Flat vs. Matte Paint

Flat and matte are the two lowest-sheen finishes on the shelf, the words get used as though they mean the same thing, and paint manufacturers are not especially consistent about which is which. That makes it genuinely confusing to choose between them.

Here is how the two differ in practice, and which one belongs in which room.

Flat vs matte: which is which?

Both are low-sheen, non-reflective finishes. The difference is a matter of degree.

Flat paint

Flat paint has the least sheen of any finish available. It reflects almost no light, which is exactly what makes it so good at hiding blemishes: bumps, patches, drywall seams and small dents do not catch the light the way they do under a glossier paint.

That non-reflectivity is also why flat is the default for ceilings, where any sheen tends to highlight every imperfection across a big uninterrupted surface.

The trade-off is durability. With so little binder at the surface, flat is the most vulnerable finish to scuffing, and it is the hardest to clean without burnishing a shiny patch into the wall.

Matte paint

Matte carries a very slight sheen, enough to give it a soft, velvety look rather than a completely dead one. It still hides imperfections well, just not quite as completely as flat.

What that small amount of sheen buys you is cleanability. A matte wall tolerates being wiped down far better than a flat one, which matters in a hallway, a family room, or anywhere a wall gets touched.

One thing worth clearing up: matte is not another word for eggshell. Eggshell is a distinctly higher sheen, closer to satin. If you have read that the two are the same, that is a common mix-up, and it will surprise you on the wall.

How they compare

Sheen and appearance

Flat has essentially no reflectivity. Matte has a slight, soft sheen. Side by side on the same wall in the same light, the difference is visible but subtle, and it becomes much more obvious under strong raking light from a window.

Hiding imperfections

Flat wins. Less light bouncing off the surface means less to reveal. Matte is a close second, and both comfortably beat eggshell, satin and semi-gloss at this.

Durability and cleaning

Matte wins. The slight sheen means a marginally tougher surface that takes a wipe-down with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Flat marks more easily and is harder to clean without leaving a burnished spot, which is why touch-ups on flat walls are common.

Neither finish is a scrubbable one. If a surface needs regular washing, you want a higher sheen than either of these.

Touch-ups

Both touch up better than glossier finishes, because there is less sheen to mismatch. Flat is the most forgiving of all for spot repairs, which partly offsets how easily it marks in the first place.

Color range

Both are available in effectively any color. Low-sheen finishes tend to read slightly deeper and richer than the same color in a gloss, because you are seeing the pigment rather than a reflection.

Related: How to pick the right paint sheen

Where each one belongs

Use flat on

• Ceilings. Almost always the right answer. Maximum imperfection-hiding across a large surface nobody touches.
• Low-traffic walls. Formal rooms, primary bedrooms, anywhere the walls do not get handled.
• Walls in poor condition. If a wall is patched, textured or uneven, flat will do the most to disguise it.

Use matte on

• Living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. The soft look of flat with enough cleanability for a room people live in.
• Walls you expect to wipe occasionally. Not scrubbing, but the odd mark.

Use neither on

• Bathrooms and kitchens. These need moisture tolerance and real washability. A low-sheen finish is the wrong tool, whatever the color chart suggests. If you want the low-sheen look in a damp room, ask about a washable matte formulated for it rather than a standard flat.
• Trim, doors and cabinets. These want a harder, higher-sheen finish that stands up to hands and cleaning.

Choosing a finish with a professional painter

Sheen is one of the easiest things to get wrong and one of the most annoying to live with, because it only really shows once the wall is dry and the light moves across it during the day.

A professional painter will look at the light in the room, the condition of the walls and how the space actually gets used before recommending a finish. Our team at Kind Home Painting has applied every one of these finishes across a lot of Denver homes, and we would rather talk you out of a finish that will frustrate you than sell you the one you asked for.

The short version

If you want the softest possible look and the most imperfection-hiding, and the walls do not get touched much, use flat. If you want nearly that look with meaningfully better cleanability, use matte. For anything that needs washing, look at a higher sheen instead.

Still deciding? Fill out our contact form or give us a call at (720) 637-4805, and we will talk it through with you.