An advantage of matte paint is that it effectively hides surface imperfections like bumps, patches, and minor flaws, creating a smooth, elegant look, while a major disadvantage is its poor durability and difficulty cleaning, as it's prone to scuffs, stains, and marks, making it unsuitable for high-traffic areas like kitchens or kids' rooms.
Due to its non-reflective nature, matte paint can be harder to clean and may show wear more easily than a glossy finish. This means that drivers must take extra care during washing and maintenance to avoid damaging the surface. Furthermore, matte paint can be more prone to stains and streaks.
Matte finishes are highly pigmented, giving them excellent coverage and ideal for hiding imperfections such as small cracks, nail holes, or uneven textures on walls and ceilings. One of the biggest advantages of matte-finish paint is its forgiving nature.
A common question we get asked is 'is matt paint washable?'; to which the answer is yes to an extent! Matt paint finishes cannot be scrubbed, but some can be wiped down. This is because many leading brands have developed anti-scuff matt finishes such as Dulux, with their Diamond Matt emulsion.
The biggest factor is your opinion of aesthetics. A glossy finish will reflect light and appear more vibrant, while a matte finish paint tends to look softer and less reflective. In addition to aesthetics, you should also consider how the area will be used and its cleanliness.
What Paint Finish Should I Use for Every Room?
Each finish has its strengths in terms of durability and maintenance. Matte prints are more resistant to fingerprints and scratches, whereas glossy prints offer better protection against moisture and add a protective layer to your prints, making it more difficult to tear them.
If you catch the stain quickly enough, you may be able to remove it by using water and a sponge and/or cloth. If water isn't effective, add vinegar to your damp sponge or cloth and scrub gently. Don't apply too much pressure because you might remove the paint finish too. Use an erasing sponge for problematic spots.
This makes eggshell paint ideal for areas experiencing moderate foot traffic, such as hallways, and other frequently used spaces. The low-sheen finish not only reflects more light than matte paint but also offers better maintenance, making it a popular choice among both professional and DIY painters.
Bold Statement Colors
If you want your space to stand out with a bold accent, matte finish options offer a range of vibrant selections, including emerald, crimson, mustard, lime green, canary yellow, and matte black. These shades give a unique personality to the space, creating a fun and energizing ambience.
Do not use wax, detail spray, ArmorAll®, or any products made for normal paint. Use only products specifically developed for matte finish paint. Do not use products that are even mildly abrasive, such as polishes, glazes, or rubbing compounds. Do not use mechanical cleaners or polishers.
Matte finish paint also withstands frequent washing, even when applied in busier areas like hallways and family rooms. A matte look lends a luxurious touch to many interior spaces, including bedrooms and dining rooms.
Type of Finish
Similarly, paint that has a satin finish often dries darker once it has time to fully cure, while a matte or flat finish will absorb more light, giving the paint a lighter appearance.
Drawbacks of Gloss Finish
Before you make any decision, keep these drawbacks of matte finish tiles in your mind.
A lot of the cheap “matt” emulsion paints available contain very little polymer binder, which makes them brittle and more prone to cracking.
Professional painters use high-quality, contractor-grade paints from brands like Sherwin-Williams (ProMar, Emerald), Benjamin Moore (Regal Select, Ultra Spec), and Dunn-Edwards (Evershield), favoring durable acrylic latex (water-based) for interiors and sometimes oil-based enamel for trim due to superior coverage, smoothness, and durability, with specific choices depending on the surface, environment, and desired finish (matte, satin, gloss).
Pros & Cons of Each Finish
Surface/Room to be Painted: While you can paint anything any gloss, some are just better suited for different surfaces. Most choose a lower gloss for walls (matte, eggshells, satins and semi-gloss in some cases), flats for ceilings and higher glosses (semi-gloss, gloss, and high-gloss) for trim and doors.
For decontaminating matte paint, try Matte Decon. For routine cleaning and maintenance, use Matte Final Finish or Matte Body Wash.
Can't Be Polished Out: Matte finishes have a textured clear coat that scatters light to produce the muted sheen. Polishing to remove a scratch would sand down the texture, creating a smoothed-out semi-gloss.
Generally, it's best to spot clean walls once a month (or as needed) and deep clean them once a year. When spot cleaning, be sure to hit high-traffic areas and check for hand prints, scuffs, scratches, and splashes, says Becky Rapinchuk, a cleaning expert and author of Simply Clean and The Organically Clean Home.
Less Durable: Matte paint is more susceptible to damage and wear compared to glossier finishes. It is prone to scuffing, staining, and marks from cleaning, making it less suitable for high-traffic areas or areas prone to moisture and humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Flat paint will always be better for builders and painters. It costs less, downplays flaws in drywall, and can be touched up easily without showing roller marks. In new builds, it is almost always used by builders and painters.
Glossy finishes are often chosen for their vibrant and eye-catching appearance, making them suitable for promotional materials and photographs. In contrast, matte finishes excel in providing a classic and elegant visual narrative, often preferred for art prints and luxury catalogs.