Finishes in Interior Design

The word ‘finish’ in interior design refers to the surface treatment applied to a material — the final layer
that determines how it looks, feels, reflects light, wears over time and interacts with everything around it.
A material and its finish are two separate decisions. The same stone in a polished finish and a honed
finish are visually and functionally different products.
Most students choose finishes by instinct or by what looks good in a supplier’s showroom. This guide
teaches you to choose finishes deliberately — understanding what each one does to light, to colour, to
durability and to the overall character of the space.