing your inner feelings.
Joanna Gaines’ favorite gray paint colors span from soft, silvery sage grays to moody charcoals. Her top picks offer timeless versatility that complements both modern and rustic spaces.