Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. Flat, Gloss or Satin Paint - How Do You Choose? An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
There's a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine -- and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be. Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.
Gloss paint and high-gloss paint are some of the best options for choosing the best exterior house paint. These clean easily and resist scuffs better, making them a good choice for areas in constant use, like doors, door jambs and window casings.
It's even more fun when you know what you're doing. There are three main types of paints: Watercolor, Acrylics, and Oils. These paints all have different methods and have different techniques for you to master.
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).
Acrylic paint is one of the most common and most cost-effective types of paints used by artists. It attaches to most bases (wood, canvas, metal..) and as opposed to oil paint, acrylic paint dries very fast. The substance that embeds the color pigments is a water-based acryl emulsion.
Although it may sound like a good idea, it's exterior paint for a reason. Exterior paint isn't recommended for use indoors. It is a more potent blend of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), pigments, additives, and binders. The finish is softer, more flexible, and produces toxic fumes even after it's dry.
Since kitchens are such a busy part of a home and often need extra cleaning, a satin or semi-gloss finish is the best options. Satin and eggshell finishes are commonly believed to be the same, but in fact, satin is a bit shinier. Satin finishes are easy to clean and good at standing up to mildew, stains and dirt.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
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.
WHEN TO USE EGGSHELL PAINT: Eggshell is commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms, as it is durable and does not pick up dirt easily. If your walls have bumps or imperfections, an extra coat of eggshell can disguise them more easily than satin or high-gloss finishes.
Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint. You can clean scuffs and marks on the wall easily with a warm, damp cloth. The finish lasts many years longer than flat.
The lack of shine make the paint blend better with the previous paint. Builders do not like to have to paint walls edge to edge, so they use flat paint. During the building process, there are many trades that come into the home and damage the paint job. This makes it easier to fix.
You can't really go wrong with eggshell finish on your walls. Sometimes called satin finish, eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but you won't be left with shiny walls. It also resists stains better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag.
The simple answer to that question is that the kitchen and bathroom paint is virtually the same. The only difference is that they have different levels of moisture- and oil-resistance. Hence, the choice of paint you choose for these rooms will be different from those on the walls and ceilings in other rooms.
A paint's sheen, or finish, describes how glossy or reflective the paint is when it's dry. Common finishes include flat or matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. Glossier finishes are better for busy rooms like kitchens and bathrooms because they are resistant to moisture and easier to clean.
Most people find that satin or semi-gloss paint works the best in kitchens. A common scheme is to use satin paint on walls, with semi-gloss paint used on any cabinets or woodwork that are also painted.
Different paints come with different properties, as they are manufactured for different purposes. Exterior paint is formulated to handle mildew and fading. Interior paint, on the other hand, is made to allow cleaning and resist staining.
Interior paint is made to be scrubbed, resist staining, and allow cleaning. Exterior paints are made to combat against fading and mildew.
Exterior paint is made to survive inclement weather while resisting mold, mildew, fading, cracking, chipping, and more. On the other hand, interior paint is made to resist stains and be scrubbed clean without being damaged. Interior paint is also made with chemicals that are safer for breathing.
Acrylic is typically the easiest for beginners, while watercolor is the hardest. However, if you hate working with acrylic, don't force yourself to paint it just because it's easier. It's far more important to find a medium that you enjoy.
Acrylic paint is pretty easy to work with, making it a great option for beginners. We use acrylic paint because it dries very quickly. For at-home painting, watercolor paint is also a beginner-friendly paint that is convenient and easy to clean up.
Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections. However, it's the least durable choice and doesn't usually stand up well to scrubbing.
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!