Building a new home and used Sherwin Williams paint throughout. Flat (matte) on the Ceilings, Velvet (Egg shell) low sheen on the walls.
Only 2 other options for Sherwin Williams paint are Semi-Gloss ( on baseboards) and Gloss
Flat hides imperfections
btw: Benjamin Moore even has a near-flat for bathrooms!
(definitely giving it serious consideration for an upcoming paint job.)
Today, flat and matte can be two different sheens. Confused me for years, since matte was previously synonymous with matte.
Would it work to do flat on the ceiling and eggshell on the walls?
Yes @somemom. This is what we did. We are looking to repaint also. We always use BM
I agree that flat is the only finish to use on ceilings. We used Benjamin Moore when we built and their flat is not the same as matte. The definitions could be a little different at Sherwin Williams, but according to their website they do offer both. I would ask about these two products which come in both flat and matte. The matte finish should be more washable.
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/duration-home-interior-acrylic-latex
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/emerald-interior-acrylic-latex-paint
Thanks for those links,
I’m an eggshell girl (low sheen) for walls, no matter the room. LOVE. Even with imperfect plaster walls in a very old house.
We painted our house last year and went with flat on all walls other than the kitchen and bathrooms. Honestly, I feel like if we barely brush against the wall, there’s a mark. We have painters coming this week to repaint the common space and our stairwell because there are so many marks. I really don’t like sheen so, while I thought we’d need to go with eggshell, I’ll ask about matte. We used Kelly Moore but I’m not loyal…I’ll see what the painters recommend.
I’m with Midwest67 (post # 27). Eggshell all the way. Had to have bathroom ceilings redone when built our house years ago as the moisture kept the paint smelling wet long after we moved in. Washability is an important factor. Flat is dull.
This is a debate you will never get resolved here. Discuss with paint stores and painters, research online sites (oh that wonderful internet- where was it years ago?).
Eggshell.
We went eggshell all the way on the walls. Flat on the ceilings. I really like the look.
One time when I hired a pro to paint, he did all the trim with one finish and the walls with another. He made the trim the more shiny finish (I think eggshell). Which ended up with me having multiple leftover paint cans of different finishes in the same color and never being able to find the right one when I wanted to touch up a spot that had gotten dinged!
If you are waning between two types - say flat and eggshell. I would get the smallest amount of both in your chosen color and trial it on the wall. Make some swipes nearly side by side in a few different spots in the room (different walls or different light). Better safe than sorry. Invest a little $$ in the beginning - if you favor one then that can is not a waste.
https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/color/g1297/paint-finishes/
Not sure if this is helpful
We used Benjamin Moore paint. IIRC, we were able to buy little “sample” jars for a very small amount of money. We had sample colors and finishes all over the walls!
Just warning, if you test a sample, use a good brush (or roller.) No idea why I made so many test patches with a cheap one that left brush marks. I resolved it, but what a pain. You can also get large paper samples. (But often only in eggshell.)
For me, picking the exactly right colors was SO much more challenging than deciding on the paint finish! It always astonishes me how paint can look so different from a small swatch to a wall and in different lighting.
I did call the paint store now and they don’t have small samples, but I can buy a quart for $5. I think that’s worth checking it out before i have the painters do it. Good idea.
Sherwin Williams’ samples come only in Satin, and they come in larger than needed sizes for ~$8.