Metal Finishes - How they Work with Your Design Style
Metallic finishes in your home should never be an afterthought in your design. They may not stand out as much as your furniture or artwork but they make a significant impact on your overall design style.
When you’re in the planning stages of a renovation or decorating project be sure to spend some energy and time selecting your metal finishes. You don’t want to make decisions about metal finishes as you’re standing in the furniture or hardware store. Take into consideration everything you own and/or are purchasing.
I’ll show you how to look for clues about which metal finishes will work best to make your space shine.
What Are the Most Common Metal Finishes?
1/ Chrome
Chrome is the metal that we’re probably most familiar with. It’s likely been in your home at one time or another, either in the kitchen or the bathroom. While chrome hasn’t been the “it” metal for a long time it never dates either. It’s a consistently good choice if you want something timeless.
Chrome is a bright, reflective metal that gives instant shine to your space. The only downside to chrome is that it will show fingerprints and dirt more easily than a matte finish. That makes it a less popular choice for families with small kids.
2/ Nickel
This is another consistently popular choice and one that many of us have in our homes. It has a matte finish that shows less dirty fingerprints so it’s a great choice for busy families. You won’t have to deal with the small water marks that can be a problem with shiny metals. Nickel doesn’t steal the show so it’s great if you have a countertop, backsplash or some other element that needs to shine. It just acts as a good backdrop to the more dramatic finishes in your space.
A note on brushed nickel - although it seems to be a more generic, builder-grade option I think if you select an updated style this finish will still look fabulous.
3/ Gold
This is the current “it” metal that has been stealing the limelight for the last few years. Gold will give your home a more contemporary look so if you’re not renovating but want a new look, try adding in some gold.
Just like any trend, there will come a time when its day is over so use it in ways that make replacement easy. For instance, a gold faucet can easily (and inexpensively) be updated while an expensive light fixture may feel difficult to let go of. Just keep in mind that trends tend to last for 10 years and we’re a couple of years into this one. You still have lots of time but don’t overspend and enjoy it while it lasts.
4/ Brass
This finish is timeless. It’s more muted than gold so it doesn’t grab as much attention and may feel easier to live with. Brass has always been used in traditional homes, mostly in light fixtures and decor.
I love using brass in my client’s homes because I don’t have to worry about them replacing anything. It’ll stand the test of time.
5/ Black
This one is also having a strong moment thanks to the Modern Farmhouse movement. Black is very popular in this style and that includes fixtures in both the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s definitely more of a statement than chrome or nickel.
I would say if you love this trend go for it. Often, one or two pieces is enough for a room.
Consider Your Interior Design Style
Your metal finish can either enhance or detract from your interior design style. Understanding how to use the right finish will give you an effortless look that is polished and complete.
Here are the most common design styles along with the metal most commonly used with each.
Traditional Style
Since traditional design doesn’t focus on trends this may not need to be stated but stay away from trendy finishes like gold and black. Use chrome or nickel in plumbing fixtures and brass or oil rubbed bronze for lighting and decorative finishes.
Not only do these finishes enhance your traditional design, they also won’t need to be upgraded until you’re ready to renovate down the road.
Transitional Style
This style can incorporate a bit of trend but stick to chrome or nickel in plumbing fixtures and gold or brass for decorative finishes. If you want to add in a touch of gold, use it in decorative finishes like frames and decor.
Contemporary Style
If you’re a lover of contemporary design you’re already comfortable with incorporating trends coming in and out of your home so you have likely already jumped on this bandwagon. Contemporary design incorporates gold and black really well into the design and you can use either of them in plumbing fixtures.
Mid-Century Modern Style
Almost every metal finish can find a place in a mid-century home. The exception is gold which is too bright for this design style. I recommend sticking with basics like chrome or nickel in plumbing fixtures but have fun with black and brass throughout the rest of your space.
Even your furniture can have metal accents in mid-century design. Little hints of brass can be seen in foot caps on many teak and rosewood coffee and side tables from that era. There are also a lot of light fixtures that incorporate brass.
