Which Suspended Ceilings to Choose: Glossy or Matte?

Each type of suspended ceiling is good in its own way. But to make the right choice, you need to understand the differences between these types.

Photo 1 - White glossy suspended ceiling in the kitchen

Which are the best suspended ceilings: glossy or matte?

Material of manufacture

Visual appearance and use of ceilings in interior design

• The surface of glossy ceilings is smooth, shiny, with mirror reflections, which causes the surface of such a ceiling to reflect light and interior items.

Gloss is better suited for bold room decor. Such a ceiling expands space, making it brighter and more vibrant. In rooms with high ceilings, using glossy fabric can achieve the effect of a second floor.

In addition to a wide color palette, any photo image can be applied to the glamorous gloss.

• Matte suspended ceilings visually look smooth but are rough to the touch. These ceilings do not reflect light and interior items.

Matte suspended ceilings, unlike glossy ones, symbolize classic style in any interior. Visually they are somewhat similar to high-quality whitewash and have no glare. Although such a ceiling may seem quite traditional, it is noble in its own way. Installation of matte ceilings eliminates the need for plastering and painting the ceiling. All you need to do is choose the surface color.

Photo 2 - Black glossy suspended ceiling. Rare case when a black ceiling harmonizes well in the interior of a residential apartment

Despite their texture, printed images on such a ceiling will not look dull.

SPECIALIST ADVICE: Matte ceilings are better suited for large spacious rooms with proper rectangular shape to complement architectural details like cornices, antiques, columns, etc.

Photo 3 - Glossy suspended ceilings with photo printing

Installation features

Almost the first thing to consider when choosing ceiling type is not the fabric design but the room dimensions. Depending on installation specifics, ceilings are also divided into seamed and seamless.

Seamless ceilings consist of a single fabric stretched across the entire ceiling area. These ceilings look smoother.

However, fabric up to 5 meters wide, capable of covering a room without a seam, is only possible with matte ceilings.

Glossy ceilings are narrower - the width of such a ceiling is only 1.5 to 3 meters.

IMPORTANT! Fabric mounted with a seam is not defective. The manufacturer of suspended ceiling materials guarantees the integrity of the seam for up to 10 years. A seam is essentially a mounting method, not a 'death sentence' for the ceiling surface.

Both matte and glossy ceilings, when installed as one-level constructions, are mounted in less than 4 hours.

Photo 4 - Glossy suspended ceilings in a bedroom

Temperature conditions

Resistance of ceilings to moisture, fire and high temperatures

The material from which both types of ceiling panels are made tolerates moisture well - matte and glossy suspended ceilings can be installed in bathrooms, pools. Such a ceiling will not be covered with mold.

Neither glossy nor matte ceilings burn. However, under the influence of high temperatures, they may melt.

They freely withstand a weight of 100 liters of water, stretching but not tearing. After such 'stretching', the fabric can be restored to its original elasticity and shape.

Photo 5 - Instead of restrained and largely neutral beige or white suspended ceilings, you can select colored ones to highlight a color accent in the interior

Price policy nuances

Matte ceilings are not cheap, but compared to glossy ones, they look more price-appropriate.

However, this rule does not apply to seamless ceilings: any type of seamless suspended ceiling will cost more than regular ones.

Maintenance

Care for matte, as well as glossy suspended ceilings, is quite simple: occasionally the fabric needs to be wiped with a soft sponge dampened in water.

How and what to clean glossy suspended ceilings: the fabric can be wiped off dust with a damp sponge or cloth. For more serious contamination, you can use regular liquid cleaning agents without aggressive and abrasive components (powder granules, acids, alcohol). Also for wiping glossy suspended ceilings you can use window cleaning products, also not containing alcohol.

Both types do not allow dust to pass through and have excellent sound insulation.

The 'shelf life' of a suspended ceiling is no less than 25 years.

Photo 6 - One-color ceilings can easily be enhanced with a bright print. A fabric with a pattern, of course, will cost slightly more

Choosing satin suspended ceilings or glossy ones is your choice. Most buyers will naturally focus on the coating design. But now you know how to choose what you need wisely.

Final thoughts about manufacturers

Manufacturers of glossy ceilings, whose products (relying on customer reviews and professionals working with suspended ceilings) can be trusted with your investment:

• Alkor Draka (Netherlands);
• Polyplast (Belgium);
• Renolit (Germany);
• Barisol (France);
• Lackfolie (Germany);

Satin ceilings are produced by the company Mattfolie (Germany) (photo below). The difference between satin and textile ceilings is that the former lacks a clear knitted texture, with a perfectly smooth and flat surface. Their difference from gloss is in the absence of characteristic mirror shine. Light falls softly on such ceilings, and they do not produce glare.

Photo 7 - Beige satin ceiling from company Mattfolie (Germany) in combination with glossy surface in the living room interior

$ Glossy suspended ceilings: price question

The cost of suspended ceilings from the mentioned brands is as follows:

• Alkor Draka (Netherlands) ceilings up to 5 m² cost $8.1/m², for orders of 100 m² and more - $5/m²;
• Polyplast (Belgium) ceilings up to 15 m² cost $7.2/m², for orders of 60 m² and more - $4.8/m²;
• Renolit (Germany) - from $15/m²;
• Barrisol (France) - from $34/m²;
• Lackfolie (Germany) - from $17/m² (for work area up to 15 m²);
• Mattefolie (Germany) - from $12.5/m².