When you’re aiming for an elegant, polished look inside your home, two finishes usually top the list: flat and eggshell. They’re both popular for interior walls, but they behave very differently. Knowing how each one performs will help you choose the finish that fits your lifestyle, lighting, and design goals. Atlanta painting contractors can guide you through the details, but here’s a simple breakdown to help you make an informed choice.

What’s Inside Your Paint?

There are three main ingredients in wall paint: a carrier, pigment, and resin.  The carrier, either water or oil, is simply the liquid used to mix and hold the pigment and resin.  The carrier evaporates after it is applied, leaving the color and finish.  Pigment is essentially the ingredient used to create color. Titanium Oxide is the primary base white pigment to which small amounts of colored pigment are added to obtain your desired color tint. Resins are the ingredients that make the paint stick.

The general rule of thumb is that paints with more pigment and less resin have a flatter finish than paints with more resin, which provide a glossier finish. Both eggshell and flat are considered low gloss.  Eggshell contains some additional ingredients that provide the luster that resembles the shell of an egg.

Flat vs. Eggshell: 5 Things to Know Before You Paint

The following tips will help you make an informed decision:

1. Flat paint has no reflective shine (called luster). Eggshell has a slight luster but is much less shiny than gloss.
2. Eggshell is easier to clean and resists stains better than flat.  If you have small children, go with eggshell because the walls can be easily and repeatedly cleaned with a wet cloth without damaging the finish.  Although flat can be cleaned, it absorbs water, and excessive scrubbing removes the finish.
3. Flat paint conceals imperfections the best.  The lack of luster means light is not reflected, thereby hiding bumps and dents better.
4. Eggshell looks flat when viewed head-on on but has a very slight gloss when viewed at an angle.
5. Flat is best used in low traffic areas, eggshell works better where hand prints and smudges may be common.

Both finishes are typically considered for walls rather than trim. Flat paint is typically a little less expensive than eggshell, but regardless of your choice, both flat and eggshell wall paint provide an attractive and elegant finish.

If you’re not sure what’s right for your home, Atlanta’s Paint Doctor is here to help. Our team will walk you through the right finish for each room so your paint looks great and lasts.