Eggshell paint...tell me it gets less shiny.

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Today I painted a small room a dark blue tone of eggshell paint.

I've seen eggshell in various places, but have only painted with matt emulsion at home (except for woodwork).

I finished painting at 7pm ish, and room remains surprisingly shiny...

I'm telling myself that a) it'll be less shiny when fully dry (and after a second coat) and b) the light will be less intense when I put the lampshade back on, which should make a difference.

Please tell me it'll dull down to a gentle lustre over time, at the moment it's distinctly glossy.

Eggshell is for woodwork. Emulsion is for walls. Use something like a modern emulsion from F&B if you want a harder wearing finish. On walls I don’t understand why you would use eggshell. Emulsion is best: I think eggshell will be a strange shimmery finish. Eggshell isn’t shiny though.

Eggshell isn't meant for walls, is it?

I’ve used eggshell on walls - it’s great for bathrooms and hallways. Yes it will become more matte as it dries. It will always be shinier than emulsion but not hit you in the face shiny.

I am not clear if you are talking about an eggshell colour or actual eggshell paint.

If it's eggshell paint on walls, you could have problems with damp and condensation, because the walls now can't breathe.

If you want a duller finish on woodwork I think the stuff for that job is called matte satin or something similar.

Eggshell paint has a slight sheen on woodwork but it’s clearly for use on woodwork. It has a very “hard”
finish and is very durable on wood. It’s not suitable for walls. An emulsion with a finish for high traffic areas can be used such as a modern emulsion or one designed for bathrooms and kitchens, ie not a chalky finish one. The modern emulsions have a slight sheen but can easily be cleaned.

OP said it's a dark blue tone of eggshell paint

This is reassuring. Thank you.

We tend to use matt throughout the house, but in this room (downstairs loo) we wanted something a little more impactful from a colour perspective, and harder wearing (due to occasional splashes from the basin). I'm not worried about condensation, it's a dry room (as in, low air humidity).

To the posters who say eggshell is not for walls, I researched quite carefully to ensure that it would be suitable in this context, lots of people use eggshell paint on walls.

I am currently experiencing some regret, I hope it's because it's only half done (seconds coat and ceiling touch ups are needed), and it's a much more intense colour than the previous creamy-oatmeal we inherited when we bought the house.

I'd use eggshell in areas where there is steam or water- kitchen ceiling, bathrooms, etc. On plaster walls, only water-based eggshell, though. On wood, you can use spirit based. I think that's where the confusion is occurring.
I don't know about the specific paint you used, but some semi-matt paints can take a day or two to go as matt as they will be long term- more so if spirit based. Spirit-based 'satinwood' takes at least a couple of days to get the surface as it will be.

You can use eggshell on walls if you want a slight sheen. It’s not that unusual.

It’s as shiny as an egg.

I’d let it dry and see what you think. It can look really good.

We used eggshell in our bathroom

I’d be inclined to do the second coat in Matt. I don’t think it’s usual to choose eggshell to get a more intense colour, it’ll be the same colour but a bit shiny. I don’t think it’s a modern look. Except in bathroom or kitchen.

Eggshell is an unusual choice for walls unless you actively want a sheen

Nope. It's going to be have sheen.

Eggshell is for woodwork is our house. It has a sheen like... Eggshell?

In low light rooms I think it can be fine. If let it dry and if you don't love it do next coat in Matt.

kitchen/bathroom Matt is IMO a halfway house between flat Matt and eggshell and it bounces some light with the added bonus of being wipeable.

I was a bit concerned about the sheen issue at first, but actually you get used to it, and when my DS had a really long hot shower in there recently and forgot to put the extractor fan on or open a window 🙄, and there was condensation running down the walls, I was very glad we hadn't gone for a flat matt in there!

Most people use the emulsions designed for steamy rooms on such walls. Or wipeable emulsion called a modern emulsion. This differentiates it from the chalky finish ones. A good make gets a deep colour in the modern emulsions. You don’t need an eggshell for colour. Just choose a good paint with rich pigment.

I have not used an oil based paint for 30 plus years. Always water based as they are better products. Don’t use gloss at all on woodwork. Always eggshell. It’s tough, easy to apply and doesn’t “yellow” plus much more environmentally sound and the brushes clean in water.

These are the traditional uses of eggshell.