What sheen is best for bumpy walls?

Author: Kylie Bogisich MD  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

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.

What is the best paint finish for bumpy walls?

Lean towards using matte paint instead of a gloss when you are painting a textured wall. The matte paint will hide the texture better, whereas the gloss will define it--especially when the light hits it.

What paint is best for uneven walls?

A plain flat finish paint (in a scrubbable formulation) is what I've found that best conceals these flaws. The light bounce back in minimizes and the wonky, uneven texture to them are not nearly as noticeable as before.

What sheen hides wall imperfections?

Flat paint, with its velvety, matte appearance, is the best choice for hiding any wall imperfections due to its lack of shine and reflective properties.

How do you make bumpy walls look good?

Use a paint scraper to remove excess plaster around fittings and borders. Allow the first layer to dry and sand to remove any texture before repeating the same steps for the second layer. Once completely dry, sand the wall down with fine grit paper and you will have smooth walls, ready to be painted or papered.

Perfect walls made easy! Level 5 drywall finish (skim coating)

What paint smooths rough walls?

Polycell Polyfilla SmoothOver for Damaged & Textured Walls is the easy way to create a perfect foundation for a great finish. Its special self-levelling formula fills between ridges and bumps and covers cracks and large areas of damage giving a smooth finish that's ready to paint.

Can you paint over bumpy walls?

Painting over old, uneven walls

Painting over existing layers of paint is usually the easiest option. A paint that has high coverage and a thick texture, such as our Claypaint or Lifestyle emulsions, will even out any hairline cracks and slightly bumpy surfaces.

What sheen for smooth walls?

We recommend a satin finish. Dining Room: Clean, smooth walls are important for dining areas, which is why we recommend a finish that will absorb more light. Use eggshell to help hide any bumps or imperfections in the walls.

Is eggshell or satin better for walls?

Because eggshell is less lustrous than satin, it is also slightly less durable. That being said, it will still hold up better than flat or matte finishes. Eggshell paint is a great option for walls in medium- to low-traffic areas and can be easily cleaned.

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 to cover a bumpy wall?

Here are seven unique ways of covering, repairing, hiding or simply turning the wall damage to your advantage:
  1. Temporary Wallpaper – Easy Solution. ...
  2. Wall Tiles for Lasting Impression. ...
  3. Tile Decals – Redecorating Tiled Walls. ...
  4. Wall Decals – Let the Walls Speak. ...
  5. Tapestry & Curtains – Your Signature Theme. ...
  6. Art Accent Wall.

Is there a primer that smooths walls?

Smooth Finish: No one wants bumpy, patchy walls. PVA drywall primer smooths out inconsistencies in texture, making the final result look silky smooth.

What is the best paint to cover wall 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 finish is best for 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 paint finish on walls that hides some of the imperfections?

Flat and eggshell paint can help you hide imperfections but may be problematic if you expect the painted area to get dirty. On the other hand, glossy paint is much easier to clean, but doesn't do a good job of hiding imperfections.

What is the bumpy wall paint called?

Sand texture paint: Sand texture paint features an extra-heavy bodied finish that can be used to add a gritty texture to both walls and ceilings. While you can purchase paint pre-mixed with sand, you can best control the amount of texture by using a silica. sand additive in regular paint.

Is satin too shiny for walls?

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.

What is the disadvantage of eggshell paint?

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.

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 paint sheen hides imperfections?

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 paint do most professional painters use?

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.

What sheen is best for textured walls?

The best option is a latex- or oil-based paint with a low-maintenance sheen that has a satin or semi-gloss sheen rather than a flat matte finish and is reflective enough to draw attention to the finer features of the wall texture.

What color is best for uneven walls?

More neutral colors are another choice for hiding imperfections. Stray away from lighter shades, as they can highlight the blemishes. Mid-tone neutrals like: Gray.

How do you get rid of bumpy wall texture?

  1. Method 1: Soak and Scrape. The soak-and-scrape method is most effective in removing texture when the walls have never been painted. ...
  2. Method 2: Apply a Skim Coat on Textured Walls. Smooth out textured painted walls by covering the texture in a joint compound—also known as a skim coat. ...
  3. When to Call a Professional.

Will multiple coats of paint hide imperfections?

Wall condition: If your walls are in good condition, you may only need one or two coats of paint to achieve a smooth, even finish. However, if your walls are rough or damaged, you may need to apply additional coats to cover up imperfections.

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