Polished vs Matt Tile: Which Should I Choose?

You may not have thought about the finish of your tiles before your home renovation project, but it’s a crucial part of the process and adds so much to the overall style and overall feel of a space. The choice between polished vs matt tile finishes has a significant impact on the look, safety, and maintenance of your space, so you need to choose the right tile type for your needs.

Both matt tiles and polished tiles offer their own distinct advantages and disadvantages and work better in certain rooms depending on functionality, lighting, and design preferences.

There’s more to consider than most people initially think. So, with that in mind, we thought we’d share our expertise to help you decide on the best option for your home. Join us as we explore the range of matt and polished tiles at Tile Outlet and find out how you can incorporate these beautiful finishes into your home with our help.

What is Tile Finish?

When redesigning or decorating a space, one of the biggest decisions is choosing the right tile finish. The finish you choose can make or break the overall style and functionality of a room. With so many tile finishes available—matt to polished and gloss tiles—understanding the unique characteristics of each is key. The right tile finish can add timeless elegance to a living area, aesthetic appeal to a bathroom, or luxury to a kitchen. In this section, we’ll explore the world of tile finishes, help you weigh the pros and cons of each so you can find the perfect tile for your next project.

Types of Tile Finishes

There are many types of tile finishes, each with its own unique look and feel. Matt tiles, also known as matte finish tiles, have a non-reflective surface that gives a soft, subtle appearance—perfect for creating a calm and modern space. Polished tiles have a highly reflective surface that adds sophistication and brightness to any room. Glossy tiles are similar to polished tiles, with a high gloss that can make small spaces feel more open and airy by bouncing natural light around. Honed tiles, often found in natural stone varieties, have a smooth, velvety texture that’s between matt and polished, adding warmth and elegance without a shiny surface. By understanding the differences between these tile finishes and the production process behind them, you can choose the right tile to match your design and enhance your space.

Room by Room

Choosing the right tiles for specific rooms is key to both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your home. Here’s a quick rundown of what works best for each room:

• Bathrooms. When choosing the finish of your bathroom tiles, consider the size of your space. Ensuite bathrooms are small, so polished tiles can help reflect more light and make small rooms feel larger and brighter. However, polished tiles in wet areas like shower floors can be a safety concern due to their slippery surface. If you’re tiling a large family bathroom, matt tiles offer a great way to hide water stains and are better for high traffic areas as they are more slip resistant and prevent staining.
• Kitchens. In busy kitchens, mess is just part of the deal. Spills and splashes happen, so you need kitchen tiles to be easy to clean and hide smudges and stains. Matt wall tiles are usually the best choice for this; however, opting for polished kitchen floor tiles to contrast this is a good way to still have that sleek reflective surface to make the space feel larger and brighter. For high traffic areas, matt floor tiles are a good choice as they are slip resistant and low maintenance.
• Living spaces. Tiles in living rooms and bedrooms aren’t usually the top choice for walls or flooring, but it doesn’t mean they can’t work! Something softer like a matt wood-effect floor tile for a bedroom is a great choice if you want durable and low maintenance flooring without losing that cosy feeling.
• Hallways and entrances. In these high traffic areas of the home, a combination of both matt and polished tiles is ideal. Polished finishes work well for hallway walls and feature walls, as they help to elongate the space with their reflective look and make the space feel larger and welcoming. Matt floor tiles are suitable for these spaces due to their durability and slip resistant properties.
• Outdoor spaces. Matt tiles are ideal for outdoor spaces because they are slip resistant and durable, making them perfect for high-traffic and safety-sensitive areas exposed to the elements.

Colour and Finish

Tiles come in various colours and tile design options and interestingly, the colour of your chosen tiles will affect their finish. So, if you’re choosing green kitchen tiles, you must think about their colour when deciding between matt and polished. For example, lighter, natural green shades, such as sage and pistachio, look beautiful in a matte finish tiles, which provides a muted matte surface that enhances the natural look. This helps their soft and muted tones stand out, creating a natural overall style in your space. On the other hand, if you prefer jewel-toned greens, opting for a polished finish with a glossy finish and shiny appearance allows their true colours to shine and helps reflect more light, creating an airy feel that makes small or dark rooms appear brighter and more open, reflecting their namesakes, such as emerald. Let’s take a deeper look into this using black and white; you can use these colour and light theories to help you find the best solution for your room, regardless of your preferred hue or finish.

