Sherwin-Williams Cashmere Paint: Flat Vs. Low Lustre

Choosing the right paint sheen is an important but underrated part of interior design. The amount of gloss in paint can make quite a difference in a room’s appearance. But what is the difference between flat and low lustre when it comes to Sherwin-Williams cashmere paint?

Flat sheen paint is easy to apply, ideal for low-traffic areas, and can easily hide imperfections in the wall underneath. In contrast, low lustre paint is best for high-traffic areas, and it’s resistant to moisture and stains. Although it costs more than flat paint, it’s more durable, easier to clean, and adds depth to the room.

Flat sheen paint is ideal for hiding surface imperfections on a wall or the ceiling. Since it doesn’t reflect much light, it can visually smooth walls that are rough or dented. It’s simple to apply, with the most forgiving finish compared to other sheen options.

Flat paint provides velvety, saturated color and is generally considered to have the best color payout. It’s also more affordable than other options.

For a classic feel, flat paint is the ideal choice. It’s great for accent walls, ceilings, and low-traffic areas that don’t need frequent cleaning.

A huge drawback of flat sheen paint is that it’s not very durable. In fact, it’s the most delicate type of paint sheen. Flat paint will show fingerprints, scuffs, and other marks.

This type of paint is very difficult to clean, as scrubbing removes paint. Since flat paint is porous, dirt can actually get trapped and cause burnishing as a result of attempted cleaning. Rather than scrubbing, it’s necessary to paint over any unsightly marks.

Finally, flat sheen paint doesn’t offer protection and isn’t moisture resistant. It’s not recommended for high-traffic areas or rooms where messes are common, like the kitchen or children’s bedrooms.

Low lustre sheen paint is often considered the best compromise between strength and pigment. It’s longer-lasting than flat sheen paint, and it’s better suited for high-traffic areas. Low lustre sheen paint provides protection and is moisture- and stain-resistant.

One great advantage of low lustre paint is that it’s easier to keep clean. It can be scrubbed without burnishing, and you don’t have to paint over any marks. Low lustre paint also provides depth, adding to the design scheme of the room.

Low lustre sheen paint is recommended for use in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, and kitchens.

Overall, flat sheen paint is less expensive than low lustre sheen paint. The estimated cost to paint a 10×12 room with flat paint is between $190 and $390. Keep in mind that this includes the cost of paint, tools, and hiring professional painters.

The estimated cost to paint the same 10×12 room with low lustre paint ranges from $250 to $470. Again, this includes paint, tools, and professional painters.

Sherwin-Williams Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex comes with a list price of $60.49 for a gallon of flat sheen paint. The price increases to $62.49 for a gallon of low lustre sheen paint.

Whether you’ve chosen flat or low lustre sheen paint, you’ll need to prepare your walls using the same method. First, it’s necessary to take everything off the walls and move furniture out of the way. The next step is to thoroughly wash the walls to remove all grease, grime, and dirt.

For both flat and low lustre sheen paint, any loose paint on the walls should be sanded or scraped off. Any holes will need to be patched so that the surface is as smooth as possible. Finally, if you want your paint job to be long-lasting, you’ll need to apply a coat of primer.

Flat sheen paint is typically much easier to apply than low lustre sheen paint. For flat paint, you can paint efficiently by using a roller in a zig-zag motion. Then you can go back and fill in any gaps with a smaller roller or a brush. Repeat for your desired number of coats, and you’re done.

But with low lustre sheen paint, you’ll need to make sure that you maintain a leading edge of wet paint. If you apply wet paint on top of a dry edge, the sheen will be uneven. Because of this, it’s often ideal to hire a professional to apply your low lustre sheen paint.

A good technique is to load the roller and apply paint from top to bottom in a strip that is the width of the roller. Next, reload the roller and apply the next strip, making sure to slightly overlap the previous one. By doing this, you’ll always have a wet edge to continue painting.

Flat sheen paint has no shine and hides surface imperfections. Meanwhile, low lustre sheen paint has a subtle sheen and does not camouflage imperfections.

These two types of paint finishes are suited to different areas of your home. For example, flat paint is best for low-traffic areas that rarely need cleaning. However, low lustre paint can be used in more high-traffic areas.

It’s important to note that low lustre paint is not ideal for rooms that receive a lot of natural light. Unfortunately, its reflective nature will make any roughness or dents in the wall stand out.

Related Questions

Is low lustre the same as satin?

Low lustre sheen paint is slightly different from satin sheen paint. For instance, low lustre paint is slightly reflective and has a smooth sheen. Meanwhile, satin paint has more of a subtle shine and is glossier than low lustre paint.

Is Sherwin-Williams cashmere paint washable?

Sherwin-Williams Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex can be scrubbed for easy cleaning and maintenance.

What finish is Sherwin-Williams cashmere paint?

Sherwin-Williams Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex comes with five sheen options. You can choose between Flat, Low Lustre, Eg-Shel, Pearl, and Medium Lustre.

To conclude, it’s difficult to say that one type of sheen is better than the other. Each is suited for different areas of the house, and both come with their own advantages and drawbacks.

Flat sheen paint is best for ceilings, accent walls, and low-traffic areas. Meanwhile, low lustre paint is better in high-traffic areas because it won’t sustain damage from wiping or scrubbing. When deciding between flat and low lustre, select the sheen that best aligns with the area you’re planning to paint.