Glossy or matte tiles? How glaze changes the feel of your room

One of the most common and crucial choices when selecting tiles is the finish – glossy or matte. The choice of finish determines how the room handles light, and thus how it is perceived. Before choosing tiles, whether based on samples, a picture, or a showroom impression, it is therefore important to understand how the finish affects the light, aesthetics, and feel of your specific project.

In June, during the brightest period of the year when the sun barely sets, our homes change hour by hour. The tile's glaze refracts light differently throughout the day, in the cool glow of the morning, the direct light of midday, and the warm hours of the evening. In other words, it’s a particularly good time to start planning your project.

Glossy Tiles

A glossy finish is created through a glaze that melts into a smooth, dense, and reflective surface when the tile is fired and cooled. During the high temperature, the glaze flows out and solidifies into a glass-like layer on top of the tile's bisque (earthenware). It is this layer that causes light to bounce back and be perceived as gloss. Our handmade tiles undergo two slow firings, which creates an extraordinary depth, a rich gloss, and a vibrant luster.

A glossy surface reflects light and can make a room feel larger. It is a good choice in spaces with limited natural light, where light needs help to bounce and spread. A small north-facing bathroom, for example, with glossy tiles, can feel both brighter and more spacious.

Choosing a glossy glaze is far from just compensating for lack of light; it is a conscious aesthetic choice. Glossy tiles contribute elegance and timelessness, living with the room rather than just existing in it.

When you pass a wall clad in handmade glossy tiles at different times of the day, you never encounter the same expression — the surface shifts in a constant interplay with light — where the morning light gives a cool, clear feeling, while the evening sun makes the same surface deepen and almost glow from within.

In addition to fully clad interiors, glossy tiles also work well where you want to create a focal point, around a fireplace, in a kitchen with an accent wall, or in a shower niche that should feel more like a jewel than just another surface.

In dark colors with a glossy surface, such as our Nero, Racing Green, or Espresso tiles, a sense of depth emerges, enhancing the material against the surrounding room. In lighter shades with the same gloss, like Havre, Latte, or Hikari, the expression becomes airy and almost fluid, where the room reflects itself and constantly changes in its encounter with light.

Matte Tiles

In the world of tiles, a matte surface can mean different things. There are terracotta and ceramic tiles that have achieved their matte surface through glazing and firing, and there are tiles that have never been glazed and therefore have a naturally matte surface from the clay itself.

Glazed tiles get their matte surface because the glaze is formulated so that small crystals form on the tile's bisque as it cools. This typically occurs through the addition of calcium, magnesium, or zinc, which do not fully dissolve in the molten glaze but instead crystallize out. On a microscopic level, these microcrystals create a slightly textured, uneven surface. When light hits the surface, it scatters in many directions instead of reflecting in a single direction, which is what the eye perceives as matte. Our matte tiles are fired slowly and with high-quality glaze, which gives them a satin-matte, deep feel rather than flat.

Matte surfaces absorb light rather than reflecting it. Light stays within the material instead of bouncing back, which softens shadows, dampens contrasts, and makes transitions between different materials more seamless. The result is a calm, earthy expression where the room feels cohesive and balanced.

In rooms with a lot of direct sunlight, south-facing, large windows, or late afternoon sun, matte tiles can act as a visual counterweight. They dampen the intensity of the light and ensure that the room does not change as much throughout the day. Instead of playing with light as glossy tiles do, they allow light to rest within the material, creating a tranquil presence.

Aesthetically, matte tiles suit a variety of interiors, from minimalist and Mid-Century Modern-inspired homes to more rustic environments. They possess an understated materiality, where color and form stand more on their own, without being enhanced by gloss. The material becomes a natural part of the room's architecture, creating an expression that feels tactile, harmonious, and timeless. The matte surface is particularly effective in interiors where natural materials such as wood, stone, lime plaster, and textiles interact in a well-thought-out material palette.

At the same time, matte tiles have a practical advantage that enhances their aesthetic: water spots, fingerprints, and minor imperfections are less visible, making them suitable for kitchens and bathrooms where function and aesthetics need to coexist.

To make your choice, we recommend that you order samples and experience the material in the room and light where it will be, in the morning, midday, and evening. Feel free to combine them with other materials in the room to get a clearer sense of the overall impression.