This sheen comes with its benefits and drawbacks though. For busy rooms, flat paint will appear dirty or stained in a short time if there is considerable contact with it.

A paint's finish — whether it's eggshell, satin, or high-gloss — dictates its durability, how well it hides imperfections, and how easy it is to clean.

This sheen offers great protection and makes it easy to wipe off stains. If, for some reason, you feel the paint “looks” better in a flat sheen, reconsider the color.

According to Wadden, eggshell paint sheen offers a 10 percent to 25 percent reflection (depending on the hue), while satin typically falls around 25 percent to 35 percent reflection.

Eggshell paint finishes are low luster with a very subtle sheen. Despite its flatter qualities, it will still reflect and bounce light throughout a room, creating depth without appearing overly shiny.

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Eggshell paint is the traditional choice for walls. It has a slight luster, with overall lower reflectivity than paints with a higher sheen. This makes it less durable or easy to clean.

Eggshell — This sheen, which is best used on walls, is the most common for that surface, Hibberd says. He says eggshell can appear flat. “When you stand in front of it there should be no gloss.

Personally, I only use a satin or eggshell sheen as I don't like the reflection and glow from semigloss paint on the walls. I even use it in kitchens and baths. Really how dirty do these areas get?

Painting a room involves more decisions than just color. Use this guide to distinguish all types of paint and find the best one for your DIY.

The two paint finishes sound almost interchangeable, but they’re not. Here’s when and where to use them for best results.