Brushed nickel, also called satin nickel, has a more subdued, matte finish, lending itself to a more traditional look. Brushed or satin nickel also works well in both light and dark spaces and with just about any color scheme.
Does this mean brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze are out of style? Nope. And in even better news, there's no need to replace all the metals in your kitchen all at once anymore. Because mixed metals in the kitchen create a curated look in the kitchen that is so 2023.
While brushed nickel may not be one of the top finishes for 2023, it is certainly a safe option that will not require updating any time soon. Get more home decor tips here.
Don't Mix Two Metals in the Same Color Family
Mixing two metals that are in the same color family but have different undertones/sheens (for example, the combination of brushed nickel + chrome or the combination of shiny brass + brushed gold) is usually going to look like you tried to match your metals but failed.
One of the top growing kitchen design trends in 2022 is adding a brushed nickel finish to fixtures and faucets. Replacing a tired polished chrome faucet with an Americana Collection Two Handle Kitchen Faucet in brushed nickel will easily add a touch of refinement to one of the most frequently used spaces in the home.
The main disadvantage of brushed nickel is that it is difficult to match to other fixtures. Because the process of making brushed nickel involves etching it with a wire brush, you may not be able to find the exact same finish in all of your finishing touches for your bathroom.
Blues and greens make attractive pairings with brushed nickel. You might like a navy or nautical theme with silver and blue as the main colors. Paint the walls dark navy and decorate with silver accessories such as soap dishes and miniature boats that match with the brushed nickel fixtures.
Chrome plating gives metal a slightly blue tint, while nickel has a natural yellow or white shine. While both are cool colors, brushed nickel appears warmer, mainly due to its toned-down textured quality. Therefore, if your design plan includes a bright, modern look, cooler chrome might be a better bet.
Aesthetics and Best Style
Chrome looks more futuristic than brushed nickel, and it can make a bathroom or kitchen stand out. You can definitely consider chrome to be high-key sleek and modern. Still, it's important to understand that both brushed nickel and chrome are considered classical design options.
If you've chosen a modern feel, matte black is a perfect match; if you have a traditional bathroom design, satin or brushed nickel is ideal. Avoid choosing a high-shine finish as your dominant metal. This can come off as visually jarring and steal the show from your overall look.
Neutral color schemes, such as ivory, light brown, beige or slate, blend well with brushed nickel fixtures and create a soft yet contemporary effect.
Gold and Brass
Gold is getting an added boost thanks to this year's trend of black and gold, which is especially popular in this year's resurgence of Art Deco. The warm look of gold and brass creates an inviting atmosphere that is also timeless and luxurious.
Satin nickel has a softer, matte, lustrous appearance, while brushed nickel has a slightly textured finish. If you're going for a more modern, understated look, satin nickel might be the way to go. But brushed nickel could be a perfect choice if you want a rustic, industrial feel.
Topping the list of kitchen design trends in 2023 are faucet finishes such as nickel, chrome, black, and brass and options like brushed, matte, polished, satin, and dual-tone finishes. GRAFF's faucet finishes do more than reflect and set trends.
Matte Black & Gold Cabinet Hardware
Whether separate or together these colours are dominating the 2023 kitchen trends.
Graphite nickel is 2023's finish du jour
Consider it the elegant glow-up of once-trendy matte black fixtures. This sleek charcoal finish is a close relative to blackened steel with its cool undertones, but with more edgy and sophisticated dimensions.
Easier To Clean
You only need a soft cloth to clean brushed nickel. It's easier to keep clean because you can't see smudges and fingerprints as brushed nickel hides smudges.
It's a common query stated in a few different ways: “Can I mix chrome faucets with brass light fixtures?” “Will oil-rubbed bronze clash with nickel?” “Do I need to have polished nickel everything?” “If I mix metals, is it breaking a rule?” Yes, you can mix your metals. In fact, it looks really great if you do.
The different finish names are used to differentiate between kitchen (Stainless Steel) and bathroom (Brushed Nickel) fixtures. These two finishes will complement each other, but it is recommended to use the same brand throughout your design wherever possible if you want your fixtures to match each other perfectly.
Brushed nickel is warm
As a homeowner, choosing what you like is always important rather than sticking to hard and fast rules. Some prefer balancing the two tones — warm with cool — while others like all one scheme. There are a lot of choices in the warm family, including brass, nickel, copper, and bronze.
Appearance. Brushed nickel fixture coating is semi-satin, so it isn't very shiny or matte. It has a non-reflective texture and dull appearance. Brushed nickel finish is a classic finish that is often used on metal products, such as appliance pulls and door handles.
Durability: Brushed Nickel and Chrome
They are resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and scratching, making them ideal for bathroom environments. However, it is important to note that the brushed nickel finish may be more forgiving when it comes to showing fingerprints or water spots compared to chrome.
Choose Complementary Colors
There are a few other simple tips key to nailing the mixed-metal look: Choose two, maybe three metals that complement one another. A mixture of cool tones like nickel and chrome and warm tones like brass and gold provides balance.
Brushed nickel and stainless steel often look very similar, but the difference is in their underlying tone: brushed nickel tends to have a golden or brownish tint while stainless steel has a faintly blue tone.
Brushed nickel is extremely durable and tends to keep its finish longer than chrome. It doesn't show fingerprints or water spots and is easy to clean. Relatively inexpensive, it also matches nicely with most other accessories and fixtures.