A fresh coat of paint can instantly transform any living room. And with the right finish, you can create an inviting atmosphere that you’ll love for years. So is silk paint the right choice?
Silk paint is usually not recommended for living room walls. Flat and matte finishes are usually preferred over higher sheens as it helps to reduce glare, creating a softer atmosphere. However, silk paint offers many benefits for walls, including superior coverage, scrub resistance, and a subtle sheen.
In this article, you will learn:
- The pros and cons of using silk paint
- How silk compares to other finishes
- The best finish to use for trims and baseboards
4 Benefits of Using Silk Paint in Your Living Room
Silk isn’t likely to be the best paint finish for your living room, but it does have its benefits. Here is a list of the 4 reasons why you might want to choose it.
Durability and quality
One of the main advantages of silk paint in your living room is its durability and high quality. Silk paint has a longer lifespan than matte paint finishes and is much better at resisting wear and tear.
As a result, your living room walls will remain fresh and beautiful even after many years of use. This is especially important if you have children or pets that tend to cause damage to the walls.
Appearance
Silk paint also has a beautiful and distinctive sheen that adds an elegant look to any living room. It is typically mid-sheen and looks shiny when the light hits it, creating a luminous and sophisticated atmosphere in your home.
Easy cleaning
Cleaning up after yourself in the living room can be a hassle, but with silk paint, you won’t have to worry about scrubbing away dirt and grime after every smudge. Silk paints are designed to repel water, making them incredibly easy to clean up. Just a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth will do the trick.
Can withstand condensation
If the weather in your area is prone to sudden changes in temperature, you’ll be glad to know that silk paint is great at resisting condensation.
Unlike paints with a lower gloss level, it won’t peel, crack, or flake off when exposed to sudden drops in humidity. This makes it a great choice if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions.
4 Drawbacks of Using Silk Paint in Your Living Room
Despite having some benefits, there are quite a number of disadvantages to using silk paint.
More expensive
One of the main disadvantages of using silk paint in your living room is its price. It tends to be more expensive than paints with lower sheens. So if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to consider other options.
Shows imperfections
Although silk paint has a beautiful sheen, it can also make any imperfections in your walls more apparent. This means that any bumps or cracks in the walls will be much easier to spot when finished with this type of paint.
Brush strokes are evident
Silk paint is more likely to reveal brush strokes when applied, as its glossy surface emphasizes them much more than with flatter paints. So if you’re looking for a perfectly smooth finish, you may have to do some extra sanding and smoothing before applying the paint.
A glossy finish is not for everyone
The glossy finish of silk paint is not for everyone. If you prefer a more muted, subtle look in your living room, you may want to opt for matte or eggshell paint instead.
How Does Silk Paint Compare to Other Finishes?
Flat (matte)
Painting living rooms with flat and matte paints are both popular options. They offer a more subtle, muted finish than other glossier paint types, such as silk paint.
For durability, silk paint is a safe option that won’t easily chip compared to matte finishes. However, if you don’t have children and the living room is not prone to much wear and tear, a matte finish may be a better option.
Regarding maintenance, silk paints can be scrubbed more due to their glossiness, whereas matte finishes may need a gentler approach when dealing with stains or dirt on walls. In addition, flat and matte finishes provide good coverage. They hide small imperfections in walls very well.
Eggshell
Another popular option is to use eggshell paint in living rooms. It’s slightly more expensive than flat paint, but it’s still very affordable and is ideal for moderate-traffic areas like formal living rooms. It has a slight sheen that gives the room a richer appearance when compared to flat paint.
It has moderately good coverage, is easy to clean, and touch-ups blend well. However, it’s not as flexible or tough as higher-sheen alternatives such as silk paint, and it’s more susceptible to wear and tear over time.
Silk paints offer more of a dramatic look than eggshell paints due to their higher sheen finish. They’re great for making walls look glossy and reflective, which can be nice in living rooms where you want a luxurious feel.
Satin
Using satin paint in your living room will provide a vibrant hue that emits an almost glossy sheen. This gives these paints a delicate shimmer, shining brighter than eggshell finishes yet softer than silk and semi-gloss.
Regarding resilience, both satin and silk paints perform remarkably well in spaces with high foot traffic. Satin paint is particularly flexible and tough while also being more moisture-resistant. This is important if you live in an area with humid summers or wet winters.
Silk paint offers reasonable coverage, but touch-ups show more on this type of finish than satin paint. When it comes to cleaning, both can withstand scrubbing and are easy to wipe down as both finishes are very similar in their sheen levels.
Semi-gloss
Semi-gloss is another option for living rooms, but it’s not used that often as its sheen level is usually too high, sitting between satin and high-gloss. This type of paint is known for its durability. Semi-gloss and silk paint can provide long-lasting protection from fading caused by sun exposure and moisture damage.
However, semi-gloss, in particular, is highly durable and resistant to moisture, making clean-up easier should there be any spills or messes in the room. Silk paints also have great stain resistance, but they might not be able to handle tougher scrubbing.
Both finishes will show imperfections on the wall, so it’s important to prepare them properly before applying the paint with some extra sanding and smoothing.
What Paint Finish Is Best for Trim, Baseboards, Doors, and Casings?
One of the best choices is gloss when selecting a paint finish for trim, baseboards, doors, and casings for living room walls. This type of finish has a brilliant sheen that can help brighten any space.
It provides a sleek and sophisticated look, and its highly durable properties make it ideal for high-traffic areas like living rooms. Gloss protects against wear and tear, moisture damage, and fading over time.
Additionally, this paint finish is easy to clean and maintain due to its glossy surface, which easily repels dirt and dust. As a bonus, gloss can help reflect light in dark or narrow rooms to create the illusion of space and provide a modern touch to any room’s aesthetic.