Interior lacquering: When It’s the Right Choice (and When It’s Not)

Lacquering is one of the most sought-after finishes in the world of interior design, but also one of the most delicate. In this practical guide, we explain when it’s a winning choice — and when it’s better to opt for more durable materials (even though noboday has actually asked for it).

Lacquering: Elegant, but Delicate

How many times have we heard: “Devoto, this surface is scratched”; or “Devoto, the wardrobe doors are marked from everyday cleaning”; or even, “Devoto, the sun-exposed door has turned yellow”… and we could go on forever.
At that point, our reply doesn’t help much: “We did mention from the start that lacquer might not be the best choice for these surfaces.”
But those warnings aren’t always taken seriously. And that’s exactly why we decided to put together this short, practical guide — with a few honest, straightforward tips based on our real-world experience

In the world of interior design, lacquer is a key and fascinating finish. It offers great freedom in color, different levels of sheen, and visually flawless surfaces.
That very “perfection,” however, also makes it especially sensitive to impacts, friction, light, and everyday use.
That’s why, during the consulting and feasibility phase, one of the questions we’re asked most often is: “Can we make this piece lacquered?”
And in most cases, our answer is always the same: it depends on how it will be used.

When Lacquering Is Not Recommended

Based on our experience, there are places and furnishings for which this finish isn’t the best choice, especially in public spaces or crowded palces.

Reception Counters and Front Desks

Whether in hotels, offices, or public venues, the reception counter is one of the most heavily used elements: impacts, friction, accidental knocks, and constant contact with both guests and staff — especially on the top, which is the surface most exposed to everyday wear and tear.
In these situations, lacquer tends to scratch and deteriorate quickly. It’s better to opt for more durable materials such as solid surface, stone, metal, or solid wood with natural protective finishes.

Meeting tables

Meeting tables have to withstand heavy use: objects placed on them, impacts, spills, food, and coffee.
On horizontal surfaces like these, lacquer is particularly vulnerable. We recommend natural wood or high-performance laminates, which are far more durable over time.

Worktops and High-Use Kitchens

For work surfaces exposed to constant stress, this finish doesn’t offer the durability required. Here too, it’s better to choose more high-performance technical or natural materials.

Furniture in crowded Public Spaces

So, whenever the furnishings are intended for heavy and hard-to-control use, lacquer should be considered very carefully. The same applies to surfaces with strong sun exposure: even though modern paints are UV-resistant, prolonged direct sunlight can, over time, cause slight color shifts — especially in more delicate shades.

When Lacquering Is a Winning Choice

There are many situations where lacquer truly expresses its full potential, both aesthetically and from a design perspective.

Wardrobes and cabinets

Wardrobe doors are particularly well suited to lacquering. It allows for play with color, matte or glossy finishes, textures, and different levels of depth.
It’s essential to include a protective skirting at the base, made from a durable material: this helps prevent cleaning and accidental knocks from damaging the lower part of the piece of furniture.

Kitchens (with attention to detail)

Lacquer can work very well in kitchens too, especially on vertical cabinet fronts. Here as well, a protective skirting at the base, made from a durable material, is essential to preserve the finish over time.

Boiserie

Lacquered boiserie allows spaces to be defined with elegance and chromatic continuity, enhancing the walls. However, we recommend avoiding it in narrow, high-traffic corridors, where constant passage increases the risk of impacts and marks over time.

Bookcases

Perfect for lacquering: vertical surfaces, controlled use, and strong aesthetic impact.

Lacquering: it’s All About Design Awareness

Lacquer is not a finish to avoid, but one to choose consciously.
Whether matte, glossy, satin, or textured, the key is always the same: carefully evaluating the intended use and the context.

Good design isn’t just about aesthetics, but about finding the right balance between beauty, function, and long-term durability. And that’s exactly where this new Devoto series comes from: turning on-site and production experience into practical, useful, and down-to-earth guides.

Stay with us for the next practical guides (that no one asked for), by Devoto.