Eggshell
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.
Builders do not like to have to paint walls edge to edge, so they use flat paint. During the building process, there are many trades that come into the home and damage the paint job. This makes it easier to fix.
Flat paint has a low-sheen finish that helps reduce glare in high-glare areas. This makes it great for ceilings or rooms with lots of light reflectors, like bathrooms or living rooms. However, the lower level of gloss can make flat paint vulnerable to staining and marks from spills and fingerprints.
Painters and designers often recommend eggshell paint for low-traffic areas such as living rooms, since it can be more difficult to touch up than paints with lower sheen levels (such as flat paint). Best for: Rooms with low natural light. Kitchens.
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.
This type of paint is particularly effective at concealing small nicks, cracks, and other surface blemishes, making it ideal for older walls or less-than-perfect surfaces. However, it's important to note that flat paint is the least durable option and doesn't usually stand up well to scrubbing or frequent cleaning.
Flat paint is the most forgiving finish with the best color payout. If you need to cover imperfections, patching or joints, flat paint can absorb light, making your dings and flaws less noticeable. Note that this kind of paint finish has no sheen to it. The drawback to a flat finish is the lack of durability.
FLAT or MATTE
Flat/Matte paint is the most forgiving finish with the most color options. Pros - Allows the color to be the main focus. Flat and Matte finishes help hide and or reduce imperfections in your walls and ceilings.
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.
Matte Paint
Regal® Select Interior Matte (N548) is a professional painter favorite for its ease of application and smooth feel after drying. Matte finish paint also withstands frequent washing, even when applied in busier areas like hallways and family rooms.
Most ceiling paints have a flat (or matte) finish. A flat finish doesn't reflect lights and will hide most irregularities and defects in the ceiling. On the other hand, reflective sheens draw the eye upward and can detract from the rest of the room. Another benefit of a flat finish is that it doesn't scuff easily.
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!
Eggshell paint offers a soft sheen that adds elegance and is more washable than flat paint, making it ideal for moderate-traffic areas.
Flat paint soaks up light and hides imperfections, while satin paint reflects light and may highlight them. Satin paint is best for smooth walls with no imperfections. Flat paint is best for bedrooms, offices, and calm spaces. Consider how you use the space and how frequently you clean the walls before deciding.
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.
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. Best places to use flat paint: Ceilings (which tend to have flaws), accent walls, and low-traffic rooms that don't need frequent cleaning.
Best paint to hide imperfections is going to be a scrubbable flat paint. The more sheen you have, the more likely you're going to see imperfections with raking light across the surface. Also look at your light fixtures in a room and see how they affect how the walls look...
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.
How To Paint Flat Over Eggshell? If you want to apply matte paint to a wall that has previously been painted with satin or eggshell paint, you will need to sand the previous gloss paint off the wall thoroughly beforehand. Unfortunately, you won't be able to paint over it.
A satin or semi-gloss sheen is ideal, as it can withstand moisture. Imperfections: If you're looking to cover or hide imperfections, flat or eggshell finishes are best. Durability: Areas with high traffic or exposure to moisture require more durable finishes, such as semi-gloss or satin.
If you use flat paint, your walls will likely look shabby after just a few years. For the end user, it's ultimately better. Eggshell paint just looks richer than flat paint. The slightly higher sheen creates light reflection, which in turn gives the colors more depth and richness.
Professional painters typically use both brushes and rollers when painting. Brushes are used to apply paint in tight spaces or areas with intricate details, while rollers are used for larger surfaces like walls and ceilings.