skip to main content

Flat paint versus satin paint

13 years ago

Which is better

Featured Answer

PRO

CHISM BROTHERS PAINTING

13 years ago

Flat paint looks the best if you never touch it! There are some really quality paints out there that make a flat paint that is pretty washable, Sherwin Williams Embassy Matte, Duration Home Matte, Benjamin Moore Aura Matte. These are not "dead flat" but are pretty close. The darker colors seems to work the best.

Also the really cheap flat paints are best for ceilings with a lot of light because it is so flat it doesn't show any imperfections in the drywall or plaster. Low traffic, accent walls with no kids around, flat looks amazing. Everything else, I'd go with Satin or Eggshell!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Dian Bourgeois Knott
13 years ago
I split the difference and get eggshell -
PRO
User
13 years ago
Depends on where your using it. They both have their good points.
Related Professionals
Morgan City Interior Designers & Decorators · McAllen Interior Designers & Decorators · Oneonta Interior Designers & Decorators · Lagrange Interior Designers & Decorators · Tuscaloosa Architects & Building Designers · Meridian Architects & Building Designers · Galveston Architects & Building Designers · Jackson Architects & Building Designers · Joplin Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Springfield Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Dubuque Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Trenton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lima Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · San Francisco Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Liberal Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
User
13 years ago
I have always used satin in kitchens and bathrooms as it cleans up better. Flat in most other applications.
charleee
13 years ago
I will never use flat paint again, I'm so over it. Eggshell or semi gloss, depending on the room.
PRO
ReSquare Architecture + Construction
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is:
Flat on ceilings to avoid seeing "wavy" imperfections in finish.
Eggshell or satin on walls to give the appearance of flat, but smudge/dirt resistant.
Semi gloss on bathroom walls & ceilings, and even gloss on ceilings to prevent against mold growth.
Avoid flat on anything but ceilings unless it's something like an art space (niche) that gets no "hand" traffic.

Related Stories

PAINTING Bulletproof Decorating: How to Pick the Right Kind of Paint

Choose a paint with some heft and a little sheen for walls and ceilings with long-lasting good looks. Here are some getting-started tips

DIY PROJECTS Upcycle Furniture Finds With Paint

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

There are products out there designed to help you transform your thrift-store scores

BEDROOMS Paint Your Bed for a Colorful Night’s Sleep

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Take your bedroom somewhere over the rainbow with a bed done up in a shade beyond the pale

WHITE How to Pick the Right White Paint

By Kelly Porter

White is white, right? Not quite. See 8 white paint picks for 8 very different effects

DIY PROJECTS Tint Your Own Paint for New-Looking Walls

Dabbling in mixology means you can use up leftover paint and give your walls a custom look in one fell swoop

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Create a Whole-House Color Palette

By Laura Gaskill

Don't be daunted. With these strategies, building a cohesive palette for your entire home is less difficult than it seems

ARCHITECTURE Have Your Flat Roof and Your Snow Too

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Laboring under the delusion that flat roofs are leaky, expensive and a pain to maintain? Find out the truth here

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tours: Parisian Modern Style for a San Francisco Flat

By Mary Jo Bowling

Classic European architecture mixes with modern furnishings in a newly open Edwardian home

DECORATING GUIDES What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick

By Vanessa Brunner

Sure, painted brick can be a great look. But you need to take some risks into account. Here's how to paint brick like a pro

DECORATING GUIDES Get the Scoop on Finding the Best Paint for Your Money

By Vanessa Brunner

Scoring the best deal on paint for your home may have nothing to do with advertised specials

Sponsored

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

More Discussions

AI deception on generated photo

35

How to make kitchen less bland

26

bathroom remodel

17

HELP! Wallpaper ideas for powder guest bath

11

Help me choose a front door!

5