Eggshell is the most commonly used sheen for interior walls. It is a good middle ground, having enough sheen so that it is easily washable, but not too much to where any wall imperfection will stand out. The look of the eggshell finish is quite attractive for interior painting projects.
There is no ``best'' because it depends on usage, but the most durable is gloss. Flat, eggshell and satin paint are generally best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork.
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.
Because eggshell has a lower light reflectivity than satin, it's preferred for walls with imperfections or undesired texture. This lower reflectivity also makes eggshell paint better for walls that receive direct sunlight. However, eggshell is generally too dull for trim, millwork, cabinetry, doors, and other moldings.
Eggshell is always an interior designer's preferred paint finish, which is why we chose this as our ultimate finish for walls.
Professional painters frequently utilize premium paints, such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, for their work. Sherwin-Williams is widely regarded as one of the top paint brands, providing a broad range of premium quality paints, including environmentally friendly options.
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.
The downsides of eggshell paint
Albeit less expensive than other types of paint, eggshell paint will most likely require a coat to spruce the room up much sooner than satin paint would, for instance. It is also rather challenging to freshen up the look of the walls just where it's needed.
Is satin paint too shiny for walls? In most cases, satin paint isn't too shiny for walls. In fact, satin is likely the glossiest sheen that will work on walls. However, if you're looking to hide imperfections on your walls, opting for a flatter finish will be better.
Flat and matte are your best options for rooms like your home office and bedroom. Areas like these are considered to be low-traffic spaces, where not a lot of activity happens. Therefore, "easy it is to clean" walls is typically not a point of concern (unless of course, you have young children).
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.
Gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte and flat are the most popular choices in paint finishes. The right choice can come down to the area of your home that you're painting.
For baseboards, it's best to choose a sheen right in the middle of the spectrum, such as semi-gloss. Semi-gloss baseboard paint is a great choice for baseboards for several reasons. First, having a higher sheen on your baseboards makes them stand out! It provides a striking visual contrast to the more matte walls.
Eggshell Finish
"It is the easiest paint to wipe clean and is great for all areas of the home, including bathrooms and kitchens," adding that "[She] only uses a gloss or semi-gloss paint on base, case, trim, and cabinetry."
Satin and low-lustre paints have a slightly higher sheen than eggshell finishes. Paints in this category are warmer and provide a greater appearance of depth than flat paints. They also resist stains better than flat paints.
Experts recommend choosing either satin or semi-gloss finish for your bathroom interior because of their durability and wash-ability. However, take note that satin looks best in bathrooms with low moisture and humidity while semi-gloss works well for spaces with high humidity and moisture.
Another reason why consumers and designers often favor using Eggshell or Satin paint is that they've had a bad experience with the “chalky” look that low-quality flat paints have after a few years.
Homeowners often opt for eggshell paint in living rooms, dining room, and bedrooms, where a bit of sheen is desirable for visual interest and maintaining a clean look.
Gloss is more reflective, while satin has a more matt appearance that still has a hint of lustre. However, there are other differences to consider, including durability and the ability to hide imperfections on a surface. Both satin and gloss finishes are popular, and each is best in certain situations.
Satin Paint: When To NOT Go With It
With a higher level of sheen, avoiding using satin paint in rooms with a lot of sunlight is recommended. Flat paint is preferred to keep down reflectiveness. Going with a semi-gloss or gloss finish is recommended for the higher-traffic areas you're painting.
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 sheen can potentially give a room a greater visual depth than the flatter matte finish. Matte sheens do not reflect light as much as an eggshell or even glossier finish. In fact, they can actually absorb light!
Eggshell paint offers a soft sheen that adds elegance and is more washable than flat paint, making it ideal for moderate-traffic areas. However, it shows imperfections more than matte finishes and lacks the durability of glossier options, so it may need more frequent touch-ups in high-traffic areas.
One of the main benefits of eggshell paint finish is that it is more durable than flat paint. This makes it a great choice for cabinets in high-traffic areas like a kitchen or bathroom. The slight sheen helps to protect the surface from scratches and dings. This makes it more resistant to wear and tear.
Poor quality of some trades, like drywall contractors, or framers, can make imperfections pop out if there is a sheen in the paint. Using flat paint keeps imperfections from being so noticeable.