I'm repainting my living room and stuck between eggshell and satin finishes. I like eggshell cuz it's more subtle, less shiny, you know, kinda chill. But I've heard satin is easier to clean, especially if you've got kids (which I do, and they're messy little artists sometimes, lol). Anyone got experience with either of these? Which one holds up better in real life?
Totally get the appeal of eggshell—it's subtle and cozy, especially in a living room. I've used both in my old house (built in 1920s), and honestly, satin was a lifesaver with kids around. Crayon marks, fingerprints, random juice splashes...they wiped right off without much fuss. Eggshell looked great at first, but after a while, cleaning left noticeable dull spots. Satin held up way better over time. Just my two cents from experience!
Interesting points, especially about the durability with kids around. But honestly, I've had a different experience with satin finishes in older homes. A couple years back, I flipped this charming 1930s bungalow—original plaster walls, tons of character—and decided to go with satin because I figured it'd be easier to clean. Yeah, it was easier to wipe down, but man, it highlighted every single imperfection in those old walls. Every little bump, crack, or uneven patch job became glaringly obvious once the satin paint dried.
Ended up repainting the living room and dining room in eggshell. Sure, it wasn't quite as easy to clean (I hear you on the dull spots), but the softer sheen really helped disguise those imperfections. It just felt more authentic to the home's age and style. I get that satin is practical, especially if you've got kids or pets running around, but for older homes with plaster walls or textured surfaces, eggshell can actually save you some headaches.
One trick I've learned is to keep a small container of leftover paint handy for quick touch-ups. It beats scrubbing too hard and leaving those dull spots you mentioned. Plus, if you pick a quality brand, eggshell can hold up surprisingly well over time. Not knocking satin entirely—it's great for newer drywall or smoother surfaces—but in older homes, sometimes practicality isn't the only factor worth considering.
Totally get what you're saying about satin highlighting imperfections—been there, done that, got the paint-splattered t-shirt. Ever tried painting a ceiling with satin by mistake? Yeah...don't recommend it unless you enjoy staring at every drywall seam and patch job while lying awake at night.
But here's a thought: have you experimented with different lighting setups? Sometimes tweaking your lighting can soften those imperfections even with satin finishes. I once had a client whose walls looked like the surface of the moon under harsh overhead lights, but swapping out for softer lamps and sconces made a huge difference.
Also, curious if anyone's tried matte finishes in older homes? I know they're not exactly kid-friendly (hello fingerprints), but man, they can really hide a multitude of sins on plaster walls. Maybe worth considering for rooms that don't see as much action?
And yeah, totally second keeping leftover paint handy—saved my sanity more times than I care to admit.
Totally get what you're saying about satin highlighting imperfections—been there, done that, got the paint-splattered t-shirt.
Good points about lighting—makes a bigger difference than most people realize. I've flipped a few older homes, and eggshell usually strikes a nice balance between hiding imperfections and being cleanable enough for daily life with kids. Satin can be tricky on uneven walls.
