Used it in my bedroom an absolutely love it!!! The color I use was toas taupe.

Your taos taupe looks great!

I tried a quart of the matte and quart of the flat on some wall space. I agree with wis16066 in that it was more streaky. I'm hoping that is just me painting samples but that it won't be like that once primed and two coats by prof painters. Strange though.

Old post from 2017

Reading this in 2021 so yes thank you. Anyone know is matte is as shine free as the flat?

😂this is an old thread! Olivia, the matte has the slightest bit of a sheen; I would describe it as a velvet finish. It is not dead flat. It isn’t as shiny as eggshell though! The matte finish is lovely and more durable than flat; a bit easier to clean. I hope this helps.

really? my BM paint is so flat it feels like chalk paint. it marks easily and is really hard to clean. I hate it and will never use it again. oh, and you can't get samples mixed in matte, which is bizarre since texture changes how the color appears.

other brands (like sherwin williams) have a hint more sheen to their matte like you describe, but it still looks very matte while being easier to take care of.

My entire house is painted in BM Aura matte. I can’t compare it to the flat, but I don’t feel it has any sheen…certainly not like my previous eggshell. My paint is light (natural cream) and it cleans easily. There is a difference between Regal and Aura. Aura is $$$, but well worth it if budget allows.

matte and flat are the same thing.

My kitchen is painted in Aura matte. I find it very durable. I have used both BM and SW and like both. Have used flat paint on many jobs for years and now spec matte. I don’t like shiny paint in most cases . Yes Aura is pricy so it’s a personal choice, regal is great too. SW Emerald is great but also a bit pricey but one can get a good pro discount .

Actually, the regal comes in both flat and matte finishes. Aura only comes in matte (plus eggshell, satin and semi-gloss).

Yes, Aura only comes in matte as Lisa says. It is pricey but a very nice paint!

oh sorry, the website made it seem like matte and flat were interchangeable. I didn't use Aura, so maybe that makes all the difference when it comes to keeping it clean. I would suggest going with whatever seems slightly less flat. in my experience, the flatter a paint is, the easier it marks.

Matte and flat are similar but not really the same. While flat is a good choice in some instances ( not so perfect walls) designers like it because of its non reflective value. Especially nice if one has a lot of light or art and you want the wall to stay in the background. It is also easier to touch up as in most cases it won’t “ halo”. A higher sheen paint makes it harder to fix mess ups without painting the entire wall! Matte has many of the same properties as flat with a bit more durability! I feel it has a smoother finish also!

If you want a more matte look and feel, I would suggest Benjamin Moore Scuff X.

From the TDS sheet, Scuff X Matte is: Gloss / Sheen Matte (8 – 13 @ 85°) (9.5 @ 60°)

The Aura matte is: Gloss / Sheen Matte (3 – 6.5 @ 85°)

So only a slightly higher sheen, but FAR more resistance to scuffs or marring. Very easy to clean.

I used it in a large family room area a year ago, and not a mark yet! (We have 15 grandchildren!)

Also used the Scuff X in a higher sheen in the closets, and in Satin on all the trim.

Very happy with it!

I have used Aura in Hale Navy, and find that it does mark easily.