Okuzeka
Interior Design vocabulary · Materials & Finishes

Finish

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˈfɪnɪʃ/nounCore term

In interior design, finish means: The final surface of a material, or the material used on a visible surface, such as paint, tiles, wood stain or polished stone; also how that surface looks, for example matt or glossy.

In Turkish: yüzey kaplaması, son kat, yüzey bitişi

How it is used

Very common in the plural: finishes means all the surface materials of a project, on walls, floors and ceilings. Designers select, specify and approve finishes; a finishes schedule lists every finish room by room. People also talk about a matt, satin, brushed or high-gloss finish.

Example sentences

  1. All the finishes need to be approved by Friday so the contractor can order them.

  2. We chose a brushed brass finish for the handles and taps.

Common collocations

  • select finishes
  • finishes schedule
  • matt finish
  • brushed brass finish
  • high-gloss finish
  • sheenHow much light a painted or finished surface reflects, from flat or matt with almost no shine, through eggshell and satin, up to gloss.
  • specificationA detailed written description of the products, materials, finishes and quantities to be used in a project, so that they can be priced, ordered and installed correctly.
  • sample boardA board showing real samples of the materials and finishes chosen for a room, such as flooring, tiles, fabrics, paint and metal finishes, arranged together.
  • veneerA very thin sheet of real wood or stone glued onto a cheaper, more stable board such as MDF or plywood, giving the look of the solid material.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Materials & Finishes

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: