When deciding what paints to use for your home, an important quality that the inexperienced painter might not be familiar with is a paint’s finish. A paint’s finish affects how glossy – shiny and reflective – a paint is, as well as how durable and easy it is to clean. High gloss paints are very reflective, easy to clean, and more durable than paints with low gloss.
However, because low-gloss paints reflect less light, they are much better at hiding imperfections in a surface. For a more in depth look at the different types of paint finishes, check out our blog Flat vs. Satin for Exterior House Paint, but in summary, paint finishes, from highest to lowest gloss, are high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, matte, and flat, with high-gloss being very reflective, durable, and easy to clean, and flat being totally unreflective and excellent at hiding imperfections. However, even among paints with a low level of gloss, there are still important differences! Let’s check out the differences between the two paints with the lowest amount of gloss: flat and matte paint.
Are flat and matte paint the same thing?
Though flat and matte paints are very similar, and are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably, there are subtle differences in the two finishes that are worth knowing. As we already went over, flat paint is below matte paint in terms of its level of gloss, and as a result their performances differ slightly. Whereas matte paint has a very low level of gloss, flat paint has none. Because of this, matte paint reflects very little light, while flat paint doesn’t reflect any. This is useful to know, as the less light a surface reflects, the easier it is to hide imperfections.
So if you decide to use matte paint over flat, know that inconsistent brush strokes, or imperfections in a surface, are going to be slightly more noticeable, while whatever you decide to paint with a flat finish is going to be slightly more susceptible to chipping or smudging than if you had used matte. Because of this, even though the differences are small, keep them in mind when selecting the finish for your paint.
Is matte paint better than flat?
Though one finish isn’t necessarily “better” than another, each has its own properties and therefore are better suited for certain surfaces. Realistically, matte and flat paint are similar enough in terms of durability and their ability to hide imperfections that either can be used for areas that aren’t going to get too much contact, so the main thing you need to consider is the appearance. If you want something that is going to be totally unreflective, go for a flat finish. On the other hand, if you want that modern, muted look but with a little bit of shine, go for matte. Once you’ve decided that your interior paint job would be well suited for a paint with a very low level of gloss, just choose whatever paint will suit your vision.
When should you use flat paint?
As we discussed, because the amount of gloss increases a paints durability, as well as its ability to be cleaned, low gloss paints should be reserved for areas of your home that won’t get smudged or knocked regularly. That’s why one of the best places to use flat paint is the part of your home that will get little to no contact: your ceiling. Ceilings are a great place to use flat finished paint because they won’t get smudged, they don’t need to reflect light, and since ceilings can be tricky to paint if you are less experienced, flat paint does a good job of masking inconsistencies. However, flat paint is good for anywhere in your home that match these qualities, such as walls that don’t get a lot of traffic.
But if after reading this you’re still unsure of what finish to use, or have any other questions about painting your home, Encore Painting Ltd. has you covered. With nearly a decade and a half of experience serving the GTA, our professionals know exactly what it takes to make a painting project happen. We will work with you, giving you a free evaluation of your space, so we can answer any questions you have and make your vision a reality. Contact Encore Painting Ltd. today to get your free estimate.