Satin Paint vs Eggshell Paint

freshly painted walls

While eggshell paint is slightly reflective and works well on most walls, satin paint has a silky finish that is perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Both paints have distinctive qualities that make them wonderful choices for redecorating or repainting your home. Although satin and eggshell are only two of the many paint-type choices, they are some of the most widely used and well-loved types of paint available.

Satin Paint -

Appearance

Satin paint isn’t ultra-shiny, rather it has more subdued, reflective characteristics. Many people say it even adds a slight glow to walls they call “velvety.” One of the most popular paint choices, satin, is often preferred over flat paint because it gives walls a feeling of greater depth.

Durability

man painting a wall light grey

Satin paint is a more preferred paint because it's durable enough to hold up to the natural wear and tear the walls a family home faces. Once dry, this highly durable paint can be washed, making it suitable for multiple types of rooms, including kid’s rooms, bathrooms, foyers, and kitchen areas. It also works well for painting trim and woodwork.

Although satin is washable, it’s advisable to not scrub the finish too hard, or too often as it won’t hold up to harsh abrasives for long. Cleaning satin-painted walls this way could take away its sheen.

Satin paint can almost always be used for both interior, and exterior use but check the directions on your specific brand because some are specially formulated for one or the other.

Downfalls

Satin paint is growing in popularity with homeowners, especially for its low-coat application process, but the finish shows-up application flaws, making touch-ups very tricky. If it's not applied with a careful hand, you will be able to see the marks brush and roller strokes leave behind. It also amplifies wall imperfections underneath.

Eggshell Paint -

Appearance

rolling lime green paint onto a wall

Eggshell paint is often chosen for its smooth sheen and feel and is comparable to its namesake—the eggshell. Although it is not as reflective as satin paint, it is more reflective than flat paint and often used for decorative finishes. Eggshell paint is referred to as having a little luster, rather than being shiny. Note: The exact sheen can differ slightly between the various paint manufacturers.

Durability

Eggshell paint is not as durable as satin paint, but it's still a better choice than using flat paint, especially in high-traffic areas. While it won’t suit every room, this low-luster paint is a safe choice for most interior walls. Especially if you don’t have younger children. Even though most eggshell paints are to be used inside the home, there are a few brands that say they can also be used for painting exterior walls.

Downfalls

Eggshell paint covers imperfections well after two coats, but, this paint shouldn't be used for kitchens, bathrooms, or children’s rooms because it tends to show scuffs and is not as durable as other paints, like satin. To lessen this possibility, make sure you know how to properly use eggshell paint.

While both eggshell and satin paints are superior finishes, they both have their perks and downfalls. You should decide which kind to use based on your specific needs with the assistance of your local painting professional.