Both finishes have positive and negative aspects, so it isn't always easy to choose which will serve your home and family best over the long term. 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.
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.
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.
What's the difference? While they may 'behave' in very similar ways, the main difference between Nickel and Chrome is in their appearance – while both finishes have a silver colour, Nickel has a warmer, yellowish hue whereas Chrome is much cooler with blue undertones.
Heavily used chrome accessories will need daily cleanings to remove visible smudges and fingerprints. On the flipside, polished nickel doesn't show marks so easily and won't need as many cleanings.
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.
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 Winner: Brushed/Satin Nickel
Other easy-to-maintain finishes include solid brass, oil-rubbed bronze and other bronze finishes. Chrome and stainless steel are popular and very affordable choices, although they might require more cleaning.
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.
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.
Brushed nickel hardware resists rust, but it's not 100% rust proof forever. The plating will wear off at some point, and that depends on how often it's handled and cleaned. Don't worry, the hardware can still last for years without rust.
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.
Brushed nickel gets its slightly matte appearance from being treated with a wire brush. We're seeing more and more clients navigate towards a brushed nickel finish, and for good reason. This finish has a luxurious, almost hand-crafted aesthetic that hides water spots and fingerprints well.
O'Brien suggests mixing brass and dark bronze, brass and chrome, or brass and nickel, but never mix nickel and chrome. Also, he cautions that there is a limit to how many metal finishes you can mix together in one room. “There should be a main finish choice and maybe one accent,” he says.
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.
Solid-brass bodies last longest and require the least care, especially with hard water, which corrodes lesser metals. At $150 or so to start, these faucets also cost the most. If you aren't sure whether a fitting is solid brass, pick it up.
We know that all-brass bodies last the longest and are unlikely to leak or corrode, especially when special dezincification resistant (DZR) brass is used. This kind of special brass is not affected by tap water acidity or other chemicals. The material usually is at a higher price, yet it delivers durability.
TIMELESS KITCHEN FINISHES
When it comes to faucet finishes, look to Arctic® Stainless or Polished Nickel.
Light green is a popular bathroom paint color in 2023 because it delivers a soothing, refreshing ambiance. Inspired by nature, green paint colors like lime, olive, and chartreuse create an outdoor connection and lend tranquility to a bathroom.
Keep it Neutral
For walls and appliances, sticking to colors like gray, white, and black are recommended. Selecting these colors makes it easy to match with décor. In addition, white is especially popular in many bathrooms because of its clean aesthetic.
Best Colors for Resale Value
Currently, painting your bathroom light blue can increase the value of your home by $5000. A light blue hue invites a calm, serene, and relaxing environment that compliments almost any decor or design style. Light yellow, cream, beige, and gray are also favorites of prospective home buyers.
After falling from grace for a few years, it's now becoming a trendy design choice once again. Polished chrome pairs very well with designs that are all about sleek luxury. Polished chrome can also be perfect for bathrooms that have a minimalistic design style. It's also a good choice for retro-themed bathrooms.
When you look at the two side by side, polished nickel has a yellow or gold undertone while polished chrome has a blue undertone. Polished nickel is warmer in feeling and polished chrome is stark and cooler. For a modern look, polished chrome is almost always chosen for its clean, sleek appeal.
Generally speaking, chrome tends to be on the higher end of pricing when compared to brushed nickel, as per Bath Select. Really though, it all comes down to what you're looking for. A high-end statement faucet finished in brushed nickel may be more expensive than a small chrome faucet.