Flat, Gloss or Satin Paint: How Do You Choose? (2024)

FAQs

Flat, Gloss or Satin Paint: How Do You Choose? ›

Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections.

Paint sheens can range from flat to high gloss, and each sheen can be found in a variety of colors. However, for exterior painting, the two most commonly used finishes are flat and satin. Flat sheen has no gloss, and satin sheen is a low gloss finish that has more shine than flat paint.

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. Here's how to choose the right paint sheen for your painting job.

For low-traffic areas like bedrooms, go for flat or eggshell finishes. They're elegant and don't shine too much. But if you're tackling high-traffic spots like hallways or kitchens, satin or semi-gloss finishes are the way to go. They're durable and easy to clean, perfect for those inevitable messes.

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. It can be great for hiding imperfections because of the finish, whereas the gloss can highlight imperfections.

Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. 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.

The sheen of the paint can change the look of a color as well. A paint color with a flat sheen can look lighter or darker than the same color with a satin or gloss sheen. While evaluating a color's appearance, you should also judge the effect of your preferred paint sheen.

Eggshell and satin differ through the sheen of the finish that they offer. Eggshell has a lower duller sheen than satin and is close to a matt or flat finish that you find in a lot of emulsions. It is reminiscent of the shell of an egg — hence its name.

Choosing the correct paint sheen to use in your home is a simple formula: how much traffic does the area see, how imperfect are the walls or areas you are painting, and what do YOU like the look of. Sheen can really come down to personal preference–don't be afraid to ask questions and try different samples!

Eggshell Enamel has a soft, velvety appearance and is a good choice for moderate traffic areas such as living rooms. Satin Enamel has a soft pearl-like appearance, and is a great choice for painting moderate to high traffic areas or areas that have some exposure to moisture, such as kitchens or baths.

Is satin too shiny for a living room? ›

Eggshell and satin sit in the middle of the paint sheen scale, making them a perfect mix of not-too-shiny and not-too-dull. This balanced look makes them an ideal choice for most paint projects.

A washable finish is a necessity for high-traffic rooms, so flat or matte paint finishes are out. Eggshell or satin finishes are a good choice for stain resistance, durability, long wear, coverage, and ease of cleaning.

Satin paint is a type of paint that has a medium-sheen finish, making it a great choice for interior woodwork that needs to be painted but is not in perfect condition. Satin paint is less reflective than gloss paint, which means it can help hide small imperfections in your woodwork, such as dents, scratches, or chips.

yes you can, you will need to key the existing paint with 80/100 grade sandpaper then apply 2 x coats of w/b satinwood, rubbing down in between coats. It's not a black and white answer. Some satin products may have better adhesion than others and as long as the existing gloss is keyed the satin should stay put.

Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.

Satin doesn't seem to be as affected by yellowing but all oil based paints will yellow overtime. Waterbased paints are the way to go to avoid yellowing.

Eggshell Enamel has a soft, velvety appearance and is a good choice for moderate traffic areas such as living rooms. Satin Enamel has a soft pearl-like appearance, and is a great choice for painting moderate to high traffic areas or areas that have some exposure to moisture, such as kitchens or baths.

Though various paint finishes can be scrubbed clean, satin and semi-gloss finishes are the easiest to clean. Cleaning walls painted with these finishes can be as easy as wiping them down with soapy water.