Matt, eggshell, satin or gloss? The right paint finish for every room
Pick the right finish once and your walls stay looking fresh for years. Here is the simple guide we use in London homes and offices every week.
⚡ The quick answer
That covers most homes. But London homes are not all the same. A Victorian terrace in Fulham has different walls from a new flat in Canary Wharf, and an office corridor takes far more knocks than a bedroom. Read on for the details.
✨ What “sheen” actually means
Sheen is how much light the paint reflects. More shine means the surface is tougher and easier to wipe. But it also shows every bump and dent in the wall. Less shine hides flaws and looks softer.
| Finish | Looks | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt emulsion | Flat and calm | Ceilings, living rooms, bedrooms | Standard matt marks easily in busy areas |
| Durable / washable matt | Flat, but scrubbable | Hallways, stairs, kitchens, kids’ rooms | Costs a bit more per tin |
| Eggshell | Low, soft sheen | Doors, skirting, furniture, period homes | Slightly less tough than satin |
| Satin / satinwood | Mid sheen | Woodwork in busy homes and offices | Shows brush marks if rushed |
| Silk emulsion | Shiny walls | Small, perfect walls only | Shows every dent in older London plaster |
| Gloss | High shine | Traditional skirting, doors, railings | Shows every flaw, can yellow over time if oil-based |
🧭 Finish finder: what should you use?
Pick the room, the surface and how busy it is. You get our painters’ recommendation straight away.
Soft, flat and calm. It hides small flaws in the wall.
🏠 The right finish, room by room
🛋️ Living room
Matt walls feel warm and hide small cracks. If you have young children or pets, choose a durable matt so you can wipe off marks without leaving shiny patches.
🛏️ Bedroom
Standard matt is perfect. Bedrooms get the least wear, so you can enjoy the richest, flattest colours here.
🚪 Hallway and stairs
The busiest place in any home. Bags, bikes and buggies scuff the walls. Use a durable matt on walls and satin on the woodwork.
🍳 Kitchen
Steam and grease need a wipeable surface. Choose a kitchen or durable matt. Avoid standard matt behind the hob and sink.
🛁 Bathroom
Use a paint made for bathrooms that resists moisture and mould. Good ventilation matters as much as the paint. A fan or an open window after showers helps paint last.
🧸 Kids’ room
Durable or scrubbable matt is your friend. Crayon and sticky fingers come off far more easily, and the walls still look soft.
🪵 Doors, skirting and woodwork
For woodwork, most London homes today use satin or eggshell. Both are tough and easy to clean, with a calmer look than old-style gloss.
Satin or eggshell?
Satin has a bit more shine and stands up to more knocks. It is our choice for busy hallways, offices and rentals. Eggshell is softer and more elegant. It suits bedrooms, living rooms and period homes where you want the woodwork to blend in.
When gloss still makes sense
Gloss gives a classic, crisp look on Victorian and Edwardian skirting, doors and front railings. It is very hard-wearing. But it needs careful prep, because the shine shows every dent. That is exactly the kind of job where professional painting and decorating pays off.
Water-based or oil-based?
Most woodwork paint today is water-based. It dries faster, smells less and stays white for longer. Oil-based paint can still be the right choice on old woodwork that was oil-painted before, or outside. We check what is already on the surface before we pick.
📍 London homes and offices are different
🏛️ Period homes in Chelsea, Kensington and Fulham
Old lime plaster is rarely perfectly flat. Matt walls hide the gentle waves, while eggshell or gloss on cornicing and sash windows shows off the detail. See our Chelsea and South Kensington and Kensington and Holland Park pages.
🏙️ New-build flats in Canary Wharf and Nine Elms
Smooth new plaster takes paint beautifully. Durable matt keeps walls looking fresh between tenants. More on our painters and decorators in Canary Wharf page.
🏡 Victorian terraces in Hammersmith and Acton
Hallways here are narrow and busy. Satin on the woodwork and durable matt on the walls keep them looking good for longer. Our Hammersmith home calendar shows the best time of year to paint.
🏢 Offices in the City and Shoreditch
Corridors, meeting rooms and kitchens take daily knocks. We use scrubbable matt and tough satin, and we can paint early, late or at weekends. See office handyman and painting in London.
⚠️ Five finish mistakes we fix all the time
- Silk on old, bumpy walls. The shine shows every dent. Matt would have hidden them.
- Standard matt in a hallway. It marks fast and shiny patches appear when you scrub it.
- Gloss over a poorly prepared door. Every drip and brush mark is on show.
- Mixing finishes on one wall. Touch-ups in a different sheen show as patches in daylight.
- Skipping the prep. No finish hides a wall that was not filled and sanded first. Our guide on how to prepare a room for painting walks you through it.
Thinking about the budget too? Read how much it costs to paint a room in London. Brand guides such as Dulux’s paint finishes explained are useful too, and the Painting and Decorating Association has good advice on working with a decorator.
❓ Paint finish questions
What is the best paint finish for walls?
Matt for most rooms. In busy rooms such as hallways, kitchens and kids’ rooms, use a durable or washable matt that you can wipe clean.
Is eggshell or satin better for skirting boards?
Satin is tougher and suits busy homes, offices and rentals. Eggshell is softer and suits quieter rooms and period homes.
Can I use matt paint in a bathroom?
Only a matt made for bathrooms. Standard matt can mark and grow mould in steamy rooms. Good ventilation helps any paint last longer.
What finish should I use on a ceiling?
Matt. Any shine on a ceiling shows roller lines and patches in the light.
Why does my touch-up look like a shiny patch?
The new paint has a different sheen, or the old paint has aged. Painting the whole wall from corner to corner gives an even finish.
Does gloss paint go yellow?
Oil-based gloss can yellow over time, especially in darker rooms. Water-based woodwork paint stays white for much longer.
Not sure which finish? We’ll choose it with you
Send us a photo of the room. We’ll recommend the right finish and send you a clear, free quote.