We finish most of our tables with Rubio Monocoat. It’s a fantastic product, and a great finish for a table. One important thing to know about it is that it’s a matte finish. And like, very matte. Most tables have more sheen than ours. But we can also add more sheen if that’s what you’re looking for! With that in mind, let’s talk a little bit about sheen.
Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, ‘sheen’ refers to how shiny or reflective the finish is.
A Matte Finish
So first off, the matte finish of our standard finish is very nice. It’s not very reflective, so you can really see the wood. That said, to some people the wood could look unfinished. Importantly, it is indeed finished! Our tables are all sealed and protected. More on that in a moment, but if you like that more subtle look, then this is perfect. Again, it’s our standard finish and it’s what we do the most often. One more note on protection: it's food safe, but it’s a finish originally designed for flooring, so it will hold up to what you have to throw at it. It’s also a 0 VOC finish that you can spot repair, if any significant damage happens. 0 VOC means that you don’t need masks or a spray booth to work with it - it’s a natural product. So if fixes are needed it can be easily done right in your home (and you can even do it yourself)!
A Satin Finish
Back to sheen. We can also add a coat to turn the matte finish into a satin finish. We use an Osmo product for this. We've been doing so for a long time with lots of success. It makes the table top shine a little more, and it’s a little more reflective. This looks more like a traditional table finish. This is also a great product that’s easy to maintain. Because there’s another layer of finish, it does help the table hold up to a little more. As an added bonus, the increased sheen does hide some minor scuffs that a totally matte finish can show.
It's Your Choice
All in all, sheen is mostly a question of taste. Both the matte and satin finishes are great options for how the table will wear. More matte makes the table a little more subtle, but it stands out by being a little more unique. More satin makes the table pop a little more, but is a more typical finish, so in other ways it might blend in.
