Painting with eggshell on wood: can you do this?

As time goes on, less and less of us are using high-gloss finishes in the home. Instead, these are being replaced for more trendy matt or semi-matt finishes that are aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to touch.

As time goes on, less and less of us are using high-gloss finishes in the home. Instead, these are being replaced for more trendy matt or semi-matt finishes that are aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to touch.

With that in mind, you might be wondering about painting with eggshell on wood – can you do this?

Can you paint with eggshell on wood?

Yes! You can certainly paint with eggshell on wood. In fact, it’s becoming more and more popular, especially for wood furniture, wardrobes and kitchen cabinets.

What are the benefits of painting with eggshell on wood?

Unlike traditional gloss and satin paints, eggshell gives a flat, almost matt look. This comes with a number of benefits:

• Hides imperfections. Eggshell reflects less light than its glossier counterparts, allowing it to successfully hide imperfections

• On-trend. Glossy finishes in the home are becoming dated. Meanwhile, matt finishes are becoming much more fashionable

• Rich colours. Eggshell’s low-sheen finish makes colours look richer and smoother

• Shabby chic. Eggshell is fantastic for breathing new life into old solid wood furniture, creating a sought-after ‘shabby chic’ look – particularly when using heritage colours

• Practical. Eggshell paint is tough and washable. This makes it a practical choice in the home, especially when compared to completely matt emulsion paints

• Versatile. Eggshell is well-suited to all styles of properties

What’s the best type of eggshell paint for wood?

The main choice you’ll have to contend with is whether to buy oil-based or water-based eggshell paint. Oil-based eggshell is recommended for woodwork and metal, while water-based or acrylic eggshell is recommended for woodwork and interior walls. So, when you’re painting wood, you can choose to use either!

Generally speaking, oil-based paints offer a smoother finish, are extremely scratch-resistant, and provide great coverage.

On the other hand, water-based paints tend to dry quicker, are easier to use, and have less of an impact on the environment. Although water-based eggshell paint can leave more visible brushmarks than oil-based, a premium eggshell should create just as high quality a finish. At the end of the day, it’s all about the quality of the paint you choose.

Just make sure that you double-check that the paint you’ve picked out is suitable for what you plan to use it for!

How to paint with eggshell on wood

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to painting with eggshell on wood.

1. Fill. Fill any cracks or holes in your wood with filler and wait for it to dry

2. Sand. Sand down the area you’re painting. Make sure that any areas you’ve filled are smooth and flush with the rest of the surface

3. Prime. If your furniture hasn’t been painted previously, apply a thin coat of oil-based primer. Then, wait for it to dry

4. Paint. You can apply eggshell with a brush, roller or spray. We’d recommend applying two coats for the best results

5. Voila! Time to step back, grab a cup of tea and admire the results (after cleaning up, of course!)

Your eggshell paint might look a bit like satinwood while it’s drying and when it’s fresh. However, after a few weeks, any shininess should fade to give a smooth, low-sheen finish to your furniture. You can learn more about how to paint furniture in our dedicated guide.

For best results, we always recommend hiring a professional painter and decorator.