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.
Brushed Nickel is essentially the same as traditional Stainless Steel. Delta sometimes uses the term Brushed Nickel to distinguish bathroom fixtures from Stainless Steel kitchen fixtures. Other companies, opt to use the term Brushed Nickel for both Kitchen and Bathroom fixtures.
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.
The lacquer treatment given to satin nickel makes it more durable than brushed nickel and less susceptible to tarnishing. For things like showerheads, faucets, and bathroom door knobs that are exposed to humidity and used more often, satin nickel might be your preferred choice.
Brushed nickel is more of a subtle, softer looking finish. It has a slightly brushed appearance with a semi-satin finish. Some customers think of a brushed nickel finish as looking more like stainless steel and, therefore, it can tie in with stainless steel kitchen appliances very nicely.
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.
If brushed nickel is at the top of your list when selecting new cabinet hardware or faucet finishes for your kitchen or bathroom, I think you can rest easy if you make this your selection as it is a great choice. It is a timeless finish you will continue to love through the years, as many other trends come and go.
#2 Tends to tarnish faster than polished chrome
It is important to note that brushed nickel does not tarnish easily. However, when it does, brushed nickel tarnishes faster when compared to polished chrome, especially when the fixtures are not maintained.
Satin Nickel offers a more polished and reflective look, while Brushed Nickel provides a textured and muted appearance. Brushed Nickel a slightly matte appearance and a more subdued, understated look compared to the polished shine of Satin Nickel.
The most obvious difference between satin nickel and brushed stainless steel is their appearance. Satin nickel has a softer, matte look, while brushed stainless steel has a more polished look.
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. That being said, if you have several metallic tones that look very similar but not identical, it'll look like a mistake. Contrast is key!
Satin Nickel is in the same color family as Polished Nickel and Stainless Steel, it is a warm toned silver but with a brushed finish that will complement stainless steel appliances and most silver fixtures.
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.
Yes, there is. Fortunately, there are a lot of brands like Krylon and Rust-Oleum that can create and imitate authentic brushed nickel paint. These brands usually have an array of hues that can match brushed nickel or at least close to it. Typically, they fall under metallic, metallic silver, or satin nickel shades.
Yes. Brushed nickel and chrome are both considered silver. Chrome is a bright silver while brushed nickel is a soft, muted silver. Chrome is cooler while brushed nickel is warm silver.
Polished Nickel and Brushed Nickel differ in that Brushed Nickel has more of a textured, brushed over appearance whereas Polished Nickel has a smooth, high shine appearance. Delta's Polished Nickel also has warm undertones of pale gold, whereas Brushed Nickel has cooler silver tones throughout.
Nickel plating is a very shiny metal, but the brushing removes any natural shine. Still, brushed nickel will be shinier than a satin nickel finish. ECF is able to create a brush pattern on both metal and plastic substrates.
BRUSHED NICKEL
Brushed/Satin nickel will never go out of style. It is very versatile because it goes with almost any cabinet color and matches great with stainless steel appliances.
Brushed nickel has a muted shine, while chrome tends to be brighter and more reflective. One significant difference between brushed nickel and chrome is the look of the metals.
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, 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 more resistant to fingerprints and smudges, while polished nickel is more likely to show fingerprints and smudges.
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.
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.
Brass. Brass faucets are perhaps the most long-lasting and easy-to-maintain option. Made of copper and zinc, the brass body of the faucet is durable and sturdy.