26 Mar Choosing Between Matte and Flat Finishes

One of the first stumbling blocks encountered by DIY painters is choosing between a matte and flat finish for their walls. The differences between the two may seem subtle, but the truth is they each work well in different situations.

Let’s take a deeper look into the topic.

Flat paint hides flaws

Flat paint contains no shine, or perhaps just a small amount of gloss, which means it doesn’t reflect much light.

This makes flat paint the ideal choice for walls which contain dents, lumps and other imperfections, as the flat paint can hide these flaws quite well. Other benefits of a flat finish are that it’s very easy to touch up and it blends well with other paints.

Matte delivers a luxurious touch

You may find matte finish paints labelled as ‘velvet’ on the paint can. They also don’t contain a huge amount of gloss, but definitely provide more shine than a flat finish. They’re cost-effective as they tend to be more durable and able to retain their colour better than flat paints.

If you have a large room, or multiple rooms to paint in the same colour, matte is a great choice. You’ll generally require fewer coats to achieve an even finish. They also come with a higher pigment concentration than flat paints, so you don’t need to buy too many cans.

How to choose between flat and matte

Location

If you’re painting a low-traffic room that won’t get too dirty, choose flat. Conversely, matte works better in bedrooms, bathrooms and dining rooms.

Cleanability

Matte paints are easier to clean than flat paints as they retain their colour and consistency, whereas flat paints tend to lose their colour when scrubbed, resulting in patchy walls.

Touch-ups

As mentioned earlier, the lack of gloss in flat paint makes it a safer bet for bad walls. But, because matte also contains a low level of gloss, it will work well if your walls only have minor imperfections.

Urgency

Both types of finish have their pros and cons, but if you’re in a hurry, it’s best to choose matte as you’ll probably require fewer coats and get a more durable finish.

Pick our brains at Pelham Painters

If you’re unsure which finish works best for your situation, we’ll be glad to help. Just get in touch with Pelham Painters in Hobart and we’ll gladly share some expert pointers.