Trend Spotting: Matte is Back (And Looks Better Than Ever)

Recently, matte finishes seem to be showing up on walls, furniture, fixtures, and ceramics all over the house. Often used in combination with metallics and high-gloss glazes to create a striking contrast of sheens, the new mattes are found in moody hues and pretty pastels. See how these flat finishes shine in the rooms that follow.

Above: Canvas Home‘s new fall collection, Salamanca, uses matte glazes in rich gray tones. Their Dauville Collection plays on contrasting finishes by combining creamy bisque exteriors with shiny metallic edges.

Flat black fixtures look super-sophisticated in this bathroom by Studio McGee.

Many designers are juxtaposing mattes with shiny metals to create an eye-catching opposition. The pendant lights above from Croft 1 combine soft pastels with brushed copper.

Matte black is especially popular in the kitchen, where it’s a surprising departure from the shiny white surfaces we’re accustomed to seeing in this room. For her kitchen remodel, Nina Holst of Stylizimo chose matte countertops and black oak cabinetry. Lucky for us, she shared how to DIY her stunning backsplash (spoiler alert: It’s plywood!).

Small doses of matte textures are easy to introduce using accessories, particularly ceramics. A collection of pastel dishes coordinates with an IKEA butcher block counter and flat white cabinets in this kitchen makeover reveal featured on Oh Happy Day.

Flat paint finishes are showing up everywhere. Un-shiny paints are popular in all colors, but darker hues, such as the moody gray above from Refinery 29, show off the texture best.

To coordinate with your matte countertop, you’ll need a matte backsplash. The Equipe tile backsplash above is paired with contrasting white grout, but dark grout can also be used for a monochrome effect.

The flat paint trend isn’t reserved just for walls—brush a coat of charcoal paint on an old piece of furniture to give it a fresh look, while also hiding nicks and scratches. The beautiful armoire above is from vtwonen.

Ready to jump on the trend? Check out our favorite matte black kitchen accessories.