Choosing a particular paint is often difficult. When you’ve never tested these materials before, what type of paint and finish should you choose: gloss or velvet?
However, if you have the right information, it’s easy to choose one material and finish over another.
In this article, we explain what velvet paint is and how to choose it.
Special features of velvet paint
Velvet-effect paint (sometimes called ‘semi-matte’ or ‘semi-satin’) falls somewhere between matte and satin. It does, however, have some special qualities. This type of finish gives your walls depth.
Velvet finish paint has a composition that reflects between 5% and 15% of light onto the surface.
It gives a silky, powdery and in some cases slightly dappled finish. This finish is ideal for warm rooms.
Here are its major advantages:
- A graceful look
- Decorate the cosiest rooms in the house by adding depth to the walls
- Pleasant and soft to the eye with its silky finish
- Easy to wash off
- Up to 2,000 shades available, depending on the manufacturer
- High filling and opacifying power
Velvet or gloss paint?
So if you’re asking yourself the question: what finish am I looking for, a velvet finish or a high-gloss finish?
Well, it’s easy to tell the difference, because velvet is more likely to be used in elegant rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms, whereas a gloss finish, which is also tighter and brighter, is more likely to be used in rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages and on exposed woodwork.
In which rooms should velvet paint be used?
Unlike gloss paint, velvet paint is the ideal compromise for those who want a paint that’s close to matt but still easy to maintain.
Velvet paint is not the most resistant to damage (knocks/rubbing/scratches), so it should be avoided in corridors and high-risk rooms such as kitchens.
It is therefore recommended for warm rooms (dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms).
Preparing the surface before applying velvet paint
For new surfaces, especially porous ones such as plasterboard, we recommend that you first apply a coat of primer to fill in the pores so that you can then apply the final paint in a more attractive manner.
Old surfaces should be properly cleaned, filled, degreased and sanded if necessary before application.
Don’t forget, of course, that the surface must be perfectly dry.
To make sure you don’t make any mistakes, here are the preparation steps for applying velvet paint:
- Clean your surface if it is not smooth and clean.
- Sand and fill any visible holes and cracks to obtain as smooth a surface as possible.
- Remove dust with a damp sponge or cloth.
- Apply a primer for new surfaces.
- Allow to dry.
- Apply the velvet paint. (With some material manufacturers, you’ll need to apply a second coat. In this case, the first coat will dry to the touch in ~ 1 hour; you will then need to wait 6 hours to apply the second coat).
Example of application by JH Wall Paints
Airless application
Velvet paint is easy to apply using an airless spray gun.
However, if you want to apply it with a roller, Wagner has a spray gun with a powered roller, called the Inline Roller 100, which allows you to work more quickly than with the traditional method, while still obtaining the specific application texture of the roller.
For all roller applications, we recommend using a 12 mm textured polyamide roller.
Here’s a video about this Wagner airless roller and our full test here.
Hopefully this Airless Discounter blog post will give you the tools you need to select the right velvet finish paint for your painting job.
And if you’re still unsure about the finish you want for your project, check out our guide on how to choose the right paint?
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Questions or queries?
For any further questions or if you would like to get your hands on one of these products seen in this article, you can contact us on +49 (0) 30 220 15436, fill out our contact form or email us. If you wish to purchase one of the products mentioned above, you can check them out in our online store. You can also visit us at our service base during office hours.
