As a general rule, brushed nickel is a classic finish that is an excellent choice for either kitchen or bathroom hardware. 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.
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.
Yes! And Here's Why... Satin nickel cabinet hardware, or as it is sometimes called brushed nickel cabinet hardware, is often considered the backbone of cabinet hardware finishes.
#2 Most Sought-After Finish in 2022: Brushed Nickel
One of the top growing kitchen design trends in 2022 is adding a brushed nickel finish to fixtures and faucets.
The brushed quality of the nickel can lend itself to a more traditional design, while chrome is seen as more modern.
Shiny chrome is the most popular bath finish and comes with an affordable price tag. Nickel has a warmer tone and a more exclusive pedigree. Stainless steel, still the leading metal in the kitchen, looks indulgent in the bath, too.
The reflective, shiny chrome surface will show fingerprints and water marks more readily than brushed nickel. Chrome really needs to be towel-dried after cleaning in order to show its full shine, where brushed nickel will be less revealing of any surface contamination due to its less-reflective nature.
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.
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.
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.
Matte Black Continues
Matte black hardware will continue its dominance in 2023, and we can't get enough! This trend is ideal when used as part of a monochrome decor scheme or as a statement piece against bright colors.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
A great aesthetic alternative to standard chrome and brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze gives the bathroom a more traditional look and feel. To complement the look around your bathroom, use a brass darkening solution on any brass items.
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.
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.
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.
Brushed Nickel is a cool-toned metal finish found in many lighting collections, from modern to traditional, but the brushed quality gives it a subtle warmth. Neutral color schemes, such as ivory, light brown, beige or slate, blend well with brushed nickel fixtures and create a soft yet contemporary effect.
In a test of durability, stainless steel will always come out on top. This is because stainless steel kitchen hardware is composed of solid metal, as opposed to chrome and brushed nickel plating.
Brushed nickel is more resistant to fingerprints and smudges, while polished nickel is more likely to show fingerprints and smudges.
Next year's outlook is rosy, according to color forecasters—from bright fuchsias to delicate, neutral-leaning pinks. On the subtle end of the spectrum, Sherwin-Williams inaugurated Redend Point, a serene gray-pink, as its 2023 Color of the Year.
White is still the most popular kitchen cabinet color in 2023 and beyond. However, we are seeing a shift towards warmer and more natural tones. We cover the best colors for cabinets from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams like Simply White, Dove White, and Chantilly Lace.
Overall, the chromatic trend for Autumn-Winter 2023/2024 presents great comebacks and confirmations, with a palette that ranges from red to gray, yellow to brown, and pink. Even the most delicate and subtle shades will have their space, inviting experimentation and rediscovery of classic nuances in an original key.
Chrome tends to be considered more a more modern look, more contemporary than brushed nickel. On the flip side, brushed nickel is typically categorized as more traditional when comparing it to chrome. As with all things design, it comes down to personal preference!
Top tip – never, ever, EVER mix chrome and nickel. They are both silver tones, but with different undertones, and they will look awful together. Here we mixed polished nickel and brass. Both have warm undertones, making them a great match.
Brushed nickel is for warm colors. However, brushed could go with cool colors in the right setting. For example, if you had a polished nickel freestanding tub filler, then a cool color backsplash would work. Remember this: brushed nickel is traditional and chrome is modern.