Semi Gloss Vs Eggshell Paint: Which One Is Better?

When we are refurnishing our room or house we want to do it with the best products available so it not only looks good but also lasts long. If you are also planning to get the paint off your house and are confused about whether you should go for semi-gloss or eggshell paint then this article is for you.

The debate of semi-gloss vs eggshell paint has been going on for years and people find it hard to choose the right one. Don’t overstress yourself because in this article I will try to cover up everything about these paints so you don’t regret your decision of choosing the wrong paint to refurnish your house.

Semi Gloss Vs Eggshell Paint – Detailed Comparison

Semi Gloss Vs Eggshell Paint

If you are looking for good paint for your room or your home the common choice of people is either semi-gloss paint or eggshell paint. But confusion arises when you have to choose one of these two.

So to avoid this confusion keep on reading this article in the end you will be able to choose the best one. This is only possible if you have complete knowledge of both paints. Read the following points to know which one is better: semi-gloss or eggshell paint.

Eggshell Paint

Eggshell-Paint

Eggshell paint is off-white with a smooth shiny finish. It is a perfect choice that looks great and covers up all the imperfections that were there on the wall before. The shine you get after it is all dried up is praiseworthy.

Also if you create a mess while painting your room with eggshell paint you will not have to go through the struggles of cleaning up the paint. It comes off easily if you use a damp cloth and soap. Also, the eggshell paint allows you to wipe away the dust, and dirt that sticks to the wall after some time.

Undoubtedly, the eggshell paint is super good but according to my research, I would suggest you not use it if you live somewhere with heavy traffic because of the frequent dust it will look old in just a few days. Eggshell paint will be useless if you have kids and pets in your home because this paint is not for busier homes.

You must be thinking if there is even a place where you can use this great paint or not, right? Don’t be disappointed because you can paint your interior including bedrooms, ceilings, or cupboards with eggshell paint. You won’t regret it if you paint your entire house with eggshell paint but it should be somewhere with busy traffic. It is durable and looks great but has a few limitations or we can say the eggshell paint is not for busy areas of your home.

The reason behind this is you will have to touch it up again and again because it will get dirty soon. The touching up can be costly as well as it is a lot of hassle because you might need to touch it up every other week to cover up the imperfections caused by your kids, pets, dust storms, etc.

You may also want to read about Valspar vs Behr paint

Semi Gloss Paint

Semi-Gloss Paint

I asked the professionals what their preference was in eggshell paint or semi-gloss paint. Without taking a second to think about it, they voted for semi-gloss paint. This made me even more curious about what it is that semi-gloss has an eggshell that doesn’t. Let’s dig in to know more about why semi-gloss paint is better than eggshell paint.

The finishing of the semi-gloss paint is tough. This is why you will never have to question its durability. Moreover, you don’t need to waste your time thinking about what place you can use this paint because you can paint a semi-gloss paint anywhere you want be it your bedroom, living room, kitchen or your entire house semi-gloss paint will never disappoint you.

Furthermore, stains from oily and greasy food, crayons marks, fingerprints, etc. can be wiped off the wall with semi-gloss paint very easily. Once you get the semi-gloss paint done in your house you don’t have to worry about touch-ups and reapplying the paint again and again.

It’s better to cover up all the imperfections like dents or deformities before you paint your wall with semi-gloss paint because once dried semi gloss paint can make the imperfections more obvious than before. Besides this one issue, semi-gloss paint has no other drawbacks. If you’re planning to paint pine ceilings, have a look at best stain color for pine ceiling to choose the right color.

Semi Gloss Paint Or Eggshell Paint, What Should You Choose?

The semi-gloss paint and eggshell paint are not alike and different from each other to a great extent. You can read the comparison of semi-gloss paint with eggshell paint below. Based on their primary differences you can easily decide which paint is best. The finishing of the semi-gloss paint is a lot shinier than the eggshell paint. We can say eggshell paint leaves a very subtle shine when it dries.

As far as the toughness of the paint is concerned the semi-gloss paint is very tough and is more durable as compared to eggshell paint. I must say you will get the best coverage from eggshell paint as it even covers the dents and deformities on the wall while semi-gloss paint makes it more obvious. Both the paints allow you to easily wipe off the marks and stains from the wall but with eggshell, paint scrubbing leaves noticeable marks.

The good thing is you can cover it up with touch-ups and because it blends well you will hardly notice an eggshell paint touch-up. You will not be happy to hear that the semi-gloss paint’s touch-ups are far more noticeable if not done properly.

Even though the semi-gloss is tougher than eggshell but still you sometimes need to touch up the paint. This is where the semi-gloss paint fails to please the customers. Furthermore, semi-gloss paint is more expensive than eggshell paint so if you want a budget-friendly paint then eggshell paint is for you.

You can also read a detailed comparison of Kilz vs Zinsser Primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eggshell shinier than semi-gloss?

No, it is the other way around. The semi-gloss is shinier than eggshell paint and because of this reason it is tougher and more durable, and even the imperfections are hardly visible.

What is eggshell paint good for?

The eggshell paint will look great on the walls of every room but the experts suggest using only those that are used less and are far from heavy traffic. In areas like living rooms and kitchens where you spend most of your time, painting them with eggshell paint is not a good option as it is less durable and picks up dirt quite easily.

Is eggshell or semi-gloss better for the living room?

Undoubtedly, semi-gloss paint is a better option for living rooms. Do you know why? Because it is tougher, more durable, and even the stains are wipeable. You will never get these benefits from eggshell paint.

Is eggshell paint washable?

Yes, the eggshell paint is washable which allows you to wipe off any stains and grease that get on the wall after you paint it.

What is semi-gloss paint used for?

The semi-gloss paint has no limitation as far as locations are concerned. You can paint your bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and even your whole house because it is resistant to many climatic challenges like dust, humidity, etc.

Does eggshell paint cover imperfections?

Yes, eggshell paint covers imperfections, even the dents, and deformities on the wall. It is kind of a flat paint that fills up the imperfections and gives a neat and shiny finish.

Read a detailed comparison of flat vs satin paint

Final Words on Eggshell and Semi Gloss Paint

No doubt both the paints have their benefits and drawbacks but the comparison of eggshell paint with semi-gloss paint made it pretty much obvious which one is better for them. You must have figured out now that semi-gloss paint is a better option. Following are the benefits you will get with semi-gloss paint:

  • Best for busier places
  • More durable
  • Tougher

In the battle between semi-gloss paint and eggshell paint, semi-gloss always wins. Both eggshell paint and semi-gloss paint are commonly used by most people but if you ask for the number one choice then it would be semi-gloss paint only. I hope our article helped you in clearing your confusion about the best paint between eggshell and semi-gloss. Thank you for taking out time to read our article.


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