Where to Use
Eggshell paint sheen works especially well for walls in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, offices, and finished basements. It can even be used in higher-traffic spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms or children's rooms, though satin is a more durable choice.
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.
Interior eggshell paints are moisture resistant which makes them ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens where condensation levels are high.
Eggshell Paint Finish
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. Another benefit of eggshell paint finish is that it is easy to clean.
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. Additionally, eggshell paint tends to hold up well over time, providing a durable and attractive option for various interior spaces.
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!
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.
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.
One of the benefits of eggshell paint is that it is highly resistant to stains and dirt, which makes it easy to clean. This is especially important for families with children or pets who tend to leave fingerprints and smudges on walls.
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. It's why so many choose eggshell paint for skirting boards as it is quick and easy to apply.
We advice that when painting the living room, you use eggshell and satin sheens. While flat paint is best for hiding surface imperfections and is easy to touch up, satin sheens offer a nice gloss and are easier to clean. Eggshell is more durable than flat paint, but not as shiny as satin paint.
Walls in great rooms and foyers, particularly in newer homes with lots of natural light, should never be painted with a sheen such as satin or eggshell, in my opinion, because of this unavoidable light refraction problem.
Match Complementary Shades: Pair eggshell hues with complementary colors like soft blues or gentle greens to enhance the overall aesthetic. Use Neutrals: Incorporate neutral colors such as beige or gray to provide a versatile backdrop that allows eggshell tones to stand out.
Living Room: Satin or eggshell works well to balance elegance and practicality. Kitchen: Choose semi-gloss for easy cleaning. Trim and Cabinets: High-gloss for a striking finish.
Eggshell Paint
Offering a soft, low-luster finish with 10-25% gloss, eggshell is washable and hides imperfections well. It's ideal for living spaces with moderate traffic. However, its susceptibility to scuffs may not suit homes with young children.
Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.
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!
It's a choice between no shine (matte or flat) or glossy (high gloss) and nuanced gradations in between. Eggshell is one of the most popular in-between finishes. It is low luster, easy to clean, and ideal for medium- to high-traffic areas, including living and dining rooms.
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.
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.
Flat paint can be good in a bedroom to create a cozy space because it won't reflect much light. Flat paint is the best choice for your bedroom if you want to sleep in past sunrise and don't want excess glow from your walls.
A modern formulated paint like an acrylic eggshell or satin finish paint is fine for most bathrooms.