Flat, Eggshell, Satin & Semi-Gloss - What Is The Difference?

Flat or Matte

Flat paint is great for when you have things to hide. Flat paint soaks up light rather then reflects it. It also has the most pigment therefore it will provide you with the most coverage which means less time and less money. The only downside of flat paint is that it is hard to clean!

Practical Application: Ceilings

Durability: Low to Medium

Eggshell

Eggshell is essentially a flat paint, however it offers a little lustre. Eggshell is great when covering imperfections.

Practical Application: Bedroom, Living room, hallways & dining rooms.

Durability: Medium

Satin or Pearl

Satin paint offers a great lustre. It is often described as velvety. Satin paint is very easy to clean, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas.

Practical Application: Bathrooms, kitchens, foyers & hallways.

Durability: High

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss is great for rooms that have a lot of moisture and spaces that take a lot of abuse.

Practical Application: Kitchens, Bathrooms & Trims

Durability: High

High Gloss

High gloss paint is the most durable and easiest to clean out of all of the paint sheen's. High-gloss paint is hard, shiny and light-reflecting. It shows too much gloss for interior walls, therefore its best application use is for accent features.

Practical Application: Trims & Doors

Durability: High

Essentially, when it comes to paint, the higher the sheen the easier to wash. Here are some of our recommended brands. Benjamin Moore Aura Dulux Lifemaster Dulux Diamond Sherwin Williams Emerald

*All photos are from Pinterest