When you have finally chosen your wood species and color, one often overlooked factor is the gloss of your finish. Will it be high glossy or semi-gloss? Satin, perhaps? Or maybe it will be matte, which is a current trend. While gloss is the shiniest choice, matte reflects the least amount of light. Matte can help hide imperfections and keep your floor looking better longer when compared to their shiny counterparts.
Visual Appeal
The latest flooring trends have been leaning towards rustic and natural appeal. That means that more homeowners are choosing distressed wood options, along with wider plants and yes, matte finishes. Matte can help add to that rustic feel while adding a modern splash since it can look cleaner. Less shiny floors also look more natural and real, since wood is not a naturally shiny substance.
Durability
Durability is usually one of the main factors when choosing a wood floor and rightfully so. The type of wood you select makes the biggest impact on how durable your floor will be. However, by selecting a finish with less gloss such as a satin or matte finish, you can hide damage and imperfections which will inevitably occur over time. While this does not mean your floor is more durable, it can retain its look and feel much longer than glossier finished floors by giving it a camouflage. This makes matte perfect for kids or pets.
Satin
For some, matte finishes are a little too dull, but they still do not want the shine of a gloss or semi-gloss finish. Satin might be the right choice. It is slightly glossier than matte, so it retains some imperfection-hiding power. They make less of a “natural” or “rustic” statement than matte. If you are looking for a solid in-between option, satin might be worth consideration.
Choosing the right flooring can be difficult. You want to maximize the visual appeal and style that you want while also considering the future value of your home. Matte is a hot trend right now that new homeowners are actively seeking out.
Since 2003, Unique Wood Floors has served home and business owners in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Contact our company online or by phone. Now shipping to all 49 States and Canada.