If you really want to embrace this style, look for coloured metals like mint green and yellow. You may have to shop vintage to find these but they’ll definitely add an incredible mid-century vibe to your home.
Modern Farmhouse Style
This style exploded onto the design scene several years ago and shows no sign of slowing down. It’s known for the use of high contrast colours like white and black with small hints of earthy colours.
There’s very little chrome or even nickel used in this design style. The most common metal finish is black in plumbing fixtures and black and antique brass in decorative finishes.
Consider the Paint Colours You’re Using
The paint you select will have an impact on the finishes you select. I recently wrote about how to select the best white paint and explained that undertones play a vital role in figuring that out. We don’t want our cool white paint clashing with our white quartz countertop but neither do we want to create a clashing between your wall colour and your metal finish.
When I’m selecting finishes for my clients I first start by considering the palette. If I’m using an earthy palette I turn to the design style for direction and inspiration. Using the information above it’s easy to determine which metal will enhance the space.
If I’m using a fresh palette with cooler tones I prefer to incorporate warmer metals. This helps to warm things up and keep the room from being too cold.
More than anything else, my clients' preferences take precedence. If I have a client who has lived through the brass trend in the 90’s they may be very resistant to do it again. In that case, we don’t even consider brass regardless of how great it might look. Never use anything in your home that you don’t love, including the metal finishes.
Consider Your Lifestyle and Daily Habits
How much time you spend at home as well as the size of your family are important considerations when selecting a metal finish.
If you have kids who are young and love to get dirty, chrome might not be the best finish for you. Because of its high gloss finish, chrome shows a lot of fingerprints and dirt. You’ll end up spending a lot of time following behind your kids cleaning the faucets when they finish washing.
The most durable finish that holds up best for high volume use is brushed nickel. Second to that is antique bronze finishes. They’ll serve your family well without showing all the fingerprints.
Can You Mix Metals?
Absolutely, it’s been a popular trend for several years to mix metals in both plumbing fixtures as well as furniture and decor.
The best rules to stick to if you want to mix metals are:
1/ Don’t Go Overboard
Limit the combination to 2 (or 3 in a very large room) and make sure you repeat the finishes at least twice so your selections don’t appear random. For example, in a Modern Farmhouse bathroom I may have brass for the faucets, shower fittings and glass hardware. As a complement I’ll add in a black framed mirror, lighting and a towel bar.
2/ Spread It Around
Don’t create columns of metal finishes but spread the variation around throughout the room. This means if you are mixing chrome with black in your bathroom you can select all the shower and sink faucets in chrome. Introduce black to the vanity in drawer pulls and add it to the shower curtain to balance the look on the other side of the room.
3/ Make Change Easy
Stick with traditional finishes like nickel and chrome for items you don’t want to replace. That could be either faucets or an expensive light fixture. Have fun with the trendy finishes in places that are easy to replace later like side tables and cabinet door knobs.
4/ Go Easy With Black
Be cautious when using black metal. It can create a high contrast look particularly with white cabinets. I always try to show my client images of how that will look in a finished space. It’s hard as a homeowner to visualize what it will look like to have black hardware spread throughout a kitchen or bathroom. Black stands out and our eyes always gravitate there. Make sure you give extra consideration to how you incorporate black metal into your space.
5/ Consider Your Appliances
If you have a stainless steel appliance package in your kitchen I prefer to stick to chrome or brushed nickel finishes for the faucets. These are more timeless and work so well alongside your appliances. Now have some fun and mix in other finishes in lighting and cabinet hardware.
My best advice is to just spend the time planning these decisions. For whatever reason, most people don’t spend enough time thinking about the metal while they’re selecting their other materials. If you treat this like part of the palette from the beginning you’ll make the best decision for your space.
If you need assistance with your kitchen finishes take a look at my Kitchen Finishes Service here. If it’s the bathroom that needs an update my Bathroom Finishes Service might be right for you.
Warm regards,
Adrienne