In This Post:
– Difference Between Matte and Gloss Tiles
– Ideal Spaces for Matte and Gloss Tiles
– Pros of Matte Tiles
– Cons of Matte Tiles
– Pros of Gloss Tiles
– Cons of Gloss Tiles
Whether you are constructing a house or renovating it, choosing the right tile for your floor can be really daunting. There are a number of flooring options in the market which makes it all the more difficult to choose the right one for your home. Apart from a variety of tile designs and materials, there are two kinds of tile finish – matte and gloss tiles. Even if you are successful at picking the right tile design for your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, you are then faced with the dilemma of choosing between matte and gloss finish. To help you in the selection process, we have brought a comparison of matte vs. gloss finish.
Without further ado, let’s get started. But first things first: Let us understand the difference between the two.
Difference Between Matte and Gloss Finish
A matte tile offers a more sophisticated, reserved and subtle look to your entire decor, while gloss finish tiles are shiny and have a glaze that reflects light. It is ideal for small spaces as it opens up a room and makes it more spacious. Matte tiles are non-shiny and therefore non slippery as well and are well-suited for senior citizens, crawling babies and toddlers. Matte finish tiles can be placed in larger bathrooms where there is enough natural light streaming in.
If you have insufficient light, gloss tiles have the ability to bounce off the light from its surface creating a bright and welcoming environment in the room. It gives the same effect as that of a mirror in a room. They are also relatively easier to clean and just need a simple wipe down for it to be sparkling clean.
Ideal Spaces for Matte and Gloss Finish
As tiles with gloss finish are easier to clean and maintain, they are top choices for messy areas in the house such as bathroom and kitchen walls. You can also use them for your kitchen backsplash and bathroom shower walls where cooking splatters, food gunk and soapy residues are harder to clean if it is a matte surface. For narrower and cramped up spaces, tight corridors, hallways or entrance areas, tiles with a gloss finish for the walls create an illusion of a bigger space as light bounces back and forth on shiny gloss tiles.
Tiles with gloss finish are also ideal for small bedrooms or guest rooms. The lustre of the tiles not only gives the sense of space, but it adds to the style and glamour of a room. If you are looking to create a lavish master suite, then go for gloss finish walls.
Matte finish tiles are best placed in areas where you want a better grip on the floor. They offer better traction and resistance on the floor. They are commonly used in houses where there are kids and senior citizens as it prevents falls.
If your child has recently started walking, the slippery gloss finish of the tile could cause serious injuries and painful falls or if you have aged parents in the house who have slower movement, a small slip could result in fracture or bone injury. Therefore, it is recommended to go for the matte finish of tiles in flooring. You should also adopt these tips to make an elderly friendly home. If you have playful toddlers, then check out these features to ensure a safe home for kids.
Matte finish is also advised in outdoor areas such as patio and balcony because of its anti-slip nature.
Pros of Matte Tiles
Let us check out some of the pros of having a matte tile finish before you decide which tile is best suited for your home.
Better Grip
One of the major pros of having matte tiles is that it is slip-resistant, making it the perfect safe choice for all homes. Areas with high foot traffic should have matte tiles to provide easier walking ground and less falls and injuries.
Kitchen, bathroom and living rooms should have matte finish tiles as they have most water spillages, high moisture and steam, which makes the surface more slippery. You won’t get the lustre and sheen that glossy tiles bring to a space, but they provide easy grip, which should be your number one priority if you have old parents or small kids at home.
Low-maintenance
Another major benefit of installing tiles with matte finish is that it conceals dried up water droplets or stains better than glossy tiles. This means you don’t always have to wipe down the floor for any small stain. This low-maintenance quality about matte tiles is what makes it a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen flooring, where cooking splatter, spillages and stains are more common than other areas in the house.
Rustic Look
Matte tiles add a rustic touch to the decor; they exude warmth to the overall setup. If you prefer a sophisticated look over a luxurious feel then you should choose matte tiles. Also, some people like the subtle undertones that matte tiles bring to a room. They are perfect for creating a soothing tranquil zone within your home.
Cons of Matte Tiles
There are some downsides of having matte tiles in the house.
Not good for smaller rooms
Matte finish is not suitable for small spaces. So, if you have less square footage or no access to natural light, then placing matte tiles won’t help much. It would, in fact, make the room feel smaller. It is appropriate to place matte tiles in large rooms that receive ample lighting.
Stubborn stains
As mentioned earlier, tiles with matte finish do not require frequent cleaning as they are great at hiding away smudges and stains. But when you clean the surface, the stains become harder to remove as compared to glossy tiles, where one wipe can remove dirt and stains.
Pros of Gloss Tiles
Here are some of the pros of gloss finish tiles that make it a popular choice among homeowners.
Makes the Room Look Bigger
Gloss tiles create the same effect as that of a mirror in a room. Just like a mirror makes the room appear bigger, placing gloss finish tiles bounces off light from the glazed surface, creating the illusion of a bigger and a brighter room. They also balance out the light in rooms where there are light limitations.
Easy to Clean
Glossy surfaces are easier to clean. It is therefore ideal for bathroom and kitchen walls where you can wipe off the food and soapy residues with a single wipe. It is also recommended to place glossy tiles in kitchen backsplashes and in the fireplace or bbq area where you can remove the soot and grime with an easy wipe.
Cons of Gloss Tiles
Here are some major downsides of tiles having gloss finish.
Highlights imperfections
A gloss mirror-like surface shows even the tiniest of smudges and stains. Even fingerprints are not hidden on a glazed floor or wall. Therefore, you need more frequent cleaning for glossy tiles and it requires higher maintenance than matte tiles.
Slippery surface
With the mirror-like glaze, the surface becomes super slippery and is not suitable for senior citizens, kids and pregnant women. You need to be extra careful when walking over glazed tiles.
The sheen could be distracting
In some cases, the shine of the glossy surface would be distracting, especially in the study room where you would want a serene environment to concentrate more on your studies. The glossy surface would hamper your concentration. Moreover, some people prefer a calm environment and just don’t like the shiny nature of the glossy tiles. For such people, matte tiles are a more preferable choice.
If you are in for marble tiles, then check out the different varieties of marble with their current rates. Weigh all your options by looking at these pros and cons of different types of flooring. You can also take a look at our detailed comparison on carpet vs. vinyl flooring before laying out the floor. Lastly, if you are in search of flooring options for your kitchen, then check our detailed piece on best kitchen flooring ideas.
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