Polished nickel has a shiny, reflective surface that will bring some sparkle into your bathroom or kitchen, while brushed nickel has a more subtle matte finish that works well in bedrooms or family rooms where you don't want too much shine from your hardware pieces.
Brushed nickel has a more matte finish, while polished nickel has a shinier finish. Brushed nickel is more resistant to fingerprints and smudges, while polished nickel is more likely to show fingerprints and smudges. Brushed nickel is more affordable than polished nickel.
It's an easy to clean and durable finish that's marginally less susceptible to fingerprints than Chrome – a lint-free cloth is all you'll need to maintain its shine.
Satin Nickel scores higher than polished nickel on scratch resistance tests since its matte finish does not show scratches as easily. This makes it an ideal choice if used in a household with young children or pets who may try to scratch or nudge the hardware accidentally.
Although polished nickel is extremely durable and doesn't show fingerprints or smudges easily, it requires a fair amount of TLC to look its best at all times. Mineral deposits on showerheads and sink faucets are more likely to occur on this type of finish.
And, like polished chrome, polished nickel can show fingerprints and water spots. Unless lacquer coated, polished nickel fixtures will naturally tarnish over time, particularly in humid environments, such as bathrooms.
Metals can be antiqued, matte, satin, brushed, or polished, and incorporating a variety of sheens can make the mix even more interesting. "If you want to use nickel and brass together, go with polished nickel and satin brass," McLeod suggests. Contrasting soft with shiny adds more distinction and depth.
Is Polished Nickel in style? Delta's Polished Nickel is timeless. With its bright silver base and signature pale gold undertones, Polished Nickel is perfectly suited for any modern home design style.
Because it's so durable and doesn't show fingerprints and scratches quite as easily, polished nickel is the better choice for homes with small children and pets. Give it a quick wipe when you clean your kitchen to keep the color bright.
Polished nickel looks very similar to chrome, but when you place them side by side, you'll notice that polished nickel has a warmer tone than chrome.
Avoid using any harsh cleaners or abrasive pads that can scratch the finish of your polished nickel. You can use glass cleaner as long as you do not allow the cleaners to soak on the polished nickel.
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.
Never use abrasive cloths or chemical based cleaning products on Nickel.
Brushed nickel is darker and does not have a polished feel; it contains tiny lines for a velvety appearance. Satin nickel is a lighter version of brushed nickel with a low luster glow and soft sheen that offers more intricate details than a matte finish.
Although Polished Nickel fixtures are very nice, they are really not similar at all to what you might think of as stainless steel color. If you are trying to exactly match other stainless steel finish fixtures in your bathroom, Polished Nickel products will probably not going to be what you want.
However, polished nickel is more expensive than other finishes. Brushed nickel, on the other hand, has a more subtle texture and a matte finish. It is also durable and resistant to tarnishing and corrosion. Brushed nickel is a great option for those looking for a modern and stylish look in their bathroom.
Polished Nickel
Many people refer to it as looking like traditional sterling silver. The warmer tones of Polished Nickel lend themselves to a more traditional, classic design to the decor, and we think are perfectly suited to the Handmade English Kitchen look.
Polished Nickel (top lever) has a warmer, yellowy tone, often likened to traditional sterling silver, whilst Polished Chrome (bottom lever) has a cooler, blueish shine. Therefore, Polished Nickel tends to work best in classic, period properties and Polished Chrome looks great in more contemporary settings.
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.
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.
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.
There is something magical about Polished Nickel – a polished silver finish that somehow also reveals a warm, champagne, undertone. Possessing a surface that captures crisp lowlights, Polished Nickel offers a uniquely refined and sophisticated look.
Stainless steel appliances and polished nickel plumbing fixtures balance out the unique hood with more classic finishes. The antique nickel cabinetry hardware plays off the mid-tones of the wood elements and reveals an aged silver tone.
In terms of durability, you may find that Chrome is slightly less susceptible to tarnishing than Nickel, although for the most part these finishes are equal in their longevity.
#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.