What the words mean
- Honed: smooth, flat and matte to low-sheen. The stone looks natural and soft.
- Satin (or light polish): some sheen, with a soft reflection. Many people's favorite.
- Polished: glossy and reflective, like a hotel lobby.
All three come from the same process: grinding the stone with finer and finer diamonds. Polished just goes further. See honing and polishing.
How they hold up here
| Honed | Satin | Polished | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hides scratches | Best | Good | Shows them |
| Hides water spots / haze | Best | Good | Shows them |
| Slip when wet | Better grip | Middle | Slicker |
| Looks | Natural, casual | Soft glow | Formal, dramatic |
| Upkeep | Easiest | Moderate | Most |
Our desert dust is fine grit, and it scratches polished stone. Our hard water leaves spots that show up clearly on a mirror finish. So in busy rooms (kitchens, family rooms, entries) honed or satin usually stays looking good longer.
When polished makes sense
- A formal living or dining room that doesn't see much traffic
- An entry you want to make a statement, if you're OK with more frequent touch-ups
- Marble that was installed polished and that you love that way
Mixing finishes
You can do the kitchen satin and the formal living room polished, if they're separated by a natural break like a doorway or a change in flooring. On one continuous floor, matching is usually better.
My suggestion
Look at a test spot in your own house, in your own light. I'll usually do one when you're torn, because a sample board in a showroom doesn't tell you much about how it'll look in your house.