Adding a lick of paint is the perfect way to spruce up any kitchen. But is satin paint the best finish for your kitchen walls?
Satin paint is an ideal choice for kitchen walls. It has a lustrous finish, which is resistant to stains and is easily washable. It’s also very durable and won’t dull quickly. In addition, it offers a subtle sheen that helps to reflect light around the room without creating an overwhelming glare.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- The pros and cons of satin paint
- How satin compares to other paints
- Whether you should use a primer before painting
7 Benefits of Using Satin Paint in Your Kitchen
Satin is one of the best paint finishes for kitchens. Here is a list of the 7 reasons why.
Easy to clean
Satin paint is resistant to stains and spills, making it a great choice for kitchens as it can be quickly wiped down or washed off to keep surfaces hygienic and attractive.
Durable
The hard-wearing finish of satin paint means it stands up well to regular use and resists wear better than other types of paint. This makes it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like kitchen walls and cabinets.
Resistant to fading
Its low levels of gloss also make it more resistant to UV light damage, meaning your kitchen will look bright and vibrant for longer.
Reflective
The slight sheen on the surface of satin paint reflects natural light, creating a brighter atmosphere in your kitchen that can make small spaces seem larger and more expansive.
Easy to touch up
If any areas need touching up, you don’t have to worry about brush marks. Satin paint is easy to blend in with existing coats without leaving any telltale brushstrokes behind.
Conceals imperfections
The mid-tier gloss level of satin paint helps to better hide imperfections such as nicks or dings in the wall, making your kitchen appear cleaner and more polished overall.
No glare or fingerprints
Unlike other glossy paints that can reflect bright lights or show fingerprints, satin paint provides a much softer reflection that hides these elements while still producing an attractive finish in your kitchen space.
3 Drawbacks of Using Satin Paint in Your Kitchen
Despite its many benefits, there are some disadvantages to using satin paint.
Cost
Satin paint tends to be more expensive than other flat finishes, making it difficult for budget-minded homeowners to use it in their kitchens. This can put a strain on finances and leave little room for other home improvements.
Tougher to clean
Satin paint can be harder to clean than glossier finishes. This is because it has a slightly rough texture that can trap dirt and grime, making it more difficult to wipe down and keep looking like new.
Durability
Satin paint is not as durable as glossier finishes and may not hold up as well over time in a humid environment such as a kitchen. Satin paint is also more prone to showing stains, scratches, and marks than other paints, making it less ideal for high-traffic kitchens.
How Does Satin Paint Compare to Other Finishes?
High-gloss
Using high-gloss paint in the kitchen will provide a glass-like appearance, a highly reflective surface, and an intense color vibrancy that brightens up the space.
On the other hand, satin paint has a softer, less reflective finish that gives walls a sophisticated sheen without being too shiny. It is also much easier to apply than high-gloss paints.
When it comes to cost, high-gloss paint is typically more expensive than satin paint because of its superior durability and sheen.
High-gloss paint possesses superior stain resistance and can stand up to some serious scrubbing, making it ideal for heavily used spaces such as kitchens.
However, high-gloss paint does require more maintenance since touch-ups are more noticeable due to its highly reflective surface, which can easily highlight imperfections in the wall.
Semi-gloss
Semi-gloss and satin paint are attractive options that can bring texture and depth to a room. However, the overall look and feel they create are different.
Semi-gloss paint has a smooth, durable finish and is generally more scrubbable than other paints, making it great for use in kitchens where there may be a need for frequent cleaning.
Using semi-gloss paint in your kitchen will reflect a lot of light, which can make the walls appear brighter and more vibrant in comparison to other finishes.
This makes semi-gloss an excellent choice when trying to make a kitchen appear larger or bringing attention to certain features of the space.
However, this glossy finish can create an intense glare if not applied properly with the right lighting in mind. In contrast, satin paint has a subtle shine that is neither too shiny nor too flat. This finish creates an elegant look without being too reflective, like semi-gloss paint.
Flat, matte, and eggshell
Flat, matte, and eggshell paint are all finishes that are not suitable for painting kitchen walls. The porosity of these types of paints offers very little protection against dirt, stains, and moisture, making them an unsuitable choice.
On the other hand, satin paint is a much better choice for kitchen walls as it offers a higher degree of protection against wear and tear. Satin paint also offers a high sheen or gloss finish which wipes clean easily, making cleaning up any mess or spills much easier.
However, these three can still be used on kitchen ceilings. They may even be a better option as they do not reflect light, meaning there will be no glare from the ceiling when lights are switched on.
Kitchens Need a Special Primer
When it comes to painting a kitchen, using the right primer is especially important. The kitchen is one of the most humid areas in any home, and moisture damage can cause peeling of the paint over time if not properly sealed with a high-quality primer.
Primers also help to bond paint to new drywall, protecting against staining, bubbling, and peeling. Additionally, stickier primers with mildewcide additives are essential for protecting walls from mold or mildew growth which could cause discoloration and damage to the wall surface over time.
Kitchen walls tend to require more frequent repainting than other rooms due to regular exposure to steam and splatters from cooking, so it’s important to use a primer that will help protect your new coat of paint for as long as possible.
With this in mind, look for primers specifically designed for kitchens, such as those with stain-blocking technology or water-resistant formulas that provide superior adhesion and can stand up against kitchen messes.
