Deciding about matte-finish or glossy-finish flooring can be challenging when renovating your property, as both offer advantages and disadvantages. Matte flooring is raising its popularity due to its easy maintenance, flexibility, and easy-to-match appearance. This is while glossy flooring is still a demanding finish type that is mostly used in places with a contemporary and polished look. In this article, you will read more about each flooring finish type, helping you better decide on the best flooring finish for your property based on your need and interior design.
What is matte flooring?
Matte flooring is one of the flooring’s finishes that has little to no shine. It reflects the natural material of the flooring, and it is mostly used in modern, rustic, and Scandinavian interior designs. Matte flooring finishes can be in flooring types such as wood, laminate, vinyl, and tile. Although this flooring finish is a popular choice among many homeowners, it is important to consider both the positive and negative aspects of matte flooring before deciding on it.
Advantages of matte flooring
Here are the main reasons that made matte flooring become a popular choice in homes and commercial spaces:
- Scratch resistance: One of the most important features of floorings with a matte finish is that they can better hide imperfections like scratches, scuffs, and dents. This is an ideal feature, especially for high-traffic areas and homes with pets and kids.
- More safety: Matte floorings have less shininess and slipperiness, making them safer, especially in places like kitchens, entryways, and bathrooms where slips are a concern.
- Easier maintenance: Dust, dirt, and water stains are less visible on matte finishes, so you do not need to clean the flooring frequently.
- Natural look: Matte finishes reflect the natural look of the flooring material. They highlight the natural texture and grain of wood or stone, adding warmth and depth to your space.
Disadvantages of matte flooring
Although matte flooring has many advantages that some of which have already been mentioned in this article, some points make this flooring finish unsuitable for every situation:
- Low light reflection: Matte surfaces absorb more light and reflect it less, which makes rooms look smaller and dark.
- Less effective appearance: Matte flooring provides a great elegance in many spaces, but it may not offer the luxurious feeling and design that many homeowners want to have in their spaces.
What is glossy flooring?
Glossy flooring, also known as polished flooring, is another flooring finish that adds shine and brightness to any space. This flooring finish is used mostly in hardwood flooring, porcelain tiles, and polished concrete. A glossy flooring finish adds the feeling of luxuriousness and improves the look of the flooring. However, it is also important to know more about its pros and cons before selecting this flooring finish.
Advantages of glossy flooring
Like matte finishes, glossy flooring has its fans as it can enhance a space’s look by creating a modern and sleek appeal to it. Here are some important reasons that make glossy flooring finish a popular choice for many spaces:
- Enhanced light reflection: Unlike matte flooring, glossy finishes reflect natural and artificial light, making a room look spacious and bright. It is a perfect option for small spaces to create a large view in them.
- Luxurious appearance: Glossy flooring finishes create a clean and luxurious look in any space, making it a popular choice in different interior designs, including contemporary designs, luxury homes, or formal living areas.
- Floor design enhancement: Polished (glossy) finishes enhance the visibility of wood grain, stone patterns, and tile textures. This is a great option for those who prefer to highlight detailed materials of the flooring.
Disadvantages of glossy flooring
While glossy floorings have different advantages, making them a favorite flooring finish for many homeowners, it has some points to consider which may affect your decision:
- Showing dirt and stains easily: Glossy floorings can easily reveal dirt, dust, liquid stains, and footprints, so a frequent cleaning and maintenance program would be necessary.
- Slipping when it is wet: One of the points that should be considered carefully is the higher chance of slipping on glossy floorings compared to matte finishes. High gloss floorings can become dangerous in wet conditions, and it increase the risk of falls and slips, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Visible imperfections: Glossy flooring can also easily reveal signs of imperfections like scratches and dents, especially in high-traffic areas.
Matte vs. glossy: Side-by-side comparison
This comparison chart gives a quick overview of the main differences between matte and glossy finishes based on key factors:
| Feature | Matte flooring | Glossy flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Look and feel | Natural and soft | Bright, shiny, and polished |
| Maintenance | Low-maintenance, hides dust and marks | High-maintenance, shows dust, and stains easily |
| Durability | Hides wear and tear | Shows scratches and wear more clearly |
| Safety | Better slip resistance | Can be slippery when wet |
| Lighting effect | Absorbs light, warmer feel | Reflects light, makes spaces feel larger |
| Best for | Modern, rustic, and high-traffic areas | Formal spaces, showrooms, and small or dark rooms |
Popular flooring materials available in matte and glossy finishes
It is possible to achieve both finishes in many flooring types. Here is a list of floorings that are available both in matte and glossy finishes:
- Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles
- Matte finish: Textured, non-slip, great for bathrooms, outdoor areas, and kitchens.
- Glossy finish: Reflective and smooth, ideal for formal dining areas and entryways.
- Hardwood flooring
- Matte finish: More popular in current interior design trends for a natural and timeless look.
- Glossy finish: Offers a deep and rich colour and a polished appearance but is more prone to wear.
- Laminate flooring: Both finishes are available, but matte laminate is often preferred for its specific wood-like texture.
- Vinyl flooring
- Matte vinyl reflects the feel of stone or wood, and it is slip-resistant.
- Glossy vinyl provides a shinier and cleaner look that can brighten darker rooms.
Interior design trends: What is hot in flooring finishes right now?
Based on the interior design and home improvement trends, matte flooring finishes are now more popular than glossy finishes as they can reflect the natural look of the flooring like wood while offering less regular and easier maintenance. The matte floorings are suitable for minimal, cozy, and organic home designs. However, glossy flooring finishes still have their place in interior designs, especially the ones aiming for a polished and luxurious or contemporary look.
To sum up, whether you are looking for a matte or glossy finish for your flooring, it is important to consider different aspects of available products and your needs. If you have kids or pets or you are in a high-traffic space, where it is more prone to scratches and surface damages, matte flooring would be a better option.
Nevertheless, if you prefer to have a more enhanced and shiny flooring look, you can go for the glossy finishes. It is also important to have a consultation with flooring professionals to better decide on the best flooring finish. MA Flooring in Melbourne is a trusted flooring service provider and seller that can help you choose the right flooring product with the best finish for your space.