Imperfections: If you're looking to cover or hide imperfections, flat or eggshell finishes are best.
A plain flat finish paint (in a scrubbable formulation) is what I've found that best conceals these flaws. The light bounce back in minimizes and the wonky, uneven texture to them are not nearly as noticeable as before.
Paint designed for uneven surfaces may be sold under a range of names including elastomeric paint, high-build paint, crack-free paint or renovation paint (which is basically a filler and undercoat in one). These paints are much thicker than ordinary paints which gives them much better coverage.
Eggshell Finish: This is often recommended for textured walls because it has a slight sheen that can help reflect light without highlighting imperfections. It's also durable and easy to clean. Satin Finish: Satin finishes offer a bit more gloss than eggshell, making them suitable for textured walls.
Flat paint, with its velvety, matte appearance, is the best choice for hiding any wall imperfections due to its lack of shine and reflective properties.
Flat. Flat paints have the least amount of gloss so they help conceal surface imperfections better than other finishes and are ideal for walls that are rough or dented. They also touch-up better, which makes a flat paint an ideal choice for family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.
Wall condition: If your walls are in good condition, you may only need one or two coats of paint to achieve a smooth, even finish. However, if your walls are rough or damaged, you may need to apply additional coats to cover up imperfections.
Matte. This flat finish is great for hiding surface imperfections, while its angular shine helps make walls smooth and washable. Use this sheen for: Living rooms.
Using textured paint or plaster is another excellent way to camouflage uneven walls. By applying a textured finish, such as a Venetian plaster or a stippling technique, you can turn your wall's imperfections into a design feature. These materials give the wall depth and interest, while also hiding the flaws beneath.
Polycell Polyfilla SmoothOver for Damaged & Textured Walls is the easy way to create a perfect foundation for a great finish. Its special self-levelling formula fills between ridges and bumps and covers cracks and large areas of damage giving a smooth finish that's ready to paint.
Smooth Finish: No one wants bumpy, patchy walls. PVA drywall primer smooths out inconsistencies in texture, making the final result look silky smooth.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
Another popular technique for painting uneven walls is called “cutting in.” Use painter's tape to outline edges, then apply paint within those lines using a roller or brush. Remember to use a joint compound or spackle to fill in any nooks or crannies before priming the surface.
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.
More neutral colors are another choice for hiding imperfections. Stray away from lighter shades, as they can highlight the blemishes. Mid-tone neutrals like: Gray.
Eggshell finish, perennially popular with professional and DIY painters alike, has a low-sheen reminiscent of flat or matte, but it is infinitely more durable than its namesake.
A paint that has high coverage and a thick texture, such as our Claypaint or Lifestyle emulsions, will even out any hairline cracks and slightly bumpy surfaces. Both products can go over a multitude of wall substrates.
Use a paint scraper to remove excess plaster around fittings and borders. Allow the first layer to dry and sand to remove any texture before repeating the same steps for the second layer. Once completely dry, sand the wall down with fine grit paper and you will have smooth walls, ready to be painted or papered.
Several paint colors and finishes excel at concealing minor wall imperfections, drywall seams, and surface irregularities. Darker shades like deep greens, rich blues, and warm browns naturally absorb light rather than reflect it, making bumps and uneven textures less visible.
Matte: A low-luster finish that's less durable, but easy to clean, touches up well, and hides minor surface imperfections.
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!
To hide imperfections, such as cracks and dents, the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Interior/Exterior Water-Based Primer works well. To promote adhesion and durability on surfaces, such as metal or tile, the Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Primer is an excellent choice.
Breeze through prep work, skip the primer and start enjoying your painted walls faster with Glidden Performance Edge 3 IN 1. This groundbreaking formula is the one and only paint that can actually fill minor surface imperfections, like small nail holes and hairline cracks, and then prime and paint in a single coat!*
How to fix uneven or blotchy paint: No matter how many additional coats of paint you add, this problem likely requires going back to the drawing board. If you run into uneven or blotchy paint, the best thing to do is start over.
Wall paints are the best solution if there are any little flaws over the surface of the wall. If there are flaws like spill marks or dust marks which are tough to remove, then painting can be the best way to cover them up.