Hard-working kitchens are often messy.
The kitchen is the hardest working room in a house, even the ceiling gets a workout. Cooking releases steam and grease which attach to nearby surfaces including kitchen walls and ceilings. If the walls of the kitchen are painted with a flat paint then they are not going to clean well. Flat paint reduces visible defects in walls or ceilings but it doesn't create a surface that can be easily washed. Often if you wash a flat wall you will remove some paint. For this reason a paint with more of a finish is a better choice.
Flat Paint
Flat paint works well on imperfect walls that won't need regular cleaning.
Flat paint has no sheen or finish. This makes flat paint particularly good for walls that are less than perfect. Light tends to bounce off irregularities in wall surfaces so paints with a sheen pick up the problem areas and make them more visible. Most rooms should be painted with flat or matte paint that has minimal sheen. This will produce the best appearance for walls that don't need to be cleaned regularly.
Eggshell, Pearl or Satin
Painting with eggshell in the kitchen will allow you to clean the paint occasionally.
Eggshell, pearl and satin paints have progressively more sheen than flat and matte paints. Eggshell will require a primer when applied over a drywall patch and you should keep a wet edge when rolling the paint. Eggshell, pearl or satin can be used in the kitchen within limitations. These paints have some sheen and some ability to be washed. These may be the best choice for imperfect kitchen walls. They will not be as durable a semi-gloss and glossy paints.
Semi-Gloss Paint
Semi-gloss paint may require two coats for a good finish.
Gloss is a word used to describe the level of shine and the amount of finish that a paint has once it dries. Semi-gloss paint has a stronger finish than satin and it will have a soft shine. The surface of the paint after it has dried is excellent for removing grease, fingerprints and general grime. In homes with very active kitchens that have children and animals, semi-gloss is an excellent wipable surface that will make keeping the kitchen clean much easier.
Glossy Paint
Cleaning kitchen surfaces is a frequent necessity in busy homes.
Glossy paint is shiny. Glossy paint wipes off easily and retains its shine over time, particularly if the paint is an oil-based paint. It is sometimes hard to get glossy paint to look good as the shine will pick up all of the imperfections in a wall surface. Generally you may want to use glossy paint on your trim and a semi-gloss on the walls. This allows both surfaces to look good and clean up easily.
Tags: walls that, Eggshell pearl, Eggshell pearl satin, flat matte, Glossy paint, kitchen walls, look good