Method for forming multilayer coating film, and multilayer coating film thereby formed

A method for forming a multilayer coating film, comprising:

• Step (1):
• a step in which a colored coating composition that contains a color pigment is applied onto an object being coated to form a colored coating film layer;
• Step (2):
• a step in which a luster pigment-free top coat composition that contains a hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin (A), a polyisocyanate compound (B), and resin beads (C) is applied onto the colored coating film layer to form a top coat layer;
• and
• Step (3):
• a step in which the colored coating film layer formed in Step (1) and the top coat layer formed in Step (2) are cured by being heated, either separately or simultaneously, wherein
• the average particle size D50 of the resin beads (C) is 20 to 70 μm,
• the dry film thickness of the top coat layer is equal to or less than the average particle diameter D50 of the resin beads (C), and
• the difference between the L*15 value and the L*25 value (L*15−L*25) is 1.0 to 20.0, where the L*15 value indicates lightness, per a CIE LAB color system, based on the spectral reflectivity of reflected light, where the incident light landing at a 45 degree angle relative to the perpendicular line to the surface of the resulting multilayer coating film is measured at a 15 degree angle (incident light direction) relative to the angle of specular reflection, and the L*25 value indicates lightness, per the CIE LAB color system, based on the spectral reflectivity of reflected light, where the incident light landing at a 45 degree angle relative to the perpendicular line to the surface of the resulting multilayer coating film is measured at a 25 degree angle (incident light direction) relative to the angle of specular reflection.