One of the questions our design consultants get the most when helping homeowners plan a bathroom remodel is, “Can I mix metal finishes, or do I have to stick to one?” The short answer is: yes, you can absolutely mix metal finishes in your bathroom!
Polished nickel or chrome look great with matte black. Hammered copper works with satin oil rubbed bronze. Satin antique brass works with polished nickel. The only thing that we don't recommend – mixing 2 finishes in the same color.
Can You Mix Metals in a Bathroom? There was a time when a bathroom with mixed metals would have been considered a design no-no. However, as design has become more personal and styles have become more eclectic and diverse, it's perfectly acceptable to mix metal finishes. Where and how you mix metals is key though.
Can You Mix Black And Stainless Metals In The Same Space? In a word - YES! In fact, I think it can be really nice to mix up to two finishes in a space. If you have chosen black light fixtures and a stainless steel sink, then you could really feel empowered that either finish for a faucet will blend well in your space.
Yes, many of our clients have used a combination of Polished Chrome and Matte Black fixtures. In the kitchen there are plenty of stainless steel appliances like stove tops, ovens and rangehoods, so placing a Matte Black tap next to a Polished Chromes sink won't look out of place.
Cool metals include chrome and nickel (and, to a lesser extent – black). Warmer metals include brass, oil-rubbed bronze, gold, and copper. For our bathroom, I chose to mix my dominant metal (polished chrome) with, you guessed it! BRASS!
Mix Warm and Cool
Cool metals include stainless steel, chrome, and silver. Matte black is an ideal neutral. Warm metals pop nicely when they're paired with cooler metals. Also consider your color palette as you mix and match.
While not required, matching fixtures can help a bathroom look more polished. Most bathrooms have a uniform style and use the same color palette throughout.
If you are in the process of fully transitioning your kitchen to black stainless steel, it is perfectly acceptable to mix black appliances and stainless appliances— especially if your stainless has black accents or handles.
Stainless steel appliances can complement the matte black faucet beautifully, creating an elegant mix of modern finishes. Alternatively, if you prefer a bolder and more dramatic aesthetic, opt for black appliances to create a seamless, monochromatic scheme.
Matte black helps by grounding the scheme and the contrast enhances the metals you are using. Coloured metals like champagne bronze, gold, and brushed nickel are warm metals and look great with black. If you want to add warmth to white add warm metals.
Neutrals like chrome, nickel and stainless look good on anything. Think of them as the classic white shirt of the bath—subtly sophisticated and easy to match with other accessories like towel holders and door pulls. Shiny chrome is the most popular bath finish and comes with an affordable price tag.
Timeless Brushed Nickel
For those who prefer subtle sophistication, brushed nickel is a classic that never goes out of style.
As a designer, I'm here to tell you it most certainly can be! Chrome taps have been around for decades and remain stylish due to their sleek, modern look. Chrome taps can help perfectly bring your bathroom or kitchen design together - even in 2023!
No, your bathroom hardware doesn't have to match. There is a common belief that if the metals in your bathroom are different colors or finishes, your bathroom will look tacky, unbalanced, or just plain chaotic. That couldn't be further from the truth!
Other influential colours that work with many styles of chrome include dark / navy blue, royal blue, cream and burgundy. Even slightly soft or pastille blues can work well too.
If you've been asking yourself the question "Are mixed color appliances okay?", the short answer is, yes! Of course, there are exceptions to every rule including this one, and that is when mixing colors that are too similar but don't quite match.
5. Black accents. Decorating with black is difficult, as the hue brings intensity and contrast instantaneously. But the deep shade in small doses pairs beautifully with stainless steel appliances, designers say.
It's important to note that mixing these metals is not generally advised due to the potential for sudden pipe corrosion and discolored water. The reason is the molecular makeup of dissimilar metals.
One of the questions our design consultants get the most when helping homeowners plan a bathroom remodel is, “Can I mix metal finishes, or do I have to stick to one?” The short answer is: yes, you can absolutely mix metal finishes in your bathroom!
While there are no real rules for bathroom colours, it's recommended to use three different options: one accent colour, one neutral shade, and one rich colour. This will help you maintain an ideal balance of tones across the room.
Polished Chrome: The Classic and Timeless Favorite
And there's a good reason for that—it's a classic choice that never goes out of style! Polished chrome has been a staple in bathrooms for decades, thanks to its bright, reflective surface that adds a touch of elegance and cleanliness to any space.
A mixture of cool tones like nickel and chrome and warm tones like brass and gold provides balance. One should be the dominant, more pervasive finish throughout the space (think: your cabinet hardware and light fixtures). The second can be an accent (think: your mirrors or faucets).
Be daring with darker hues such as black and charcoal and they will complement the metals glint for visual clout. We are seeing more adoption of these darker colours in living room and office spaces for a bold look that can be dressed up and finished to perfection with metals such as bronze.
The short answer: Yes, you can! To add additional dimension you can mix metal finishes between your faucet, hardware, light fixture, shower handles, etc. A lot of designers play around with finishes in bathrooms and kitchens and in my opinion, it's just another layer to your design.