Choosing which finish to use is really a matter of personal preference in color and transparency and the degree of durability your floors and furnishings require.
Satin vs semi gloss stain floors.
Satin and semigloss polyurethane finishes give wood surfaces shine and protection.
With that being said satin is by far the most popular look at least in westchester and new york city area.
Glossy floors show all the scratches and nicks.
The higher gloss level of semi gloss makes it slightly more durable than a satin finish.
So if this bothers you consider that.
Similarly the black shade of semi gloss finish appears dense and rich while satin gives a muddy like touch to wall paint.
If you look at these two pictures here the one on left is a semi gloss.
This gives a more formal feel that really highlights the beauty of hardwood.
The luster of a semi gloss finish is between a satin and high gloss finish.
They re both about the same color but you can see that the floors look very different.
If you choose to stain the floor darker to resemble another wood you can do so and then add the satin finish once the stain has been applied and dried.
The satin will then coat the floor with a light dusting of protection in appearance but the actual result is as equally durable as the gloss and semi gloss.
Remember darker floors show more dust and dirt.
This is a semi gloss on medium stained floors.
For example a semi gloss red displays a darker and intense look as compared to a satin red shade.
I would venture to guess that 80 90 of my customers choose a satin finish.
A satin finish has a sheen factor of 40 percent to 50 percent.
Satin finishes add some shine while still letting the natural beauty of wood grain come through.
Semi gloss has a slightly higher luster level than satin.
It has a medium sheen that reflects more light than a satin finish.
The one on the right is a satin.
Semi gloss paint has high durability than satin paint.
Shinier floors reflect more light which shows more dust and dirt.
Semi gloss has.
A satin finish floor is easier to care for than a high gloss floor and will last longer without needing to be refinished.
This means more light reflects off your floors.
Very similar to yours.
Best place to paint.
I m hoping one of the flooring professionals who sometimes post here can advise you on this.
I believe in our addition where we installed hardwood floors to match the 90 year old hardwood in the rest of the house we used either a satin finish or possibly at most a 50 50 mix of satin and semi gloss.
Satin sheen level is preferred on all shades of hardwood from dark to light and everything in between.