When choosing an interior paint finish in Perth, two options come up more than any other: low sheen and matt. They look similar on a colour card but behave very differently on your walls. Choosing the wrong one can mean a wall that marks easily, shows every imperfection, or needs repainting sooner than expected. Here is a clear explanation of both finishes and when to use each one.
What is Matt Paint?
Matt paint has virtually no sheen at all. The finish is completely flat and absorbs light rather than reflecting it, which makes it excellent at hiding imperfections in walls and ceilings. Small dents, texture variations and patchy repairs become much less visible under a matt finish than under any other sheen level.
The trade-off is washability. Matt paint is not designed to be scrubbed. If you try to wipe a mark off a matt wall you can rub the paint surface itself, leaving a shiny patch that is more visible than the original mark. Matt paint is also more porous than low sheen, which means it absorbs moisture and can be harder to keep clean in humid areas.
What is Low Sheen Paint?
Low sheen paint sits between matt and satin on the sheen scale. It has a very subtle, soft glow when light hits it at an angle. It is not glossy or shiny in any obvious way but it does reflect slightly more light than matt.
The main advantage of low sheen over matt is washability. Low sheen paints like Dulux Wash and Wear are formulated to be wiped clean without damaging the paint surface. Fingerprints, scuff marks and light stains can be removed with a damp cloth. This makes low sheen the practical choice for most living areas in Perth homes.
Low Sheen vs Matt — Key Differences
| Feature | Matt | Low Sheen |
|---|---|---|
| Sheen level | None — completely flat | Very low — subtle soft glow |
| Hides imperfections | Excellent | Good |
| Washability | Poor — marks easily | Good — wipe clean |
| Best for | Ceilings, low traffic areas | Walls, high traffic areas |
| Durability | Lower | Higher |
When to Use Matt Paint
Ceilings
Matt is the standard choice for ceilings throughout Australia. Ceilings rarely need washing, but they do benefit from a flat finish that absorbs light evenly and hides the texture variations common in plasterboard and older cornice work. A low sheen ceiling would pick up every ridge and imperfection and look patchy in raking light.
Formal Living Rooms and Dining Rooms
If you have walls that are not perfectly smooth and a room that sees light traffic, matt can be a good choice. The flat finish creates a sophisticated, gallery-like look and hides surface variations well. Formal living and dining rooms that are used carefully rather than daily are suitable candidates for matt walls.
Feature Walls
Matt is popular for feature walls in bedrooms and living rooms, particularly in deep or saturated colours. The flat finish adds depth to bold colours and creates a different texture from the surrounding low sheen walls.
When to Use Low Sheen Paint
Hallways and High Traffic Areas
Hallways take more abuse than any other part of a Perth home. Bags dragging along walls, hands touching surfaces, children running through. Low sheen is the only sensible choice for hallways because it can be wiped clean when marks appear.
Children’s Bedrooms and Playrooms
Low sheen is the clear choice for any room where children spend time. Crayon, food, sticky hands and general mess all come off low sheen walls with a damp cloth. The same marks on a matt wall would require spot repainting.
Living Rooms and Bedrooms
For most Perth homeowners, low sheen on living room, family room and bedroom walls is the practical choice. The finish looks great, photographs well for real estate listings and is easy to maintain over the years between repaints.
What About Kitchens and Bathrooms?
Neither matt nor low sheen is the ideal choice for kitchens and bathrooms. These rooms need a more durable, moisture-resistant finish. Satin or semi-gloss is recommended for kitchen walls and bathroom walls where moisture, steam and grease are present.
What Paint Brands Do Perth Painters Use?
- Dulux Wash and Wear — the most popular low sheen interior acrylic in Australia
- Dulux Wash and Wear Plus — upgraded version with better stain resistance
- Solver Walls and Ceilings — quality low sheen acrylic used widely by Perth painters
- Dulux Matt — standard flat finish for ceilings and low traffic areas
- Taubmans Endure — popular low sheen option used in Perth
Advice from Auzz Painting Service
Our standard recommendation for Perth homes is matt on ceilings and low sheen on all walls throughout the house. This gives you the best of both finishes — ceilings look flat and clean while walls can be wiped down when needed. We use Dulux Wash and Wear as our standard interior wall paint across most residential projects.
Call 0474 157 273 or fill in our contact form for a free quote and finish recommendation for your Perth home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Low sheen is the better choice for most interior walls because it is washable and more durable than matt. Matt is best reserved for ceilings and low traffic areas. For hallways, children’s rooms and living areas, low sheen is the practical choice.
Yes. Low sheen paint can be applied directly over existing matt paint provided the surface is clean, sound and properly prepared. No special primer is required in most cases. Your painter will assess the existing surface condition before recommending a preparation approach.
Matt is the standard choice for ceilings throughout Australia. The flat finish absorbs light evenly and hides texture variations and imperfections in plasterboard and cornice work.
Low sheen shows marks slightly more than matt because of its subtle reflective quality. However marks on low sheen walls can be wiped off with a damp cloth. Marks on matt walls are much harder to remove without damaging the paint surface.
We use Dulux Wash and Wear as our standard interior wall paint across most residential projects in Perth. For ceilings we use Dulux Matt. We recommend finishes based on each room’s specific requirements. Call 0474 157 273 to book a free quote.