Satin paint has some sheen to it, and is an excellent choice for hardworking rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms. It stands up exceptionally well to scrubbing and regular cleaning. However, its glossiness highlights wall imperfections like cracks, divots or poorly patched areas.
Satin. Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss than eggshell. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but it can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas that get a lot of traffic.
If your space has huge windows and lots of natural light, a flat paint finish can work well. If you want something more shiny and reflective, choose satin or semi-gloss. If you don't want your walls totally lustrous, you can paint trim or crown molding with a semi-gloss sheen.
Best for: Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Satin, which is a little more hard-wearing than eggshell, works well in those rooms and also in kitchens, dining areas, children's bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Typically, we recommend using matte on walls in lower-traffic areas like master bedrooms, dining rooms, or living rooms that won't get dirty or scuffed up as often. Moreover, flat and matte paints are easier to touch up and apply, which makes them ideal for novice painters or DIY projects.
It's no secret that light colors make a room look larger, especially if the space is bathed in natural light. Eggshell or satin finishes will help reflect the light, creating the appearance of even more space. What's more, it works no matter your aesthetic or room type.
You should be using flat paint on walls and areas that have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes. Since it can conceal these blemishes easily, it'll be the one paint finish you'll want to be using. It's best for low-traffic rooms that have a ton of light like offices and more formal rooms, like dining rooms.
Pros: A satin finish reflects more light than matte and stands up well to washing. Use in high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, the kitchen and a kid's room as well as on trim and molding throughout the house. Cons: This finish does not hide imperfections in surface or application; any touch-ups will stand out.
With a little more sheen than flat paint, eggshell finish is a great choice for bedrooms due to its softness and low reflectivity. Eggshell paint has grown in popularity due to its versatility in a variety of rooms.
While satin is undoubtedly a more durable option, eggshell is a good all-around sheen for any room. If you like the eggshell look in your kitchen or bathroom, don't be afraid to use it. Just be aware that it may not have the longevity of satin.
In the living room and dining room, opt for an eggshell or satin finish. It hides flaws and imperfections — especially on uneven walls — and makes the room look more high-end, which you definitely want when you're showing your house.
Satin finish paint tends to have a velvety quality. This finish needs to be applied very carefully because it can reveal flaws and brushstrokes, making touchups a challenge. Satin finish is also very easy to clean, though, which makes it a popular choice for children's rooms, foyers, and high-traffic hallways.
As a general rule, use satin for interior walls and furniture and semi-gloss for small areas that need highlighting such as cabinets, mantels, stair rails, door and window frames.
'Satin paint is a tough, hardwearing paint designed for woodwork such as doors, window frames, architrave and furniture,' says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. 'It is slightly more shiny than eggshell and is easy to keep clean.
Satin paint is less likely to show brush strokes on walls than other finishes. Satin also doesn't show roller marks if the wall is painted at once. And since it's less shiny, it's better at hiding imperfections than gloss and semi-gloss paint.
Eggshell is always an interior designer's preferred paint finish, which is why our founder, Nicole, an interior designer, 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!
For paint that will provide decent durability without the reflectivity of high-gloss finishes, choose a satin finish. Cost: Eggshell paint is more cost-effective than satin paint. Homeowners looking to save at the paint store or repaint large areas are better off going with an eggshell finish.
Satin finishes are the most commonly used paint for interior walls. They are easier to clean than flat and eggshell paints, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, and playrooms.
Over time, they can cause problems ranging from infertility to cancer. Other chemicals used in the creation of satin material can lead to dermatitis and allergies. For instance, AZO dyes, which are used to color textiles into vivid colors, can come off and come into contact with the skin.
Wattyl Solagard Low Sheen's gloss level provides the best balance between appearance, dirt resistance and flexibility for greater protection. Satin (Semi Gloss) adds extra durability and washability making it a good choice for wood trim. If you live in a coastal environment, consider a satin finish on walls.
From the perspective of a Color Designer/Consultant, I typically specify eggshell on walls for multiple reasons that benefit the people who are dwelling in the home. Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint.
In many such situations, the builder, seller, or low-cost painter used a low-grade flat paint for three reasons: the first is that it is inexpensive; the second is that it is easy to touch up; the third is that it hides imperfections in the drywall walls.
We recommend matte paints for bedrooms and as living room paint finishes where the walls are exposed to less moisture, choosing a glossier eggshell finish for kitchens and as a paint finish for bathrooms, which are more prone to moisture, as well as children's rooms, which might need more regular cleaning.