Glossy plastic for furniture
Facades with glossy plastic.
The second material in the review is acrylic plastic. Its hiding power and gloss are greater than those of film. The basis of the facade is MDF or chipboard. It should be remembered that MDF does not absorb moisture as much and is stronger than chipboard. The plastic is glued only to the front surface, and the ends are covered with an edge. Moisture gets in through the joint, and sometimes through the edge itself. It can ruin the product in 2 - 3 years. At the same time, it is unlikely that anything will happen to the plastic itself. It has good resistance to impacts, chips and scratches. The junction of the edge and the plastic looks unsightly, so manufacturers often frame the façade with an aluminum profile.
Pros of plastic:
- does not fade during use;
- high hiding power of the material;
- restored by polishing.
Disadvantages of plastic:
- medium gloss;
- scratches;
- Do not wash with aggressive cleaning agents;
- visible joint;
- limited choice of colors.
Types of glossy furniture for the living room
A standard set of furniture for a glossy living room consists of:
- Wall;
- Closet;
- Dresser;
- Dining table or coffee table;
- Shelf or bookcase;
- Nightstand.
If desired, some elements can be replaced or not placed in the living room at all.
For a simpler and easier choice, there are several types of glossy furniture that are well suited for placement in the living room:
- Modular furniture, which is considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing in appearance, is comfortable and functional to use. A set of furniture of this type consists of separate modules that allow you to assemble furniture of a certain configuration. As a rule, a set of cabinet furniture for a living room with a glossy finish includes: a TV stand, a wardrobe and shelving, open shelves.
- Classic furniture is one of the most practical and standard furniture sets, which consist of bedside tables, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. It is worth noting that such sets of living room furniture have certain standard dimensions and consist of open and closed elements.
- Mini walls in a glossy design are an excellent type of furniture for a small living room. It is worth noting that this type of furniture has quite a spacious place for storing things and all sorts of small things. The set contains a sufficient number of open shelves that can be used to place equipment. This type of furniture is distinguished by its compactness and mobility; if necessary, it can be quickly and easily moved to another room.
- Combined furniture with a glossy surface is an ideal option for a living room of any size. Furniture of this type is available in a very large assortment, both in terms of components and design, colors and sizes.
In what interiors are matte finishes appropriate?
Of course, this is a Scandinavian style: a composition of bleached oak and other light wood with beautiful texture, cracks and signs of wear fits it perfectly. Such furniture looks organically in combination with light Scandinavian motifs.
Shabby, artificially aged cabinets and display cases with a matte finish are a good addition to vintage-style rooms. And exclusive matte furniture imitating bleached wood with handles in the color of old silver will decorate the Provençal interior.
Colonial style combines European comfort and oriental flavor, and matte finishes suit this perfectly. Massive, mahogany-colored, without shine - this is how furniture should be for a living room in a colonial style. Match it with thick curtains, for example, in green tones, arrange exotic items brought from your travels - and you will get a unique interior, full of classic elegance.
What do glossy surfaces go with?
Walls, sideboards, chests of drawers and other custom-made furniture with white glossy facades look good in modern interiors. Such facades are decorative in themselves and do not require additional decoration. In addition, glitter emphasizes the refined shapes of objects, and acts as decoration in the case of simple shapes.
Glitter encourages bold and unexpected decisions in the placement of objects. Place a white table and chairs with the same shiny finish on a shag carpet or wooden floor - it sounds fresh and impressive. Or experiment by combining matte and glossy surfaces in one piece of furniture.
As for living room furniture in gloss black, this is a very bold choice. Dark facades of wood shades in combination with glazing will give the room a special charm, making it more refined and noble. And additional lighting of the cabinets will help create a solemn, even intriguing impression.
Glossy surface quality
The qualitative characteristics of gloss are determined by the following indicators:
- Glossiness is the ratio of light incident on a surface to reflected. The resulting percentage is the gloss level. At 90% reflectance, the surface is classified as high-gloss. The best indicator is considered to be 95-98%, as a result of which the room is filled with light as much as possible and visually expands the space.
- Hiding ability is the ability of a paint coating to hide defects and damage in the form of small scratches and cracks. The higher its degree, the more even the gloss on the surface. For this, manufacturers use various materials.
Matte furniture is a universal option for the living room
Items with matte surfaces, be it walls, cabinets, chests of drawers or coffee tables, create an atmosphere of comfort and coziness. Don't forget that the main room in the house should always look neat, and matte furniture for the living room is a suitable option. Dust and dirt are hardly noticeable on it, and all you need for care is a soft, damp cloth.
Most often, such furniture is made to order. Manufacturing according to design projects allows you to choose the color and type of finish: natural wood, material with imitation wood texture, or a combination of both. It would be nice to complement matte furniture with chrome handles: they look impressive and add a glow.
