Matt Finishes on Trend
Matt surfaces continue to grow in popularity and they can be seen everywhere from nail polish to car wraps, cabinet handles, countertops, appliances, and, of course, cabinetry in living and working areas.
15/08/2022
Matt surfaces continue to grow in
popularity. They can be seen everywhere from
nail polish to car wraps, cabinet handles,
countertops, appliances, and, of course,
cabinetry in living and working areas.
“This
increase towards matt finishes
can be linked to how society views design
as a method of
identifying and unifying,” says Jason Wells,
Brand and Marketing Manager at PG Bison,
manufacturer of decorative wood-based products.
“We know that trends are a representation of
what is happening in our
lives and in society as a whole, using emerging
technologies as a means to express where we are. Matt
speaks to where we are now.
A world of touch
screens and other interactive surfaces has
driven the development in technologies to
improve those interactions, making matt more
readily available. Today's lifestyle is always
on the go and for this reason, we are constantly
looking for ways to
regain a sense of societal harmony and balance. That speaks to
calm, subdued living and working spaces,
assisted by the low reflective properties of
matt.
“More homeowners are wanting to
incorporate the sophisticated
appeal for the matt look,” says Wells. “Matt finishes are not
that new, but the technology behind matt
surfaces has seen recent developments to improve
performance characteristics.
Previously,
attempts at creating a matt finish often
resulted in a chalky or dull finish (like a
blackboard). In some contexts, this detracted
from the envisioned design. However, advances in
technology have meant that the matt-look now
available is more consistent and sophisticated.
These developments have also assisted in
producing more durable surfaces, so that marks
are less of an issue.
Matt textures in the
home
Beyond product developments, there is a
trend towards embracing matt for its
experiential attributes. “Designers and
homeowners like the fact that matt surfaces can disguise defects
with their non-reflective finish, which is the
opposite with high-gloss finishes,” says Wells. “They tend to scatter
light randomly, reducing reflections to
negligible levels. This means they’re easier on
our senses and experienced as calming. They are
therefore ideal for creating calm in living and
working spaces. Soft matt surfaces also provide
a counterpoint to the glare from the many
digital devices we tend to be surrounded with in
our daily lives, and they echo many natural,
untouched materials, which human beings tend to
find soothing.”
Wells says that matt products
are versatile in that they can be used to
introduce much darker colours effectively either
as a base or as an accent feature. “Designers
are opting for deep hues of grey and
charcoal colours in matt finishes and are
complimenting this look with a stone- or wood-grain finish,” he
says. “Whereas kitchen were traditionally designed in
lighter colour, we are now seeing darker hues
appear more often. While high-gloss kitchens are
still very popular, we’re seeing more matt in
kitchens too. This was evident in the recent
Decorex shows, with many of the kitchens on
display including MelaWood SupaMatt.”
Matt
cabinetry
PG Bison, a proudly South African
company, is one that aims to inspire and enable
beautiful living spaces. The company prides
itself on identifying global trends and
localising them for the markets it serves. The
company has created products for the South
African market that make the global matt
cupboard trend easy to implement locally.
PG
Bison offers a premium product called MelaWood
SupaMatt and this can be installed to add elegance
and sophistication to any
room. The silky-smooth finish is
available in 9 plain colours and
2 stone-look finishes,”
says Wells. “The matt finish is a low reflective
surface, that creates a luxurious ultra-matt
experience.”
Justin says that one of the most
commonly asked questions about matt cabinets is
whether they are more likely to show
fingerprints than textured surfaces. “In the PG Bison
MelaWood SupaMatt range,
the range incorporates the latest innovation that produces
micro-structures on the surface that is
specifically designed to
minimise fingerprints. These surfaces reduce the visibility of
fingerprint smudges and, as long as your hands
aren’t greasy, fingerprints are almost
impossible to see.”
Cleaning matt cupboards
For daily cleaning of
matt cupboards, Wells suggests wiping down
Melawood SupaMatt with a clean, well-rung out,
damp, lint-free, soft cloth regularly. To remove
grime, add a mild soap and water solution.
Cleaning of stubborn grease marks can be dealt
with using a soft, lint-free swlightly damp
cloth and
1:1 solution of window cleaner and water. Use
soft paper towel to remove drying marks. Avoid
wetting the surface too much and ensure that any moisture
is cleaned up immediately to prevent it from penetrating any
unprotected or exposed edges.
When
cleaning any matt finishes it is imperative that
you not use abrasive cleaners, particular those such as scouring pads,
scrubbing brushes, steel wool, powder or liquid cleaners
or bleaches, or any other type of abrasive
cleaner. Steam cleaners and solvents will
also damage the finish.