Choosing Tiles: Glossy or Matte?

Nadezhda Kuzina tells about the types of ceramic tiles depending on texture and how they differ from each other. She also shares practical tips on how to skillfully mix different textures in one interior.

Nadezhda Kuzina, Interior Designer and Decorator

Glossy

On glossy tiles, especially dark and monochromatic ones, white water stains are most noticeable — it's better not to place such tiles in zones with direct contact with water. However, the gloss visually expands space and increases lighting, making it very suitable for small bathrooms.

Foil or Mirror Finish

Mirror tiles can be considered a type of glossy tiles. They provide a very decorative effect, but it's still better to place such tiles away from the mixer or shower and never touch them with your hands after initial excitement.

There is also tile with natural gold or silver foil — it belongs to the high-end price segment. The capricious surface is protected by a special lacquer — but still, such tiles shouldn't be placed in wet zones or rubbed with a hard sponge. However, touching them with hands is fine.

Matte

Matte tiles come in various types. Some imitate unprocessed stone, concrete, or wood texture: their surface looks rough and even relief-like. Others have a smooth velvet-like surface, which you just want to touch with your hand.

In the second case, the tactile material looks warmer and more friendly. Also, compared to glossy tiles, matte tiles are less prone to abrasive wear. They are great for floors — they're less slippery. The drawbacks: matte tiles often look duller than glossy ones and don't give the impression of perfect cleanliness after cleaning.Lappatized

For those who can't decide which texture is better, there's a semi-glossy option. This is the so-called lappatized surface that resembles half-polished stone — as if the stone had a fine and uniform relief, with upper parts polished and lower parts remaining matte.

As a result, the texture becomes uneven and gives an interesting scattered shimmer. Water splashes on it are not visible — they blend with the matte part.

Combining Different Textures

To mix different textures in one room, follow a few simple rules:

• It's better to combine textures that are as different as possible — that is, matte and glossy — avoiding the use of semi-glossy tiles in such combinations. Otherwise, there is a chance that the eye will simply average out the surface and the difference won't be noticeable.
  
• On one plane, it's preferable to use tiles from the same collection or at least from the same manufacturer. There are many collections where a manufacturer offers both glossy and matte versions of the same design.
  
• Differences in texture are more noticeable on monochrome tiles or tiles with a weakly expressed pattern. The more vivid and contrasting the image on the tile, the more it will distract from the difference in texture.