A guide to paint finishes: Gloss vs Satin vs Matte vs Eggshell

What’s the difference?

Choosing the right type of paint for your home interior can be difficult, especially if you’re unsure about the differences between finishes. We’ve broken down the four main paint finishes: gloss, satin, matte and eggshell, to explain the features of each and their differences so that you can make an informed decision on the right paint for your home.

What is gloss paint?

Gloss paint has the highest level of sheen, creating a reflective and smooth finish. It has one of the highest levels of stain and moisture resistance, making it a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Here are the typical qualities of gloss paint:

• High sheen - As the name suggests, gloss paint has a high level of shine creating a bright and polished finish.

• Durable and resistant - The high resin content and reflectiveness make gloss paint durable and resistant to stains. 

• Reflective - Gloss paint’s high sheen makes it very reflective. You can use it to brighten rooms, making them appear bigger. 

• Versatile - The resin present in gloss finish allows it to adhere to a variety of surfaces including woodwork, trim, doors, and most furniture.

• Smooth -  Gloss paint provides a sleek finish. However, this means it isn't as suitable for surfaces with imperfections, as it can highlight small textures. We suggest only applying gloss to smooth surfaces, or sanding your surface first.

Gloss paint is a wonderful choice for highlighting decorative features in the home, thanks to its high sheen. 

What is satin paint?

Satin paint is a ‘best of both worlds’ paint finish as it sits in the middle of matte and glossy. Satin has a slight sheen and is a popular choice for many different rooms in the house. Here are some of the key qualities found in satin paint:

• Durability - Satin paint is more durable than matt or flat finishes due to the higher percentage of resin creating an extra layer of protection. 

• Moisture resistance - Although not as moisture resistant as high gloss paints, satin offers a level of protection because of its smooth finish and resin content allowing water to run off easily.

• Easy application - Satin paint is easy to apply and requires fewer coats than gloss paint.

• Reflectivity - The slight sheen can reflect light which is great for making smaller spaces appear bigger and lightening them up. 

• Versatility - Satin paint can be applied to walls, wood, trim and furniture due to its versatile formulation. From the adhesive properties allowing the paint to stick to a variety of surfaces to the flexible resins expanding and contracting with temperature changes, satin paint is extremely versatile.

• Hides imperfections - If your surface is not perfectly smooth, satin paint can help hide textured walls or minor imperfections due to the slight sheen.

• Easy to clean - Satin paint can be cleaned easily due to the smooth surface and moisture resistance, making it a great choice for rooms that may get messy like the kitchen.

Satin paint can be used in a variety of rooms around the house from living rooms and kitchens to bathrooms and hallways. This paint has a high level of durability and versatility, making it a popular choice for a range of surfaces and areas of the home. 

What is eggshell paint?

Eggshell paint is often confused with satin, as the two are very similar and both sit between matte and gloss. However, there are some key distinctions. Firstly, eggshell paint has less sheen than satin, here are some more of the differences between eggshell and satin finishes:

• Less durable - Eggshell is less durable than satin due to the lower gloss level providing less resistance to staining and moisture.

• Soft finish - Eggshell has less sheen than satin resulting in a softer appearance.

• Less washable - Although eggshell is easier to clean than matte, you can damage the finish if you scrub too harshly. recommend using satin paint in rooms that you clean more often.

Similarities between satin and eggshell:

• Hiding imperfections - the sheen in both paints means they can mask surface texture and irregularities as the light reflects.

• Versatility - Eggshell can be used on a range of surfaces including walls and ceilings.

Eggshell has a subtle level of sheen contributing to a soft appearance. You will often find eggshell finish on interior walls, particularly in bedrooms or living rooms where people tend to opt for less sheen and the rooms are less prone to stains or moisture.

What is matte paint?

Matte paint, also referred to as flat paint, pertains to a finish that has no sheen or shine. This non-reflective paint type is velvety in appearance. Here are the typical qualities of matte paint:

• Conceals imperfections - the lack of sheen present in this finish minimises the visibility of flaws on the painted surface.

• Low maintenance - Matte paint is less easily scratched or marked, however, matte walls are not as easy to clean and are therefore found in areas of the home with less footfall, like bedrooms.

• Diffuses light - Rather than reflecting light like satin and gloss, matte diffuses the light creating a softer and warmer feel. 

• Uniformity - Drying smoothly and evenly with little to no reflection, matte walls or ceilings have a uniform appearance.

Matte paint is best in rooms that do not require high durability such as bedrooms or dining rooms, this is because they are not as easy to clean as glossier paints.

Now you know what paint finish you require, it is time to find the type of paint you need and prep your walls for painting.

Looking for more paint inspiration? We’ve got plenty of painting and decorating ideas and advice, from green bedroom ideas to creative feature wall ideas. And if you need some help starting your decorating project, check out our guide on prepping your walls for painting, and learn how to paint like a pro.