What's better satin or eggshell? | Lally Decorators

Our super power is painting occupied buildings while causing minimum disruption but from time to time we like to reflect on the products we use and the finishes we achieve. One decision a lot of homeowners find overwhelming is what paint to put on their woodwork. When we say woodwork we are referring to window boards, doors, frames, architraves and window boards. As a result we decided to put this post together that highlights the difference between satin and eggshell.

What’re Satin and Eggshell?

Satin and Eggshell are different types of paint that’s used to paint woodwork. People think “eggshell” refers to the colour of the paint but doesn’t

What’s the difference between Satin & Eggshell?

Satin and Eggshell are two types of finishes. The difference between both options is level of sheen. Eggshell has a 25% sheen whereas Satin has a 45% sheen

What Difference Does the Level of Sheen Make?

As a result Eggshell has a much flatter finish which is great if you are painting the walls and woodwork the same colour and you want them to have a similar finish. That said Eggshell is less durable and is not the most suitable option for a busy household with young children. Similarly Eggshell is less wipeable that Satin or Gloss

As the sheen rate in Satin is higher, it is more durable and can be wiped with a damp cloth

Are all paint brands the same?

The difference in finish across paint brands is worth noting. Crown’s Satin Finish is very flat and looks more like an eggshell when compared with the Colourtrend range

That said, Colourtrend Satin is more like a semi gloss as it has quite a sheen off it

A Final Note

To summarise if you’ve house with lots of traffic and or young children Satin is the safer option. If you live alone or if your children have flown the nest eggshell would be a suitable option

If you find the painting process too overwhelming contact us to arrange a complementary site survey