Gloss, matt or sparkle: choosing the right finish

Colour gets all the attention, but finish is what decides how a surface feels in a room. The same tone in gloss, matt and sparkle can read as three different materials.

Gloss: light and depth

High-gloss surfaces bounce light and create a sense of space — ideal for smaller or darker rooms that need lifting. The trade-off is that they show fingerprints and demand a little more wiping in busy kitchens.

Matt: calm and forgiving

Matt finishes absorb light for a soft, contemporary calm, and they hide smudges far better. In bright rooms with lots of glazing, matt can be the more comfortable choice.

Sparkle: for a highlight

A sparkle finish adds fine metallic flecks that catch the light. Used across a whole kitchen it can be a lot; used on an island or a single accent run, it's a considered highlight.

Pick the finish for the light in the room, not the swatch in your hand.

A simple rule

Small or dim room, and you want lift — lean gloss. Bright room, or a busy family kitchen — lean matt. Want one element to stand out — sparkle, in one place only. Order samples and judge them where they'll actually live.