How do I choose the right paint finish?
What matt, eggshell, satin and gloss actually do differently, and which to use in which room and on which surface.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 20 min
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Matt hides imperfections but marks easily — use it on ceilings and low-traffic walls. Eggshell and satin are washable and suit kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and woodwork. Gloss is hard-wearing and highly reflective, which means it shows every flaw in the surface underneath.
Finish is about sheen, and sheen trades two things against each other: the shinier a paint, the tougher and more washable it is, and the more ruthlessly it reveals imperfections. Every choice below is a position on that trade-off.
Step by step
- Assess the surface honestly — is it flat and sound, or uneven and patched?Uneven surfaces need matt. Sheen will advertise every ripple.
- Assess the traffic — will it get touched, scuffed, splashed or wiped?Hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms all need washability.
- For ceilings, choose matt emulsion.Ceilings are rarely perfectly flat and never need washing. Sheen on a ceiling shows every joint.
- For most walls, choose matt or a wipeable matt.Modern washable matt gives most of the durability of eggshell without the sheen.
- For kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, choose eggshell or a moisture-resistant emulsion.These rooms need surfaces you can wipe without burnishing the paint.
- For woodwork, choose eggshell or satin.Enough sheen to be durable and cleanable, not so much that it magnifies every dent in the skirting.
- Reserve full gloss for surfaces that are genuinely smooth and take heavy wear.Front doors, handrails. On old skirting it looks worse, not better.
Tips
- Sheen varies between brands — one company's satin is another's eggshell. Compare actual sample cards rather than trusting the name.
- Washable matt is the most useful development in domestic paint in years: it looks like matt and survives a wipe.
- The same colour looks lighter in a higher sheen because it reflects more light. Test the finish, not just the colour.
- In a bathroom, look for a paint specifically formulated for moisture rather than just a wipeable one.
Common mistakes
- Gloss on old, dented woodwork — Maximum reflection on maximum imperfection. Eggshell is far more forgiving.
- Matt in a bathroom — It absorbs moisture, marks permanently and can grow mould.
- Choosing finish from the colour card alone — Sheen levels aren't standardised between manufacturers.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between eggshell and satin?
Sheen level — eggshell is flatter, satin slightly shinier and usually marginally tougher. Between brands the difference is often smaller than the naming suggests.
Can I put matt over gloss?
Not directly. Sand the gloss to break the sheen and apply a suitable primer, or the matt will sit on the surface and peel.