Matt, Eggshell or Satin? Which Paint Finish to Use on Walls, Panelling and Woodwork 

You’ve spent a whole evening agonising over paint charts, finally settled on the perfect shade of sage, and then the shop assistant asks: “Which finish?” Suddenly you’re staring at tins labelled matt, eggshell, satin and gloss, wondering if it really matters. 

It does. The finish changes how a colour looks, how well it hides lumps and bumps, and how it copes with sticky fingers and scuffed shoes.  

Getting the finish right is half the battle; the other half is budgeting for it. Woodwork in particular takes time, with sanding, priming and two coats, so it’s worth factoring in if you’re hiring a decorator. For a realistic idea of what to expect, take a look at this guide to the cost of painting a room. If you’re still deciding what type of paint to choose, read on. 

The quick version 

Surface	Best finish	Why
Living room and bedroom walls	Matt or durable matt	Rich colour, hides flaws
Kitchen and bathroom walls	Eggshell or kitchen/bathroom paint	Copes with steam and grease
Panelling	Eggshell	Tough but still understated
Skirting, doors and frames	Satin or eggshell	Handles knocks, wipes clean

First, what’s the difference? 

It all comes down to sheen, or how much light the paint bounces back. 

• Matt has almost no shine. It looks soft and chalky, and it’s brilliant at hiding imperfections. The trade-off is that it marks more easily, although modern “durable” or “scrubbable” matts have closed that gap a lot. 

• Eggshell has a low, gentle sheen, a bit like, well, an eggshell. It’s tougher than matt and wipes clean nicely. 

• Satin sits a step higher again. It has a silky glow, stands up well to knocks and is very easy to clean, but it will show every dent and brushstroke on a surface that isn’t smooth. 

A handy rule of thumb: the shinier the finish, the tougher it is, and the less forgiving of any underlying damage on the wall. 

Walls: matt, most of the time 

For living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms, matt is the go-to. It gives colour real depth and makes older, slightly wonky plaster look far better than it deserves to. If you’ve got kids, pets or a narrow hallway that takes a battering, choose a durable matt so you can wipe off the odd mark without leaving a shiny patch. 

Kitchens and bathrooms are the exception. Steam and grease call for something tougher, so look for a kitchen or bathroom paint, which usually comes in a soft sheen or eggshell. 

Panelling: eggshell is the sweet spot 

Wall panelling has had a huge moment, and it deserves a finish that can keep up. Because it sits at hip height, it gets brushed by bags, chairs and the vacuum cleaner. Eggshell gives you that durability while keeping a muted, modern look. 

Want the panelling to blend in with the wall above? Some people use a durable matt on both for a calm, colour-drenched effect. It works, but be honest with yourself about how much wear it’ll get. 

Woodwork: satin (or eggshell if you prefer it subtle) 

Skirting boards, door frames, doors and window sills take more punishment than anything else in the room. Satin is the popular choice here because it’s hard-wearing and easy to clean, without the glare of old-school gloss. If you like a softer, more contemporary look, eggshell works well too. 

Whichever you pick, prep is everything. Give the wood a light sand, clean off the dust and use a primer or undercoat on bare or previously glossed surfaces. A higher-sheen finish will show any shortcuts. And if your house dates from before the 1980s, the old paint may contain lead, so wet-sand it rather than going at it dry, or paint over it if it’s in good condition and not chipping or flaking. 

Pick the right finish for each surface and your new colour won’t just look good on day one. It’ll still look good a few years and a lot of muddy footprints later.