Can You Paint Matt Over Silk?
Silk emulsion has a sheen that fresh matt paint struggles to grip so the prep matters more than the paint itself.
Written by Edward Bailey
Updated
The short answer
Yes, you can paint matt emulsion over silk emulsion, but the sheen on silk gives the new paint very little to grip. Wash the surface with sugar soap, sand the shine back with fine sandpaper until it looks dull, wipe off the dust and spot prime any repairs. Then apply two thin coats of matt for an even, flat finish.
Silk emulsion was the standard finish on walls and ceilings for a long time because it wipes clean, but plenty of homeowners now want the softer, flatter look of matt. You can switch to matt without stripping anything back, as long as you deal with the sheen first.
We decorate our own homes, renovation projects and the rentals and Airbnbs we manage, and this guide comes from that experience. Below we explain why fresh matt paint struggles on silk and run through the prep that gets it to stick and dry evenly.
What Is The Difference Between Matt And Silk Paint
Matt paint dries to a flat, non-reflective finish. Because it doesn't bounce light around, it hides small bumps and patched areas in a wall and won't show glare in rooms that get a lot of natural light. Most matt emulsion paints for walls and ceilings sit in this camp, and you get the same flat look from chalk paint for furniture upcycling.
Silk emulsion has a gentle sheen. It's tougher to scuff and easier to wipe down, which is why it was so popular in hallways, kitchens and children's rooms. The catch is that the sheen picks out every lump, dent and filler repair once the light hits it. For rooms with steam and condensation, a dedicated moisture-resistant bathroom paint does a better job than either.
Silk is a wall and ceiling finish, so skirting boards, doors and frames take satinwood or gloss instead. Our full comparison of matt vs silk paint goes into which finish suits each room.
Why Matt Paint Struggles On A Silk Finish
Silk emulsion dries with a smooth, slightly slick surface, and fresh matt paint has very little to key into. Paint straight over it and the new coat sits on top instead of bonding. Sooner or later it peels and flakes, and it goes first wherever the wall gets knocked or wiped.
The sheen causes a second problem. Where the matt coat is thin, the old silk shines through in patches, so the wall looks blotchy when the light catches it from the side. A big colour change makes this worse, as the old colour ghosts through the first coat.
How To Paint Matt Over Silk Step By Step
The prep takes longer than the painting, but it's what stops the new finish lifting. Work through it in this order:
- Wash the walls with sugar soap and warm water to lift grease and grime, then rinse with clean water and let everything dry.
- Fill any holes and cracks with a decent wall filler and sand the repairs flush once they've set.
- Rub the whole surface over with fine sandpaper or a sanding sponge until the shine has gone and the wall looks dull. You're only scuffing the surface, not taking the paint off.
- Wipe away the dust with a damp cloth and give it time to dry.
- Spot prime any filler and stains. Where the silk has marks that bleed through, a stain block paint stops them showing in the new colour.
- Mask the edges, cut in around the ceiling line and corners with a brush, then roll the main areas.
- Apply two thin coats of matt rather than one heavy one, letting the first dry fully before the second.
Choosing Your Matt Colour And Tools
A matt shade close to the existing silk colour covers in fewer coats and gives a more even finish. If you're going from a dark silk to a pale matt, an extra coat or a coat of primer underneath saves you from seeing the old colour through the new one.
A medium pile roller suits matt emulsion on walls, and the right sleeve makes a real difference to how evenly it lays the paint down. Our guide to the best paint rollers covers sleeves for smooth and textured walls, and a good brush from our pick of the best paint brushes gives cleaner lines along the edges.
Once the paint is on, leave it alone. Going back over a section that's started to dry drags the surface and leaves roller marks that show up badly on a flat finish. Keep a wet edge, work one wall at a time and finish each wall before you stop for a break.
Getting A Flat Finish Over Silk
Clean it, sand it dull and spot prime the repairs, and matt goes over silk without any trouble. Skip the sanding and you're back to patchy walls and paint lifting off the slick layer underneath.
The same idea of keying a shiny surface applies to woodwork, and our guide to painting satinwood over gloss runs through that job.
Quick Questions And Answers
Do you have to sand silk paint before painting over it?
Yes, sanding silk paint before painting over it is the step that matters most. A light scuff with fine sandpaper or a sanding sponge takes the sheen off and gives the new matt coat something to key into. You don't need to remove the old paint, just dull the surface evenly, then wipe away the dust before you start painting.
Can you paint silk emulsion over matt?
You can paint silk over matt with far less prep than the other way round, because a matt surface is porous enough for the new coat to grip. Clean the wall, fill any marks and apply two coats. Bear in mind that silk shows every bump and repair in the wall, so sand fillers smooth before you paint.
Do you need primer to paint matt over silk?
A full primer coat isn't needed over silk that's sound, clean and sanded dull. Spot prime any filler, bare plaster and stains so they don't show through the matt finish. A full coat of primer is worth it when you're making a big colour change, such as going from a dark silk to a pale matt.
Why does my matt paint look patchy over silk?
Patchy matt paint over silk comes from the old sheen showing through in places where the new coat is thin or hasn't bonded. Missing areas when sanding, rolling too thinly or overworking paint that has started to dry all cause it. Let the wall dry, sand any shiny patches and apply another even coat.
What's the one mistake people make when painting matt over silk?
Skipping the prep is the mistake that spoils the job. Silk dries smooth and slightly slick, so matt paint applied straight over it sits on top rather than bonding, then peels or shows the old sheen in patches. Wash the wall, sand the shine off and wipe away the dust before the first coat goes on.
Is matt over silk a good idea in a kitchen or bathroom?
In a kitchen it works if the silk has been cleaned and sanded dull first, though silk was popular there because it wipes clean and matt is harder to wash. In a bathroom, steam and condensation are better handled by a dedicated moisture-resistant bathroom paint than by either matt or silk emulsion.
Can I use the same matt paint on the skirting boards and doors?
No, silk and matt emulsion are wall and ceiling finishes, so skirting boards, doors and frames take satinwood or gloss instead. If those surfaces already carry a shiny finish, the same keying idea applies, and our guide to painting satinwood over gloss runs through that job.
Which roller should I use for matt over silk?
A medium pile roller suits matt emulsion on smooth walls, with a brush for cutting in around the ceiling line and corners. Keep a wet edge, work one wall at a time and don't go back over a patch that has started to dry, because that drags the surface and leaves roller marks that show on a flat finish.
Eddie spent five years as a self-employed painter and decorator before going part time to become one of the main writers at DIY Works. From garden fences to mist coats on fresh plaster, painting and decorating is his speciality.