Are Interior Walls Better To Be Satin Or Flat?

Satin paint is a velvety, matte finish that is ideal for hiding imperfections and has a classic old-world feel. It has a touch of sheen, while flat paint has none. However, the main difference between satin and flat paint is not just the finish. There are also other factors to consider when choosing between satin and flat paint for interior walls and trim.

For low-traffic areas like bedrooms, flat or eggshell finishes are elegant and don’t shine too much. For high-traffic spots like hallways or kitchens, satin or semi-gloss finishes are the way to go. They are durable and easy to clean, perfect for those inevitable messes. Flat and matte finish paints are ideal for covering walls with flaws or blemishes, even larger imperfections like extensive scuffs and nail pops.

Flat paint is best for smooth walls with no imperfections, while flat paint is best for bedrooms, offices, and calm spaces. Semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. Satin paints are better than flat paints if they need to be cleaned regularly, as scrubbing flat paint may remove some of the paint rather than just the surface.

The main difference between satin and flat paint is the finish. Satin has a little sheen, while matte is more flat. Satin is moderately scratch and moisture-resistant, making it more durable than a flat or eggshell finish. The attractive sheen is relatively less noticeable on flat or eggshell walls.

For interior walls in high-traffic spaces like mudrooms, satin or eggshell finishes work best. Flat or matte finishes work best for most surfaces, including ceilings, trim, and exteriors.

What paint do professional painters use?

Professional painters often use top-of-the-line paints like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams for their durability and excellent coverage. These well-known brands come in various colors and finishes, offering long-lasting wall protection. Sherwin-Williams is considered one of the finest, offering a wide variety of premium paints, including environmentally-friendly options. Their paints are formulated for superb coverage and resilience, making them a favorite among professional painters.

Should I paint walls flat or low sheen?

Low sheen paint is a popular choice for interior walls due to its cleanliness and ability to hide imperfections. It has slightly higher reflective power than flat paint and is preferred by architects for exterior use due to its durability and combined properties. Semi gloss paint is used in interior wet areas like kitchens, laundry, bathrooms, and toilets due to its cleanability and moisture resistance. It is also common for exterior use in guttering and trims.

Colour bond products are typically semi gloss in their sheen level, making it suitable for matching prefabricated or colourbond products. Gloss paint, on the other hand, has a “wet look” and is used for skirting or trims, windows, doors, and woodwork. It has high reflective capability, is easy to clean, and is durable but does not hide imperfections well. Gloss paint can highlight angles, curves, and features in ornate designs, but may cause problems in older homes due to the visibility of defects on surfaces.

Do most builders use flat paint?

Builders avoid using satin or eggshell paint due to its difficulty in touch-up and revealing imperfections in drywall work, which can be rushed to finish the job on budget. This results in dings and scuffs in the walls, which need to be touched up by the painters. Low-grade flat paint, also known as builder-grade flat, is used instead, as it is cheaper and can save money for the builder, seller, or low-cost painter. However, this paint will not last or look good a year or two later.

Beware when building a home, buying a home from a seller who painted it himself, or having a low-cost painter do so. When having your home repainted and entertain bids from several painting companies, check carefully what brand and grade of paint they plan to use. Many estimates given to customers by other painters do not specify the brand or grade of paint, so be cautious. Ask your painter to specify the brand and grade of paint on the contract and make sure that is exactly what you get.

All written proposals specify precisely the brand and high-quality paint used on all projects, ensuring customers have peace of mind from the beginning of the proposal process to completion of the project.

What looks better flat or eggshell?

The decision between eggshell paint, which is more reflective and provides a subtle sheen, and flat paint, which is clean and matte, depends on individual design preferences and can enhance the richness and depth of walls.

Should interior walls be flat?

Flat paint is the least durable and lacks the ability to withstand cleaning and scrubbing as effectively as shinier finishes. It is not recommended for use in bathrooms, kitchens, children’s rooms, hallways, or other areas that experience significant wear and tear or high levels of traffic.

What sheen is best for interior walls?

Ultra Flat paint is ideal for interior walls due to its exceptional durability, washability, and stain resistance. It is suitable for high-traffic areas and has a smooth application process. Flat paint, with its velvety, matte look, is suitable for hiding wall imperfections but is less durable and doesn’t stand up well to scrubbing. Although many paint formulas clean up easily with soap and water, people still prefer other sheens for easier care. Semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork.

Do designers use flat or eggshell paint?

Eggshell is a popular paint finish among interior designers due to its flat appearance and luster. Perfect Eggshell Wall Paint offers a rich color with a soft sheen and is durable enough to clean up easily. It is mildew-resistant, making it suitable for high-moisture areas like bathrooms. Eggshell is suitable for any room in your home and can be used for any surface with a pristine look. To create depth and visual interest, it is recommended to paint everything in one finish. A semi-gloss trim can create a layered look, making it interior designer-approved.

Is satin too shiny for walls?

A satin finish is a medium gloss sheen that is shinier than matte but not as shiny as semi-gloss paint. It offers slightly more luster or light reflectiveness than eggshell finishes and is ideal for smooth walls in high-traffic areas like hallways, family rooms, and kids’ rooms. Satin is easier to clean and more durable than lower sheen paints, making it suitable for bathrooms or kitchens. It can also be used on trim and molding for a “not too glossy” finish.

What type of paint is best for interior walls?

Eggshell paint is a popular choice for interior walls, particularly in living rooms and dining rooms, as it offers a balance between glossy paint’s easy maintenance and matte paint’s ability to cover imperfections. However, it is more difficult to touch up later than matte paint, causing visible splotches when not painted the entire wall. Semi-gloss finish is more suitable for millwork, such as trim for windows and doors or kitchen cabinets, as it is easier to clean and attracts more fingerprints. Some manufacturers have introduced matte or flat paints that are as easy to wash as eggshell paints.

Why do builders use flat paint?

The flat finish paint is often used by builders, sellers, or low-cost painters in newer homes or homes painted by the seller for sale or by a low-cost painter. This low-grade paint is often used because it is inexpensive, easy to touch up, and hides imperfections in drywall walls. Builders avoid using satin or eggshell paint because it is difficult to touch up and reveals drywall work imperfections, which are often rushed to finish the job on budget.

After the walls are painted, electricians, plumbers, cabinet and granite installers, and floor finishers must come in and complete the finish work and installations, causing dings and scuffs in the walls. This is not cost-effective for the general contractor, painters, or homeowners. Therefore, builders use builder-grade flat paint.

However, this flat finish wears badly, scuffs easily, is chalky, and cannot be cleaned or removed. The problem is not because the paint is a flat finish; it is because the low-grade cheap paint saves the builder, seller, or low-cost painter money, allowing them to give a low bid and get the place looking good for the short term. However, the paint will not last or look good a year or two later.

Is flat or low sheen better for walls?

Low sheen paint is a popular choice for interior walls due to its cleanliness and ability to hide imperfections. It has slightly higher reflective power than flat paint and is preferred by architects for exterior use due to its durability and combined properties. Semi gloss paint is used in interior wet areas like kitchens, laundry, bathrooms, and toilets due to its cleanability and moisture resistance. It is also common for exterior use in guttering and trims.

Colour bond products are typically semi gloss in their sheen level, making it suitable for matching prefabricated or colourbond products. Gloss paint, on the other hand, has a “wet look” and is used for skirting or trims, windows, doors, and woodwork. It has high reflective capability, is easy to clean, and is durable but does not hide imperfections well. Gloss paint can highlight angles, curves, and features in ornate designs, but may cause problems in older homes due to the visibility of defects on surfaces.