Combining matte and glossy paint: adding depth to your interior

A matte wall next to a glossy door. A cabinet that catches the light in a quiet room. Or the same color on walls and woodwork, but with a different finish each time. By combining matte and glossy paint, you add depth to your interior.

You don't need to add extra colors or repaint the entire room to achieve this. Even a small difference in sheen can make a big impact. It helps to emphasize details and brings variety to an interior that might otherwise feel a bit flat.

How do you go about this? We give you some practical ideas.

What is the difference between matte and glossy paint?

The sheen level determines how a painted surface reflects light. Matte paint produces few distinct reflections and looks calm. Glossy paint allows light to bounce back more strongly, giving a surface more attention.

Satin or silk sheen sits in between. This finish provides a soft glow and is a good choice if you want to keep the difference with a matte wall subtle.

The finish also influences how you perceive a color. The same shade can look different on a matte wall than on a lacquered door. Furthermore, that difference changes with the light and the angle from which you view it.

Want to compare the finishes first? Then read our blog about matte, satin, and high gloss.

Why combine matte and gloss?

By alternating sheen levels, you can determine which parts of a room stand out. A matte base keeps the large surfaces calm. With a glossier surface, you place the accent on a door, a cabinet, or a beautiful frame.

This also works when you prefer to paint with few colors. The difference in finish provides enough variety to make a room interesting.

Start with the elements you want to emphasize. Does your home have beautiful panel doors? Is there a cabinet that deserves a little more attention? Use gloss in a place where it adds something to the decor.

Custom color

1. Combine matte walls with satin doors

Matte walls with satin woodwork form an accessible starting point. The walls give the room a calm background, while doors and frames stand out softly.

For suitable interior walls, you can work with Muur Mat. For doors and other prepared woodwork, Lak Hydro Satin is an option. This water-based lacquer has a satin finish.

Choose related colors if you want to keep the transition calm. Think, for example, of a warm beige wall with woodwork in a soft white shade. If you want more contrast, you can give the door a deeper color.

Let the same finish return on multiple doors or frames. That repetition creates cohesion.

2. Use the same color in different sheen levels

Do you want to paint walls, doors, and baseboards in the same color scheme? With different sheen levels, you can still keep the components visible.

The matte wall forms the background. A door with more gloss catches the light differently, making the shape and panels stand out better; the contrast remains primarily in the finish.

This is interesting if you love an interior with few color interruptions. You can apply it with light shades, but also with green, blue, or brown.

Just check if your chosen color is available in the different paint products. Then, make a test patch of both finishes. A color name does not mean the color looks exactly the same on every surface.

3. Let a glossy piece of furniture stand out against a matte wall

A cabinet or dresser is a nice place to experiment with more gloss. Against a matte wall, the piece of furniture gets extra attention, especially when you also use a different color.

For example, you could start with a light, warm wall and a cabinet in a deep red or green shade. The wall keeps the whole calm; the furniture becomes the accent.

Also look at the other materials in the room. Do you already have a lot of glass, polished stone, or shiny metal? Then satin sheen may be enough. In an interior with lots of wood and soft textiles, high gloss can provide more effect.

Choose a suitable lacquer or varnish system for the piece of furniture. The substrate and daily use determine which preparation and finish are required.

Custom colour

4. Combine lime paint with smooth lacquered woodwork

Besides gloss, you can also play with texture. The matte color nuances of Kalkverf come across differently than a smoothly lacquered door or cabinet.

By using these two side by side, the room gains variety in color movement and light reflection. Think of a bedroom with lime paint on the walls and a satin-finish wardrobe. Or a living space with a decorative wall next to a smoothly lacquered door.

Keep the color palette simple if the lime paint already has a distinct pattern. A related color on the woodwork allows the different finishes to work together nicely.

The glossy finish does not have to be applied to the lime paint itself. By using them on separate surfaces, each material retains its own appearance.

5. Create wainscoting or a pattern with gloss difference

You can also work with different finishes on one wall. Think of painted wainscoting or wide stripes in the same color, where matte and a glossier effect alternate.

This creates a pattern that becomes more or less visible depending on the light. That can be interesting in an entrance hall, dining area, or behind a bed.

For this, choose products suitable for the wall and for layering over each other. A lacquer for woodwork is not automatically the right choice for a wall pattern.

Make a test patch first and let the base layer harden sufficiently before masking. Use tape suitable for the surface. On a rough or highly textured wall, straight lines are harder to create.

How do you keep the combination calm?

You don't have to give every surface a different sheen level. Start with two finishes: a calm base and a glossier accent.

A practical distribution is:

• Matte paint on the largest wall surfaces.
• Satin or gloss on a few clearly chosen elements.
• Repeat the same finish on similar components, such as doors and baseboards.

This is a starting point, not a fixed rule. A glossy cabinet can be enough to give a room more depth. View the whole before adding another accent.

Look at the light in your room

Gloss only becomes truly visible when light falls on it. A door opposite a window can therefore stand out much more strongly than the same door in a dark corner.

View your chosen combination during the day and with the lamps on. Also, pay attention to what the glossy surface reflects. A light source can appear distinctly in the finish.

Assess test patches upright and in the location where you want to paint. A sample flat on a table receives different light than a wall or cabinet door.

Good preparation makes the difference

With a glossy finish, scratches, dents, and other imperfections can be more apparent. Therefore, pay sufficient attention to the preparation.

Clean and degrease the surface, repair damages, and sand where necessary. Remove the dust and use the primer that matches the substrate and finish.

The choice of brush or roller also influences the end result. Follow the product information for tools, layer build-up, and drying time. Touch-dry does not mean the paint is already fully load-bearing.

Frequently asked questions about combining matte and gloss

Discover which combination fits your interior

Start with one spot: a door, a cabinet, or the woodwork around a window. Compare the color and gloss with the wall next to it and view the combination at different times of the day.

Are you unsure about the right finish? Come visit our Paintfactory store. We will help you align color, gloss, and product choice. For a cohesive color plan, you can also consult our color advisors.