Is Lacquered Furniture in Style? Spoiler: Yes!

If you’ve been thinking if lacquered furniture is in style or not, this blog post is for you. We’ll be talking all about this type of furniture and why it’s still in trend today.

There’s something about a glossy finish that catches your eye and refuses to let go. Lacquered furniture has a mirror-like sheen and sleek vibe, a favorite among interior designers who want to add glamor and depth.

Whether it’s a bold black sideboard or a soft cream lacquered nightstand, these pieces stand out—and for all the right reasons. Keep reading to learn all about it!

What is Lacquered Furniture?

Lacquer is a synthetic coating, sometimes clear and at other times colored. It’s made of shellac dissolved in alcohol. Lacquer is sticky and quick-drying, which can produce a shiny, glossy, or matte finish. It is typically applied over wood, MDF, sometimes metal surfaces too. Unlike standard paint, lacquer hardens through a curing process, making the final product resilient and hard-wearing.

Lacquer is similar to varnish, but the lacquer is sprayed instead of brushed (or it’s rubbed with a cloth). In the first half of the 1900s, the technique was mostly used in cars as well as on furniture.

Fun fact: Lacquer dates back thousands of years, especially in China and Japan. During this time, artisans used natural tree sap to coat and preserve woodwork. Doing so created that signature polished look we still admire today.

To this day, high-end furniture makers prefer wood lacquering. We hope that pretty much answers your question!

Types of Lacquer Finishes

Lacquer isn’t a one-size-fits-all. You can choose from different types of finishes, including:

• High gloss lacquer. This has a dramatic shine and often comes in bold colors. We consider this one of the most luxurious finishes. It is eye-catching and glamorous, great for modern and Art Deco styles.

• Semi-gloss lacquer. This is a happy medium. You get the shine, but without the finish being too overpowering.

• Matte lacquer. This is subtle and sophisticated. Matte lacquer is smooth to the touch with just a soft sheen. We recommend it for understated or minimalist looks.

Which Materials are Commonly Lacquered?

Lacquer is most commonly applied to:

• MDF and engineered wood—the smooth surface is ideal for even coating

• Natural wood—adds polish while showing off the wood grain underneath

• Metal and acrylic—less common but possible if you’re after an ultra-modern design

Materials that don’t have knots, deep grains, etc. will do best with lacquer.

Why Homeowners and Designers Love It

Lacquered furniture offers some real benefits!

• Properly applied lacquer can withstand wear and tear better than most finishes.

• It’s easy to clean with a quick wipe and damp cloth. It’ll be back to flawless.

• Lacquer has a glass-like surface that brings elegance to any room.

• Lacquer is great for smaller or darker rooms. This is because it reflects light and can brighten the room.

• This type of finish for furniture works for different interior design styles. Classic, glam, eclectic, ultra-modern, etc.

Where to Use Lacquered Furniture in Your Home

Lacquered furniture can go almost anywhere, but here are some top spots:

Entryway

An entryway makes a striking first impression with a lacquered console table. You can also go for a wall-mounted floating shelf.

Living Room

Use a high-gloss coffee table or sideboard to add a visual anchor. It will also catch the light. Pair this with soft textures like boucle or velvet for that stunning contrast.

Bedroom

Lacquered nightstands or dressers bring in subtle glamour (but without taking up too much visual estate). Try soft tones like ivory, sage, or dusty pink.

Dining Room

A lacquered buffet or sideboard adds functionality with flair. If you’re looking to make a statement, go bold with a lacquered dining table. We love navy and emerald here!

Home Office

Want a workspace that feels more boutique than basic? Go for a lacquered desk with gold or brass accents.

Design Styles That Suit Lacquered Furniture

Not every style would work with lacquered furniture, but many of them do, too! Here are some styles we recommend adding lacquered furniture in:

• Modern minimalist. A high-gloss piece in a monochrome palette = perfection.

• Hollywood regency / glam. Pair it with mirrored furniture, plush rugs, and gold hardware.

• Art deco. Bold lacquered colors like black, red, or emerald green, great for drama.

• Traditional. Mix classic silhouettes with lacquered finishes.

How to Style Lacquered Furniture

To enhance the beauty of your lacquered furniture, you have to style it well.

If you’re unsure, start small. For example, a lacquered side table, console, or cabinet. With such a piece, you can still achieve the effect but without overpowering the space.

Balance your furniture piece with natural and matte textures. Lacquer’s shine pairs beautifully with raw woods, stone, linen, and other matte finishes. Think a high-gloss red console against a matte plaster wall.

You can also use your lacquer furniture to create a statement. Choose it in a bold shade to act as a focal point. Emerald green sideboard? Yes, please.

For drama, you can go monochrome and all glossy. Try colour-drenched rooms with lacquered furniture to match the walls. It creates a moody and enveloping effect.

Mix modern and vintage. Lacquered finishes look fantastic on classic silhouettes—imagine a French bombe chest in electric blue lacquer.

How to Care for Lacquered Furniture

To keep the beauty of your lacquered furniture intact, there are a few care guidelines to keep in mind:

Clean Immediately

Stains may stick to the material if left for a long time. Be sure to clean them as soon as possible (using a soft cloth dampened with water; may use soapy water if needed), especially if you have greasy stains.

Don’t Clean Aggressively

If you’ve had a stain for quite some time, and it has become stubborn, chances are you’ll use an abrasive sponge or aggressive detergents to get rid of them. Don’t! Never use abrasive cleaning tools, ammonia, bleach, acidic products, etc. on your lacquered furniture.

Always Use a Soft Cloth

That said, always go for a dampened soft, fluff-free cloth (ideally, use microfiber). Most of the time, warm water alone will suffice; if needed, you can add a few drops of a light detergent.

For Stubborn Stains…

If you have a tough stain that you can’t seem to get rid of, we recommend carefully and moderately using diluted alcohol. Ethyl alcohol is effective but aggressive. It can only be used to clean glossy lacquered furniture (not matte) and only when diluted in warm water. Alcohol may leave streaks if you don’t use it properly.

Alternatively, you can use products such as a multipurpose Glassex without ammonia or Vetril.

If you see traces after cleaning the furniture, clean the furniture again carefully and dry it immediately. Make sure the microfiber cloth doesn’t contain any traces of detergent.

Rinse and Dry

You may have heard you can rinse lacquered furniture. That’s true, but only with a damp cloth (not dripping wet). When done, be sure to wipe dry with a microfiber cloth; air drying is not recommended.