Expert Advice: Beautiful but Temperamental – These Materials May Cause Regret at Home Later

New home interiors are often chosen based on what catches the eye in a showroom or on Pinterest. However, a beautiful picture doesn't always tell how much work maintaining one or another material requires. Alina Kester, creative director of property developer Liven AS, highlights materials that are indeed striking but turn out to be quite temperamental in real life. How do you choose materials for your home so you won't regret it later?

„In interior design, there are many solutions that look absolutely flawless in photos, but maintaining their beauty requires daily attention. This doesn't mean you should avoid them. Rather, you should honestly ask yourself beforehand whether you're willing to care for them. The saddest thing is when a material you once loved becomes a source of frustration over time," said Alina Kester, creative director of Liven AS.

Stainless steel – professional until the first fingerprint

Stainless steel kitchen appliances and worktops create the impression of a clean and professional restaurant kitchen, which is why stainless steel is a favorite for many. However, everyday life quickly reveals that it is a true magnet for fingerprints.

„Stainless steel looks wonderful in stores and photos, but when you get it home, you often discover that every touch leaves a mark. This doesn't mean you should abandon the material, but you should know that keeping it shiny requires regular wiping and often also a special cleaning product," explained Alina Kester. „At the same time, a stainless steel kitchen gains a nice look over time once there are already more scratches and dings."

Idea. If you like stainless steel, choose a matte finish – it reveals fingerprints much less than a shiny one. You can also use a stainless steel finish imitation, which works well, for example, for cabinet doors.

Mirror as a kitchen backsplash – striking, but constantly splattered

A mirror on the kitchen backsplash between the worktop and upper cabinets makes the room feel larger and adds glamour. However, right there, above the stove and sink, the surface suffers the most.

„A mirror backsplash is a clever solution, but above the stove it soon gets covered with a layer of grease splatters and near the sink water stains appear. So every drop and streak shows up much more clearly than, for example, on a matte ceramic tile," noted Alina Kester. „If you're a tidy cleaner or cook rarely, a mirror is definitely worth the solution. A mirror is relatively easy to clean, but it needs to be done very frequently."

Natural materials – beauty that requires care

Natural stone, marble, untreated wood and other natural materials bring warmth and authentic feeling to your home that no imitation can truly replace. Their charm lies precisely in the living and porous surface, which also means they are sensitive.

„Marble is beautiful, but porous and acid-sensitive – lemon juice, wine or vinegar can leave a dull stain on the surface that you can't remove later. An untreated wood worktop absorbs moisture and stains and requires regular oiling. Natural stone, on the other hand, needs to be sealed from time to time so it doesn't absorb water and dirt," explained Alina Kester. „These materials are wonderful if you love their natural and changing appearance over time and are willing to maintain them. But if you want the surface to look exactly the same years later as it did on installation day, you might consider a more durable alternative, such as ceramic or quartz, which imitate natural patterns."

Idea. If you want the look of marble without constant maintenance, choose a large-format marble-patterned ceramic tile – it withstands heat, acid and scratches and doesn't require sealing.

Open shelves in the kitchen – convenience or inconvenience?

Open shelves make the kitchen airier and provide an opportunity to display beautiful dishes and jars, which is why many people like them. From open shelves it's convenient to grab spices to cook or take a glass to drink a quick sip of water. However, a small inconvenient truth emerges – what is open also collects dust and grease.

„Open shelves look beautiful in photos, but in a kitchen where real cooking happens, the dishes on open shelves soon get covered with a thin layer of grease and dust. This means that even rarely used plates and cups need to be rinsed before use and the shelves themselves need to be wiped frequently. Closed cabinet doors keep dishes clean and hide any mess that forms," said Alina Kester. „If you like open shelves, it's better to plan them away from the stove and sink and keep only things there that you really use every day – that way dust won't accumulate."

Idea. Combine open and closed solutions – leave a single open shelf as an accent near the coffee corner or dining area, but keep dishes in daily use in closed cabinets near the stove.

Light ceramic tiles in entryways and bathrooms – also consider hair color

Light tiles make the room feel larger, but reveal dirt and hair much more than you might have expected when choosing.

„Every hair and dust particle is visible on a light solid-colored tile. If the tile is light and there are dark-haired people in the family, every single hair strand may be visible. That's why I recommend choosing a tile with a fine pattern or texture instead – the pattern distracts the eye and minor dirt won't stand out so sharply," explained Alina Kester. „Very rough tiles, however, I would avoid because they are harder to maintain."

Static electricity and dust-magnet textiles

Velvet sofas, synthetic curtains and soft rugs create a cozy and luxurious feeling at home. However, some textiles and synthetic materials accumulate static electricity, turning them into dust magnets – especially if there's a pet in the family.

„Some beautiful textiles and synthetic surfaces load with static electricity and become like dust magnets – especially if the family has a pet. Dust and hair get stuck on the surface and have to be constantly removed," said Alina Kester. „The same applies to some rugs, which in addition to collecting dust can also cause unpleasant static electric shocks. When choosing material, it's worth researching how it collects dust and dirt. Natural fibers – such as wool and cotton – often behave more friendlily than cheaper synthetic alternatives."

Very dark matte surfaces – elegant, but dusty

Deep black and dark matte surfaces – whether floors, kitchen fronts or worktops – have a calming, luxurious and very contemporary effect. However, on these surfaces, every dust speck, footprint and dry water stain shows up with terrible clarity.

„A dark matte surface is beautiful until the first dust speck falls on it or a wet footprint is left behind. Unlike a shiny surface, matte doesn't reflect anything and so dried water stains and fingerprints show up especially well on it. A dark matte floor needs to be cleaned almost every day and in the kitchen a dark worktop reveals every crumb," noted Alina Kester. „I'm not saying you should avoid them – they are truly elegant – but you need to ask yourself how often you're willing to clean them. If you love a clean surface but don't want to clean every day, you might consider a slightly lighter shade or a light pattern that better hides stains and dust."

Idea. If the look of a dark surface is close to your heart, choose a stone or wood-patterned texture in the kitchen instead of a solid single color – the pattern distracts the eye and doesn't highlight every stain so sharply. The same applies to light surfaces – the dirt is less noticeable on a patterned surface.

Light fixtures that accumulate dust

An impressive chandelier, a light fixture with intricate details or an open-shaped lamp placed on the ceiling is a real eye-catcher in the home. But over time, dust accumulates in these, and removing it turns out to be cumbersome.

„Beautiful and detail-rich light fixtures are a great accent, but cleaning them can become a real headache. Dust collects in every tiny corner and wiping glass parts or open-shaped designs below the ceiling is uncomfortable and time-consuming, especially if the fixture is high up," explained Alina Kester. „Think through how you'll access the fixture for cleaning when choosing it. Light fixtures with simpler and smoother shapes collect less dust and are much easier to maintain."

Beauty and practicality can go hand in hand

According to Alina Kester, you don't necessarily have to give up any beautiful material – what matters is making a conscious choice.

„None of these materials is bad and many of them are popular precisely because they are extraordinarily beautiful. The most important thing is to make the choice consciously and honestly. Before choosing, you should ask yourself whether you're willing to care for the material or prefer a solution that maintains its beautiful appearance with minimal effort. Your home should bring joy, not constant worry about stains and dust," Alina Kester concluded.