What paint finish hides imperfections and usually on low-traffic areas?

Author: Perry Gusikowski  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

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.

What is the best paint finish to hide imperfections?

Finish: The type of paint finish is crucial. A flat or matte finish is the best choice for hiding imperfections, as it reflects less light and reduces the visibility of bumps, dents, and texture variations. Satin or eggshell finishes can also work well but are more reflective, which may highlight imperfections.

What hides imperfections better, eggshell or satin?

Eggshell is commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms, as it does not pick up dirt easily. Pro tip: If your walls have bumps or imperfections, an extra coat of eggshell can disguise them more easily than satin or high-gloss finishes.

Does flat or satin hide imperfections better?

Imperfections: Despite being more durable, satin paint will show imperfections in your walls a lot more obviously than flat paint. This is down to the glossy nature, making it hard to hide things like cracks or patches. With the matte effect of flat paint, any minor imperfections are hidden away.

Does matte or gloss hide imperfections better?

Matte finishes absorb light rather than reflect it. This means they will hide bumps and other little flaws in your walls rather well. These type of finishes are not very durable, but they make for rather easy touch up jobs. Experts recommend matte finishes for bedrooms and studies.

The WORST Paint Colors to Hide Imperfections (Avoid These Mistakes)

What color hides imperfections best?

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.

What finish do professional painters use?

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.

What sheen is best for bumpy walls?

The least glossy texture is flat, which is often referred to as matte. The greatest option for covering up flaws like bumps or tiny fractures on walls is a material that doesn't reflect light. Additionally, it applies more smoothly over uneven surfaces, making it a fantastic choice for textured walls.

When should you not use eggshell paint?

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.

How many coats of paint to hide imperfections?

If you're using a high-quality paint, you may be able to get away with just one or two coats. However, if you're using a lower-quality paint, you may need to apply three or more coats to achieve the desired results.

Do designers use flat or eggshell paint?

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!

What are the disadvantages of eggshell paint?

Cons:
  • May not provide as much reflectivity as satin paint, which can make smaller rooms feel more cramped.
  • Not as suitable for creating a modern or contemporary look due to its low sheen finish.
  • May require more coats than satin paint to achieve full coverage.

What paint gives the smoothest finish?

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.

What is the best texture to hide imperfections?

Texture Tricks to Hide Wall Imperfections
  • Popcorn. Quite possibly the most well-known type of drywall texture, popcorn walls and ceilings became popular in the 1960s as an easy way to hide any imperfections, which made it attractive to builders. ...
  • Comb. ...
  • Orange Peel. ...
  • Knockdown. ...
  • Sand Swirl. ...
  • Skip Trowel. ...
  • Slap Brush. ...
  • Rosebud.

Can you put flat paint over satin?

Can You Paint Flat Over Satin? Painting over existing satin paint with a flat finish can be done, but it requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Before beginning the painting process, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned and sanded to ensure that the new finish will adhere properly.

What looks better, flat or eggshell paint?

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!

Do you need primer under eggshell paint?

It's formulated with premium pigments to guarantee you get an excellent depth of colour. If you're wondering, does eggshell paint need a primer, it's worth knowing that it's actually self-undercoating, so you can get a great finish from just two coats.

Should I use a roller or brush for eggshell paint?

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.

Which paint finish hides imperfections best?

Matte: A low-luster finish that's less durable, but easy to clean, touches up well, and hides minor surface imperfections.

What kind of paint is used to disguise uneven walls?

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.

What is the most forgiving paint color for walls?

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.

What paint to use to hide imperfections?

Using Flat Finish Paint:

You can also apply flat paint finish on the wall as they can reduce the amount of light reflected off the wall. This also reduces the visibility of dents and dings and other drywall imperfections. Flat finishes also look bolder and classier than other glossier paints.

What paint do most contractors use?

Contractors are often requested to use low- or zero-VOC paints, and this is something they can get from Sherwin-Williams in a variety of their paint lines. Sherwin-Williams paint is thick because it uses more solids, which makes it easier to work with and will cover more surface area.

What sheen of paint cleans the best?

For one level of sheen up from flat or matte, eggshell and satin are good choices. “Satin is slightly shinier, and both are easier to clean than flat or matte paint,” Handel says.

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