The shortest version
Eggshell looks like soft velvet under daylight — almost no glare, forgiving of small wall imperfections, easy to live with. Satin looks like a quiet glow under warm light — a touch more sheen, a touch more wipeable, but demanding of a well-prepped substrate. Default to eggshell on most walls; reach for satin only when the room asks for it.
| Property | Eggshell | Satin |
|---|---|---|
| Sheen level (60° gloss) | 10–25 | 26–40 |
| Reflectance feel | Velvet — minimal glare | Soft glow — quiet shine |
| Best for | Living, dining, bedroom feature walls | Master bedroom, study, dressing area |
| Wipeability | Good — damp cloth | Excellent — neutral detergent OK |
| Surface forgiveness | Hides minor wall texture | Shows trowel marks — needs prep |
| Atelier colours suited | The full library | Greige, sage, mushroom, deep |
Both finishes are the same Zinsser Perma-White interior film — the same mould and mildew-proof warranty, the same tint library. Only the light behaves differently.
The eggshell room — the default
Eggshell is the sheen for almost every wall in almost every project: living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways. It hides minor undulations from the skim coat, does not bounce ceiling-light reflections back at you, and photographs beautifully — which matters when the room is also a listing photo. This is the finish we stock and tint, in every Atelier shade.
The satin room — when the brief asks for shine
Satin earns its place on a master bedroom feature wall, a study with directional task lighting, or a dressing area where the colour should feel a little richer than its eggshell twin. The sheen reads as intentional only when the wall is prepped for it — add a skim-and-sand pass to any satin scope, and be honest when a wall is not worth the upgrade.
The finishes in context
Four more rooms, four more shades — eggshell on the left, satin on the right.
Atelier colours that suit each sheen
The full library is available in eggshell from the shop; the greige, sage and mushroom families below are the ones that wear a deeper sheen especially well.
PXA-1218
Quiet Greige
The all-day greige — warm under daylight.
PXA-1234
Atelier Smoke
Studio-grade greige with mushroom undertone.
PXA-1376
Garden Stone
Muted moss for restful master bedrooms.
PXA-1428
River Sage
Cool sage that breathes in tropical heat.
PXA-1502
Soft Mushroom
Warm taupe that flatters timber and brass.
PXA-1865
River Stone
Cool grey that holds its tone under LED.
PXA-2143
Clay Letter
Dusty terracotta with sun-baked depth.
PXA-1937
Atelier Ink
Near-charcoal for an architectural niche.
Common questions
When should I pick eggshell over satin?
Eggshell is the default for living, dining and bedrooms because it forgives small wall imperfections and reads as luxurious without throwing reflections. Pick satin when you want a soft glow — a master bedroom feature wall, a study, a dressing area with directional light.
Will satin show every dent in the wall?
More than eggshell will. Satin reads as a soft glow only on a well-prepped, well-skimmed substrate — budget the extra prep time into any satin scope so the wall is ready for the sheen.
Can I mix finishes in one room?
Yes — three walls in eggshell with one feature wall in satin, in the same Atelier shade, gives depth without changing palette. The shift in sheen is the design move.
Are both finishes wipeable?
Yes. Eggshell takes a damp cloth; satin takes a damp cloth plus neutral detergent. Both are the same Perma-White chemistry, so mould resistance is identical.