A gloss paint is typically more robust and durable than a satin paint, but a poorly prepped gloss finish is not as good as a well-prepped satin finish. Both paints can withstand the odd scuff or mark but gloss is less likely to retain them.
The main difference between satin, semi-gloss, and gloss paint is the sheen, with each option being progressively shinier than the last. While semi-gloss and gloss generally offer higher levels of durability, satin still stands up admirably to wear and tear.
Gloss paints often look great on doors, walls and trim for a high-shine impact. Not everyone wants a glossy finish, so you could opt for a satin finish instead. A satin finish will leave you with a medium gloss, that doesn't shine as much as gloss paint as it's less reflective.
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.
High gloss paints have the highest reflective appearance. They are the toughest, most durable and most stain resistant of all finishes. High gloss paints are the easiest to clean and are typically used on doors and cabinets exposed to dirt and oil and can also be used for trim and some woodwork.
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.
High Gloss
The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for area that sticky fingers touch -- cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls.
If you are working with a new wall, professionally finished with a perfectly smooth surface, satin paint is a great option. However, if there are any imperfections in the surface, such as bumps, cracks, or holes that have been filled but still are visible, flat paint is a better choice.
Satin is an oil or latex-based paint that's not as glossy as a full gloss but still has light-reflective qualities, unlike matte paint. What about semi-gloss paint? Semi-gloss is almost the same, but has more reflective qualities than satin paint, and can be slightly more durable.
Consider its application, because unlike the eggshell or matte paints, satin does not hide imperfections as well and it is much harder to apply in a way that does not show an uneven application, making it difficult to touch up.
When it comes to painting your skirting boards (and architraves for that matter), we'd recommend opting for a satin finish as you get the best of gloss and eggshell.
Emulsion paint
Emulsion paints are water-based, making them almost odour-less and the most preferred choice for interior wall paint colours. The paint is quick drying and has a very low level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Durability: Semi-gloss paint is more durable than satin paint. However, if dings, dents, or blemishes appear, they will be more noticeable with a glossy finish. Both options will be easy to clean, although semi-gloss paint will hold up better against moisture and protect the surface beneath it against water damage.
Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish. The large surfaces gather dust just like your furniture.
Semi-gloss is more durable and easier to clean.
(Either semi-gloss or satin finish, though, beats out their eggshell and flat/matte finishes for durability.)
A satin (or “eggshell”) finish is much more forgiving of holes and patches than a paint with more sheen. Low-sheen paints such as satin or flat are good on walls that have a lot of holes or holes that have been filled in.
Satin: Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. 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' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas that get a lot of traffic.
DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE: Satin paint is very durable, making it great for high-traffic areas. Satin paint can easily be cleaned, though it can lose its sheen if scrubbed too roughly. It is advised that you clean it with a wipe and avoid abrasive scrubs.
Flat (or matte) paint sheen is ideal for areas with less foot traffic or those that will not be exposed to a lot of dirt. Flat paint sheen is also ideal for scratched or bumpy walls because it easily obscures blemishes. You can use this type of paint sheen on drywall with imperfect taping or one that is patched.
A smooth, velvety look is achieved by using a satin finish paint. In addition to windows, doors, trim, and ceilings, it can also be used as wall paint. Kids' room walls, kitchens, bathrooms, or areas with a lot of traffic can benefit from this.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
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.
Using Dark Color Paint:
Just like the same way, flat finishes reduce dent visibility; darker paints also reflect less light than lighter paints. This makes them a better choice for hiding drywall imperfections. The only drawback of using dark color paint often makes the room look smaller.
So, while Dulux Easycare is absolutely a scrubbable paint, you never need to do much scrubbing. As a washable wall paint, it lets you wipe away stains before they stick... making cleaning a breeze.
Eggshell finish
"It is the easiest paint to wipe clean and is great for all areas of the home, including bathrooms and kitchens," she says.