One of the biggest details when it comes to selecting your hardwood floor is sheen. The sheen on a floor is the luster or gloss level.
Sheen is described to be the factor that determines the amount of light reflecting off the hardwood floor. Deciding whether you want matte vs satin finish hardwood floors is a crucial element of the flooring process because you need to be comfortable with how much your floors absorb and diffuse the light.
You also need to realize that the glossier your floors are, the more they show dirt and imperfections. There are four levels of hardwood floor gloss finish and understanding those is key to picking the right level for your household.
Matte floor finish
If you want a natural look on your hardwood floors, a matte sheen finish is the wood floor gloss finish for you. They are not only great for high-traffic homes with kids and dogs, but they are less maintenance. They also hide imperfections, dirt, and dust. The matte hardwood floor sheen has about 25% luster. Some feel that at this low level, floors can appear dull. Others love that the matte sheen finish gives off a clean vibe.
Satin floor finish
The satin sheen is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. This hardwood floor sheen has about 40% luster and is easy to keep clean. This level of sheen disperses light and doesn’t show all of the imperfections or dirt. People who want a classic or formal feel to their floors without heavy maintenance choose satin. One other aspect of this level of sheen is that the satin floor finish tends to look newer longer than the other higher glosses.
Semi-gloss floor finish
Semi-gloss hardwood floor gloss floors require higher upkeep. While they shine brilliantly, you will also start to see a lot more imperfections with semi-gloss vs satin floor finish. This hardwood floor sheen has about 55% luster. If you prefer a shinier look to your floors, the semi-gloss floor finish is a good option. And it’s not as impractical as the wood floor gloss finish.
Gloss hardwood floors
You won’t see this level of hardwood floor sheen in too many homes. A hardwood floor gloss finish is often used for gym floors and bowling alleys.
It has about 70% luster. These floors need to be cleaned frequently and show every imperfection and all dirt due to the amount of light reflecting off the floor. So, unless you want to see every footprint and clean these every day, steer clear of this wood floor gloss finish.
Conclusion
These four levels of hardwood floor sheen each offer a different feel to your home. Thinking about what’s most functional for your home is the best way to choose which level of sheen is best for you. Next, seeing the sheen in person will help you make your choice.
Make sure that the hardwood floor gloss finish you pick ties in with the aesthetic of your home. For example, if you have a rustic farmhouse vibe in your home, going with matte vs satin finish hardwood floors might pull the look together more. Others who have a more formal feeling in their furniture might go with a satin vs semi-gloss floor finish.
Now that you know about sheen, read about the best polyurethane for hardwood floors. These finishes come in all the different sheens covered in this article.
