Choosing the Right Finish: Matte, Glossy, or Mixed Surface for Your Epoxy Wood Table

May 28, 2025

In the world of custom epoxy tables, where craftsmanship meets creativity, every detail matters and the final surface finish is no exception. Whether you're choosing a live edge dining table, a modern epoxy river table, or a handcrafted wood and epoxy coffee table, the choice between matte, glossy, and hybrid finishes will influence not just the look of your furniture, but also how it functions in your home.

Each finish creates a different aesthetic experience, affects maintenance needs, and transforms how the table interacts with light, space, and touch. Let's take a closer look at the unique characteristics, pros, and best applications of each finish type.

 

1. Full Matte Finish: Understated Sophistica

Seawavetable-Custom-Full-Matte-Epoxy-Wood-Table

Visual Feel:

A non-reflective, smooth surface that diffuses light instead of reflecting it. The epoxy has a soft, frosted look, while the wood retains its natural grain and earthy tones.

Why Choose Matte?

Organic Appeal: A matte finish emphasizes the raw, organic beauty of the live edge wood, perfect for rustic, farmhouse, or Scandinavian interiors.

Low Maintenance: It's highly resistant to fingerprints, smudges, and minor surface scratches making it ideal for dining tables, office desks, or high-use workspaces.

Natural Texture: Many clients love the tactile feel of matte finishes. It's warm to the touch, almost like raw wood, and feels handcrafted.

Best Paired With:

Lighter-toned or textured woods like olive wood or golden camphor. Also suits earthy epoxy tones such as forest green or smoky grey.

Ideal For:

Rustic homes, nature-inspired spaces, creative studios, everyday family dining use.

 

2. Full Glossy Finish: High-Impact Brilliance

Seawavetable-Custom handmade conference table with green resin and camphor wood

Visual Feel:

A highly reflective, glass-like finish that makes the epoxy appear as deep and clear as still water. The wood gleams, highlighting its grain and character.

Why Choose Glossy?

Maximum Clarity: Perfect for epoxy river tables where you want the epoxy to look like flowing water especially popular in blue, turquoise, or ocean-themed designs.

Enhanced Color Depth: Gloss makes both wood and epoxy colors more vivid. If you're using black walnut or deep-toned wood, a glossy finish will intensify its richness.

High-End Look: A full-gloss finish adds sophistication and luxury, often associated with showroom or designer-quality furniture.

Best Paired With:

Dark wood species like walnut or black walnut; translucent resins in ocean blue, emerald green, or sapphire.

Ideal For:

Luxury interiors, contemporary homes, showpieces for lobbies or dining rooms.

 

3. Hybrid Finish: Glossy Epoxy, Matte Wood

Seawavetable-Custom black walnut live edge dining table with black epoxy river

Visual Feel:

A compelling contrast the epoxy river shines with crystal clarity, while the surrounding wood has a natural matte texture. This dynamic creates a beautifully balanced, artisanal appearance.

Why Choose Hybrid?

The Best of Both Worlds: You get the visual drama of a glossy epoxy paired with the tactile warmth of matte wood ideal for clients who want both luxury and practicality.

Highlight Craftsmanship: This finish shows off the precision and intent of custom furniture design. It's often seen as more unique and elevated.

Functional Aesthetic: The wood portion stays smudge-resistant and low-maintenance, while the epoxy gleams and catches light beautifully.

Best Paired With:

Live edge slabs with character-rich grain, such as olive wood or golden camphor, and jewel-tone resins (e.g., royal blue, jade, deep teal).

Ideal For:

Modern-rustic hybrids, artistic homes, and clients seeking one-of-a-kind, bespoke furniture.

 

How Finish Impacts Your Space

Lighting Considerations: Matte finishes work better in brightly lit spaces where glare can be an issue. Glossy finishes shine under soft spotlights or natural light, creating a gallery-like display.

Size Illusions: Glossy tables can make a room feel larger and more open due to their reflective surfaces. Matte surfaces, by contrast, absorb light, adding intimacy and grounding to a space.

 

Why Customization Matters

At Seawavetable, every epoxy wood table is built to order and that includes the finish style. But we don't stop there. You can also customize:

Wood Type: Choose from premium woods like black walnut, walnut, olive wood, or golden camphor.

Epoxy Color: Go bold with ocean blue or forest green, or keep it subtle with smoky black or translucent clear.

Table Shape & Size: Whether it's a round coffee table, large dining table, or live edge desk, we build to your dimensions.

Free Matching Legs: Every table includes a complimentary set of high-quality steel or wood legs modern, minimal, or rustic styles available.

Whether you envision a modern dining table, a dramatic epoxy river table, or a rustic-meets-refined live edge table, choosing the right surface finish is the final brushstroke in your masterpiece.

Looking for your perfect finish?

Explore finish options and start your custom epoxy table journey today at www.seawavetable.com. From river tables to live edge dining masterpieces, we turn wood and epoxy into functional works of art just for you.