Black matt tiles are modern and understated, providing an industrial look to your home. While they can darken a space, when used correctly, they can be very effective. Black polished tiles, however, are dramatic and provide a contrast between light and dark due to their dark shade but reflective properties. White matt tiles are elegant and give the perfect backdrop to a room, allowing other colours, patterns and textures to take centre stage. However, choosing white polished tiles with a glossy finish and shiny appearance is the best way to help open up a space, reflect light and let light bounce around, creating an airy feel.

Matt Tiles

Matt finish tiles are popular for their non-reflective, textured surface, which gives a natural and understated look. The choice of matt tile or polished tile makes a big difference in a room’s safety and appearance.

• Anti-slip properties. Their textured surface provides better grip, making them perfect for bathroom floors, kitchen floors, and shower floors. Matt floor tiles are good for high traffic areas due to their better slip resistance.
• Conceals imperfections. They are great for hiding smudges and fingerprints compared to polished tiles and therefore require less regular cleaning to maintain a pristine appearance.
• Can make a room feel dark or dingy. As they’re non-reflective, they can sometimes make a room feel dingy if it isn’t already well-lit.
• Stains can be hard to remove. While small smudges can be concealed, matt tiles can sometimes be more prone to absorbing spills and stains as they’re porous.
• Textured surface can trap dirt. The textured surface of matt tiles can trap dirt, making them harder to clean than their polished counterparts.

Matt tiles offer better slip resistance and are good for high traffic areas such as hallways and living rooms. Compared to their polished counterparts and gloss tiles, matte finish tiles are more low-maintenance and better at concealing dirt, while polished tile options provide a reflective, elegant look but require more frequent cleaning. Porcelain tiles are available in both matt and polished finishes, offering versatility for different interior styles. For those who want a smooth, non-reflective surface, a honed finish is another option.

Polished Tiles

Now, here are the advantages and disadvantages of polished tiles:

• Reflects light well. As mentioned, the reflective finish and smooth surface of polished tiles are perfect for helping light reflect around a room, brightening up dark areas and creating the illusion of more space.
• Easy to clean. Wiping polished tiles down is easy to do and removes most dust, spills and stains quickly, thanks to their stain resistance and non porous surface.
• Highlights imperfections. Their high-shine surface sometimes draws attention to scratches, smudges and watermarks.
• Can be slippery. Although gloss is a beautiful finish for flooring and bathroom walls, it can have a slippery surface when wet, so it could be a safety concern if water is left.

Polished tiles have a non-porous surface, making them easy to clean and maintain. Polished porcelain tiles are a popular choice for their durability and high-end look. The polished tiles make a room appear more spacious and luxurious, and their quality makes them a favorite for modern interiors. There is a significant difference between polished vs matt tile finishes in both appearance and maintenance.

For cleaning, use a damp cloth and soft bristles to avoid scratching the surface, and avoid harsh chemicals to preserve the finish.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle plays a big role in choosing the best tile finish for your home. If you have a busy household with kids or pets, matt tiles or honed finishes are a practical choice, as their textured surface hides scratches, smudges and everyday wear. For areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens, matt or textured tile finishes provide better slip resistance, making them safer for wet areas. If you want a low maintenance option, polished or glossy tiles are easier to wipe clean and resist stains, perfect for those who want a pristine look with minimal effort. By considering your daily routines and the specific needs of each room, you can choose a tile finish that not only looks great but also fits your lifestyle.

Choose Matt and Polished Tiles from Tile Outlet

Whether you want the high gloss finish of polished tiles or the subtle look of matt tiles, make sure to choose Tile Outlet for your discount tiles. We have a wide range of options to choose from and if you’re not sure of your finish choice, why not order some FREE samples? We offer three free tile samples that you can then test against your existing fixtures and fittings and see how they look against different lighting in your home.

Get in touch with our team for more information, or browse our website to find the matte and polished tiles you need in your home!