Benjamin Moore flat vs. matte vs. eggshell

[Anonymous]

Which one works well for open concept first floor including kitchen, living room, family room and dining room. I cannot make a decision. This would be just one color in off-white for the entire first floor. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Eggshell. Flat is too flat and completely unforgiving. I would use that only for ceilings. Matte basically looks flat but is somewhat cleanable, but not enough for moderate-traffic spaces, in my experience. I would use Matte in a grownup's bedroom or sitting room. Eggshell is very forgiving and wipeable but will not read as shiny.

[Anonymous]

Flat for me. I hate eggshell. It’s way too shiny. I think the flat is cleanable enough and aesthetically I couldn’t do eggshell. So it’s all about your preferences.

[Anonymous]

I like matte. Eggshell feels like a doctor’s office.

[Anonymous]

Flat is easier to touch up. Eggshell for areas w/ moisture

[Anonymous]

Matte for walls, flat for ceiling.

[Anonymous]

Do not use flat paint. It look awful.

[Anonymous]

I completely regret flat finish on my walls in the foyer and stairways. Every time I see the scuffs on the wall from the kids repeatedly brushing up against the walls. . . UGH.

[Anonymous]

The only place I have see eggshell throughout is in a rental.
Flat can be beautiful mixed with perfect walls and no kids. Unforgiving otherwise.
Eggshell is a must in bathrooms and kitchens--and is expected there.
With kids, I would go for matte everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Reread. Kitchen flows into family room. Then I would go matte for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only place I have see eggshell throughout is in a rental.
Flat can be beautiful mixed with perfect walls and no kids. Unforgiving otherwise.
Eggshell is a must in bathrooms and kitchens--and is expected there.
With kids, I would go for matte everywhere else.

I think this is backwards. The higher the sheen, the more smooth you need the walls to be.


OP, you can see there's no consensus here. So just go with what you like and are willing to maintain.

[Anonymous]

We got a type of BM flat that is cleanable...can not remember the name now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Matte for walls, flat for ceiling.

+1

[Anonymous]

Matte in BM Aura looks great and is easy to clean. I used to have BM Regal Select in flat everywhere and the matte is MUCH better. The flat was kind of dull and almost chalky? Eggshell would probably be ok too, honestly, but I like the matte.

[Anonymous]

If you have kids do not do flat.