The highly reflective surfaces in a gloss kitchen spread the light around the space, making the room feel brighter and bigger than it actually is. Even if you choose dark grey gloss, the shiny finish will still reflect the light. The illusion of a larger and airier space can dramatically transform your kitchen, even if it’s fairly small to start with.

A big part of their appeal is their extremely modern look. High gloss kitchens offer a luxurious yet minimal aesthetic, ideal for contemporary homes. Handleless gloss kitchens in particular are very popular for an on-trend appearance. Rather than decorative finishes, smooth, clean lines and a simple shine make for an uncluttered and put-together space.

Since the high-gloss finish is waterproof, you also don’t have to worry about additional sealants and protective treatments. They’re unlikely to stain and incredibly easy to wipe clean with a soft cloth in the event of spillages, which makes them an extremely practical solution for home cooks. Bear in mind that marks do show up more easily on glossy surfaces, which will require regular wiping to keep them looking their best.

A white gloss kitchen is the most common colour choice, and for good reason – shiny white instantly looks modern, clean, and cool. That said, some people find all white to be far too clinical. You can soften the white while still benefitting from the bright shine of the gloss finish with an alternative pale shade such as cream, ivory, or porcelain.

Our high gloss kitchens are available in a variety of colours, making it easy for you to match them with complementary colours for your kitchen walls, floors, and furnishings. Neutral colours are the simplest choice because they help to create a sense of warmth. Soft greys will stop your glossy kitchen from being blindingly bright without going too dark.

On the other hand, an almost-black dark grey like anthracite can make a dramatic difference to a gloss kitchen. Darker reflective surfaces create more of a mirrored effect and make a bolder statement while still keeping that sleek lacquered look. However, if you have a small kitchen, you should avoid darker colours to ensure you get as much light as possible.

The difference between these two finishes is that matt absorbs light, while gloss reflects it. This should be the main factor when deciding which style is most suitable for your kitchen. Do you want to bounce more light around the room, with your cabinets as the main focus? Or do you want to keep things understated, allowing you to emphasise other features?

Another factor is that gloss kitchens often look better in lighter colours, while matt kitchens suit a wider variety of shades. They also give you the opportunity to choose a glossy worktop surface. On the other hand, since they absorb light, dark matt kitchens can feel dull if they aren’t done right. Both styles can mix and match colours for upper and lower cabinets to create contrast.

Gloss and matt kitchens both work best with lots of natural light from windows, rather than showing glaring reflections of artificial lights in the room or feeling shadowy during the day without the lights on. Stick to lighter colours if there isn’t much light in the limited space, and venture into darker shades if there’s more room to do so. Luckily for you, many of our high gloss kitchens are also available in a matt finish, so we’ll have something for you even if you change your mind.