Know your finishes

The same decor can look and feel completely different depending on its surface finish. As a quick guide:

• Gloss — a smooth, reflective surface that bounces light around and makes small spaces feel bigger. Shows fingerprints more than textured finishes, but wipes clean in seconds.
• Matte — flat, soft and contemporary, with no glare and good resistance to fingerprints. The safe choice if you’re unsure.
• Wood grain — textured surfaces that follow the printed grain, so panels look and feel like timber without the weight, upkeep or cost.
• Stone effect — the look of concrete, slate or marble on a board a fraction of the weight — popular for worktops and splash areas.
• Metal effect — brushed and aged metallic looks that add an industrial edge without sheet metal.

All finishes are high-pressure laminate (HPL): tough, wipe-clean and made for hard use. If you’re deciding between two, order samples — they’re delivered free, and colours on screen are never quite colours in hand.