Eggshell paint is a medium-low sheen paint finish. Its sheen is similar to the surface of an eggshell and has a smooth finish.
It’s suitable for hiding imperfections on the wall and is easy to apply and clean. It’s a good choice for medium-traffic areas of the house.
One of the most important and exciting things as a new homeowner is choosing the perfect paint color for your house. While there are plenty of colors to choose from, there are also plenty of paint finishes. Choosing the right paint finish makes all the difference, and eggshell paint is a common choice amongst homeowners.
The rest of the article will explain what eggshell paint is used for and the benefits of using eggshell paint. It will also highlight the difference between eggshell and satin paint.
Benefits of Using Eggshell Paint
Whether you’re painting your walls or hiring someone else to do it, it’s good to have information on the different types of paint finishes. Eggshell paint is a popular choice.
It has a subtle shine with a gloss percentage between 10 to 25.
It gives the room an excellent visual depth. Let’s take a look at the benefits of using eggshell paint and which rooms in the house it’s perfect for:
1. Covers Imperfections
Eggshell paint covers imperfections pretty well. It doesn’t reflect much light and thus does a good job hiding flaws.
While it hides imperfections on the wall, it shouldn’t be used on walls with major defects.
It probably won’t cover major imperfections that well.
2. Easy To Clean
Eggshell paint is easily washable and provides good resistance to scuffs and stains.
You can use a wet rag to wipe the stains. It’s best to use in medium-traffic areas of the house such as bedrooms, guest bathrooms, or even on ceilings.
However, you shouldn’t use eggshell paint on a heavily textured ceiling as it’ll draw more attention to the uneven texture.
Eggshell paint isn’t the best type of paint in high-traffic areas such as the bathroom, living room, or kitchen.
The eggshell finish isn’t that durable to last in high-traffic areas.
It’s best to avoid this finish if you have kids or pets since kids tend to smear dirt or touch the walls.
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3. Easy To Apply
Eggshell paint is easy to apply for everyone. You don’t have to be a professional painter to apply it.
All you need is a good roller. Make sure you don’t use more than moderate pressure and roll in one direction from floor to ceiling.
This will help in avoiding roller marks. You can do two coats for best results.
Other glossier paints require a professional painter since it’s hard to fix any flaws you make while painting.
Even if you make uneven strokes using an eggshell finish, it won’t be that visible.
Painting a wall yourself will save you money compared to hiring a painter to do it for you.
If you prefer a flatter finish compared to a glossier finish, eggshell paint might be a good option.
The only major drawback is that it isn’t that durable to be used in the kitchen, entryway, or hallways.
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The Difference Between Eggshell and Satin Paint
People often get confused between eggshell paint and satin paint because they appear similar; some people even think they’re the same thing being called by different names. That’s not the case.
A satin finish is one of the most common finishes used.
Eggshell paint comes right after. While they’re similar, they have subtle differences that are important to note when choosing a paint finish.
1. Satin Paint Is Shinier
The major thing that separates eggshell from satin paint is that satin paint is shinier, whereas eggshell paint has a subtle shine.
The shinier a paint is, the easier it becomes to clean stains.
You might have noticed that some paints look different during different times of the day depending on how much light reflects on the surface.
Satin paint stays true to its color and doesn’t keep changing.
2. Eggshell Paint Hides Imperfections Better
Eggshell paint is better at concealing flaws on the wall.
Satin paint reflects more light and can thus further enhance the imperfections on the wall. If you make any mistakes while painting with satin paint, they’ll be visible since it reflects light.
The shinier the paint is, the harder it becomes to disguise bumps and flaws.
On the other hand, spots will be less visible with eggshell paint.
3. Satin Paint Is More Durable
Shinier paints last longer. The higher the sheen, the more durable the paint is.
Since satin paint has more shine than eggshell paint, it’s slightly more durable. It’s also easier to clean than eggshell paint.
You can clean stains with a damp cloth on satin-painted walls.
Satin paint is ideal for high-traffic spaces in your house, such as hallways, laundry rooms, and living rooms.
On the other hand, eggshell paint is suitable for medium-traffic areas because it’s slightly less durable than satin paint.
4. Eggshell Paint Is Slightly Cheaper
One gallon (3.79 L) of Prestige White Eggshell Paint (available on Amazon.com) is slightly cheaper than one gallon (3.79 L) of Prestige White Satin Paint (available on Amazon.com). While the difference isn’t much, it makes a huge difference when you buy many cans of paint.
When it comes to choosing between eggshell paint and satin paint, it all boils down to your budget, which room of the house you’re painting, and your personal preference of sheen.
Wrapping It Up
Eggshell paint is a type of paint finish with a subtle sheen that is best used in medium-traffic areas of the house, such as bedrooms, guest bathrooms, and ceilings.
It’s a popular choice amongst homeowners for the following reasons:
- It is budget-friendly and doesn’t require a professional painter to do the painting.
- It hides minor blemishes, brushstrokes, and small dents on the wall pretty well.
- It’s easy to clean with a cleaning solution and a damp cloth.
It may not, however, be the best choice if you have pets or kids.
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