Satin vs. Flat Paint: Which Is Best for Your Project?

Whether you’re getting out your ladder and brushes or hiring a team of pros to transform your home, choosing the right paint finish can make or break your project. Out of the wide spectrum of options you have, considering the differences between a velvety flat and pearly satin finish will help you decode exactly what your walls need. Let’s dig into what’s best for your home: satin versus flat paint. 

Satin vs. Flat Paint: Key Differences

Satin and flat paint are both popular paint sheens for home interiors due to their versatility and availability. The difference comes down to how glossy the finished surface is, with satin paint shinier than the matte finish of flat paint. With great gloss comes great reflectivity, meaning satin paint tends to highlight imperfections on the wall’s surface while flat paint blends them into the background. 

What Is Flat Paint? 

Paint with a flat finish soaks up light in a room and instead provides a velvety, matte look to the walls. It’s ideal for hiding wall imperfections like bumps, cracks, seams, or damage. Homeowners often choose this paint sheen because it’s less expensive than higher gloss finishes and easier to apply. Just glide it on without worrying about streaks or roller marks you may leave—it’s not likely they’ll show through its smooth finish.

Best for: 

• Low-traffic spaces

• Bedroom

• Office

Pros of Flat Paint

Because of its ability to hide imperfections, flat paint works well in older homes where walls come with their own quirks or on unremarkable ceilings. By painting a surface this non-reflective finish, you’re helping it blend into the background of your home rather than stand out. 

Cons of Flat Paint

Flat paint is less durable than paint with a shinier finish like satin because its formula doesn’t contain as much resin. This means when you scrub off a stain or clean the wall, you may wear down the paint and need to repaint your walls more frequently.

What Is Satin Paint? 

Choosing a satin finish for your paint project guarantees that your walls will pop. Since satin paint has more gloss, it reflects all the light hitting the walls and provides a bright, modern look in your home. The extra resin in the formula means stain paint often comes with a slightly higher price tag than flat paint.

Best for: 

• Playrooms

• Hallways

• Kitchens and bathrooms

Pros of Satin Paint

Satin paint is a great fit for high-traffic areas in your home that must withstand fingerprints, food, grease, and dirt. Satin paint is moisture-resistant, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms, where humidity can do a number on your walls. The shine in the paint is also a lovely way to make your kitchen feel naturally brighter and cleaner. 

Cons of Satin Paint

The bad news is that glossy sheen will display every imperfection from cracks to divots, so satin finishes are best for walls with nothing to hide. It’s also important to consider how confident you are in your painting abilities if you choose a satin finish because it is more difficult to apply evenly than flat paint. Hiring an interior painter may be the best option, but it would increase the cost to paint a room. 

Satin Paint vs. Flat Paint

Let’s break down which paint option is better in a few specific categories to help you decide. 

Appearance: Tie

This one is entirely up to you. The matte finish of flat paint absorbs light to blend beautifully into your room’s aesthetic, providing a quiet, calm vibe perfect for your bedroom or study. Satin paint reflects light and can brighten up a dark space with its glossy sheen. 

Durability: Satin Paint

Satin paint works well in bustling areas that need regular cleaning or go through lots of wear and tear over time (think kids’ rooms and kitchens). Without that protective sheen, flat paint doesn’t hold up well to little hands or cooking stains.

Price: Flat Paint

A gallon of satin paint comes with a higher price tag than flat due to the additional resin in the formula. Plus, it may require the expertise of an interior paint pro to make sure your walls are streak-free, while flat paint is easier to DIY. 

Application: Flat Paint

While flat paint glides on without much effort, it takes a careful hand to apply satin paint in a way that won’t result in light-reflecting brush or roller marks after the paint dries. Many people opt to leave satin paint to the pros for this reason. 

Maintenance and Life Span: Satin Paint

Satin paint is one of the most durable finishes because its high enamel ratio stands up to scrubbing well, so it’ll last years longer than a matte finish. Flat paint can’t handle much scrubbing, so it’s best to avoid using it in places that need regular maintenance.