High gloss or matt acrylic: which finish for your shutters?
Choose high gloss acrylic when you want shutters with a mirror-like shine that picks up the room. Choose matt acrylic when you want a low-sheen surface in softer colours. Both come as 8 × 4 ft sheets for kitchens, wardrobes and wall panelling.
The two finishes
High gloss acrylic is about 1.3 mm thick, in 2440 × 1220 mm (8 × 4 ft) sheets. The range covers solid colours, marble-look and wood-look designs, plus metallic self-adhesive and textured metallic options. For counters and desks, see acrylic solid surface.
Matt acrylic is about 1.3 to 1.5 mm thick, in the same 8 × 4 ft sheet. Its colours run from whites and warm neutrals to greys, deep teals and a few bold shades.
The colour and texture range
- Gloss solids. Whites, greys and warm neutrals, with deep and bold colours for one unit you want to stand out.
- Gloss marble and wood looks. Veined and grained designs under a mirror-like surface.
- Metallics. Silver, gold, rose gold, rose copper and grey, in self-adhesive and textured versions.
- Matt textures. Beside plain matt, the matt range includes linen, fluted, stone and metallic matt finishes, which add a surface you can feel.
Where each one suits
Gloss suits compact kitchens and wardrobes that benefit from reflected light, and retail or hospitality joinery that wants a polished look: bar fronts, display units, room dividers and feature walls. Matt suits open kitchens that sit inside a living room, and bedrooms where you want less shine. Many projects pair the two: gloss on upper shutters, matt below.
- Kitchens. Shutters, tall units and wall panels between cabinets.
- Wardrobes and bedrooms. Shutters, headboard walls and dressers.
- Living rooms. TV units, display cabinets and wall panelling.
- Retail and hospitality. Counters, bar fronts and feature walls.
Acrylic sheet or solid surface?
Acrylic sheets are thin facings, about 1.3 mm, that dress a shutter, a panel or a wall. Acrylic solid surface is a different material: a 6 or 12 mm sheet of acrylic and mineral filler that forms the counter, vanity or desk itself. In a kitchen the two often meet, with acrylic shutters below a solid surface counter. Choose them together so the colours sit well side by side.
Choosing a colour
Look at the sheet under the light it will live in. Gloss shows reflections and the room around it; matt shows the colour itself. Bring your counter, tile or flooring sample and compare them at the showroom.
Questions people ask
What size are the acrylic sheets?
Both high gloss and matt acrylic come in 2440 × 1220 mm (8 × 4 ft) sheets. High gloss is about 1.3 mm thick; matt is about 1.3 to 1.5 mm.
Are there wood-look or marble-look high gloss sheets?
Yes. The high gloss range includes solid colours, marble-look and wood-look designs, and metallic options.
What is the difference between high gloss and matt acrylic?
High gloss reflects light and the room around it. Matt has a low sheen and shows the colour itself. Both come in the same 8 × 4 ft sheet.
Do acrylic sheets come in metallic finishes?
Yes. Silver, gold, rose gold, rose copper and grey, in self-adhesive and textured versions, plus a metallic matt finish.
Where are high gloss acrylic sheets used?
Kitchen shutters, wardrobes, TV and display units, wall panelling, and retail and hospitality joinery such as bar fronts.