Abstract: A waterborne coating composition including a novel polymer latex and methods of preparing the polymer latex for the waterborne coating composition. The disclosed polymer latex, when incorporated into the waterborne coating composition, reduces gloss, and achieves a matte appearance without the need for and/or with reduced amounts of traditional inorganic matting additives. In one approach, the polymer latex disclosed herein includes latex particles having a core/shell arrangement configured to not only participate in film formation but also impact surface morphology of dried films to produce the low gloss coatings.