Another question that often arises is brushed steel vs brushed nickel. Brushed steel and brushed nickel are similar in appearance, but brushed steel has a slightly cooler tone than brushed nickel. Both finishes have a matte, textured appearance that helps to hide water spots and fingerprints.
Satin nickel has a smooth finish that's slightly glossier than brushed nickel. While it's not exactly matte, it's not as shiny as other metallic finishes like chrome. Its sheen and appearance are comparable to stainless steel.
In terms of cabinet hardware, you can mix different metals as long as you have a plan of how they go together. For example, you could have a stainless steel faucet and brushed nickel hardware. Or, If your cabinets are a shade of blue, you can contrast that with copper handles but use a chrome sink faucet.
We love working with stainless steel because it's budget-friendly and easy to maintain. It looks similar to brushed nickel, but it's cooler in tone. Warning: It tarnishes to a matte gray.
Stainless steel is a classic choice for hardware and fittings because it complements most home styles. 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.
Be sure to avoid using acid, alcohol, or solvent-based cleaners. These types of cleaners can ruin or discolor the more delicate surface of the brushed nickel finish. Vinegar is a popular faucet cleaning solution, but should be avoided on brushed nickel.
Tarnishes Faster Than Chrome
One of the key differences between brushed nickel and polished chrome is that brushed nickel will tarnish faster.
The two materials offer different advantages, with brushed nickel being rust-resistant while stainless steel is more hygienic. Brushed nickel is also more suited for traditional spaces, whereas stainless steel faucets fit contemporary ones.
Brushed nickel is dominating the 2024 kitchen faucet trends so far as it is stylish, sophisticated, and can easily conceal blemishes.
We often get questions about which metals work best together, and the answer is: They all can go together…as long as there is clear design intent! Metals are meant to be mixed, so don't worry too much about whether they'll “go together” and instead make sure each finish is a thoughtful addition to your space.
For those who prefer subtle sophistication, brushed nickel is a classic that never goes out of style. Its soft, muted sheen adds a touch of elegance without feeling flashy, making it a beloved choice for transitional and traditional spaces alike, the perfect match to our Veranda and Valencia door styles.
Chrome is often seen as providing a more sophisticated and cool look to a room, and nickel is often seen as a warmer color. Variety: Brushed nickel faucet fixtures come in a wider range of finishes than chrome. Most chrome fixtures have the same level of blue tint.
However, in certain lights, brushed nickel can appear to absorb the light around it giving a slightly yellow appearance.
It is important to note that the terms "brushed nickel" and "satin nickel" are often used interchangeably, but they are technically different. Some manufacturers may use the term "satin nickel" to refer to a finish that has been brushed and then chemically treated to create a satin finish.
Brushed metal tapware colours, such as brass, gold, nickel, copper, and gunmetal, are among the most popular choices.
This material tends to look dull over time because of mineral deposits, soap scum accumulation, and hard water stains. Despite these bathroom and kitchen faucets and fixtures being quick to collect blemishes, they are not necessarily hard to clean. It's important to steer clear of abrasive cleaning pads and products.
What Faucet Finish Goes with a Stainless-Steel Sink? A brushed nickel or chrome faucet finish would go well with a stainless-steel sink. These two finishes are classic and popular choices for traditional and modern kitchen designs.
If ease of cleaning is a priority for you, choose a brushed finish—its muted surface helps mask fingerprints and water spots. Also, since it's not reflective like a polished finish, it's better at showing off a bathroom faucet's details, Lord says.
Brushed nickel finishes, which are rubbed with an abrasive while still at the factory to create their special look, are especially susceptible to damage from bathroom and kitchen cleaners that contain low-concentration phosphoric acid. If not rinsed promptly, these can damage or even remove a brushed nickel finish.
Polished Chrome: The Classic and Timeless Favorite
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. It's like the little black dress of bathroom fixtures: simple, timeless, and always appropriate.
No matter which finish you choose—brushed nickel or chrome, shiny or matte—using the same metal for the towel bars and the bathtub faucets gives an intentional feel. This is especially true if you also coordinate the space with a cohesive design that extends to the towels, bath mats, wall color, and flooring.
According to Logan, you should not use Clorox wipes on brushed nickel. 'You should not use products that contain alcohol or ammonia to clean brushed nickel faucets,' says Logan. 'If you do, you may affect the finish and shine of the nickel.
Although brushed nickel is typically recognised as a warm tone and stainless steel as cool, both metals can be seen as neutral due to their ability to easily blend with contrasting colour palettes, offering a subtle point of difference to a scheme.
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. The sink, faucet, towel bar, cabinet hardware, and lighting all fall within this category.