Mixing Bathroom Metals

Mixing Bathroom Metals

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Good morning! If you've been following along for a little while, you know we're currently in the middle of a master bathroom renovation.  As with most big projects, not everything has gone as planned–for example, with shipping delays, things are taking a bit longer to receive than we expected–giving me too much time to analyze, overthink, and second guess all my choices!  But that's okay–it's been a good lesson in flexibility and patience!  One thing I haven't second-guessed, though, is incorporating a mix of metal finishes in our new bathroom.

Mixing metals in the bathroom is a great way to add an interesting and contemporary look to a space. And in today's post, I'm sharing tips on how to mix different metals in the bathroom, a guide to what metals go together, images of bathrooms featuring mixed metal finishes, places to shop for bathroom faucets and fixtures, and more.

If you're currently planning a bathroom remodel or making choices regarding finishes and are looking for tips for mixing metals in the bathroom, I've got you covered! I've spend hours upon hours gathering tips, ideas, and inspiration on this topic, and today I'm sharing everything I've learned.

Is it OK to Mix Metals in a Bathroom?

Gone are the days of having to choose one metal finish for your entire home.  It's now very common to mix and match metal finishes–not only in the bathroom, but throughout the home.

Whether you're going for a chic, modern, timeless, or classic look, mixing metals can add visual interest to your bathroom and is a look that will last far beyond 2021.

And, while you should feel free to mix metal finishes in your bathroom, I do recommend selecting no more than three metal finishes for one room.

I also think it's a good idea to stick with with timeless finishes like chrome, polished nickel, and brass for permanent fixtures like faucets, shower heads, and lighting.

Then, use your secondary finishes on mirrors, drawer and door pulls, towel bars, etc.

Since it's easier to change out cabinet hardware, mirrors, etc., you can always switch out those pieces for a different finish once your tastes change.

Which Metals Can Be Mixed in a Bathroom?

Metals come in warm and cool tones.  Warm metals include brass, gold, copper, and oil-rubbed bronze.  C ool metals include chrome, polished nickel, and brushed nickel.  Black is considered either a cool-toned metal or a neutral and makes a great third metal to balance out your mix.

If you want to mix metals in the bathroom, I recommend mixing cool metals with warm metals to create a nice, eye-pleasing balance.

In general, I wouldn't mix two metals in the same family, such as nickel and chrome, unless they're far apart in the space and/or you're also adding a warm-toned metal to the mix.

Metals also come in a variety of sheens and finishes, including matte, satin, brushed, polished, oil-rubbed, aged, and antiqued.

When mixing metals, some designers recommend matching the sheen on your fixtures; i.e., if you're using polished nickel and brass together, you would choose a polished brass rather than brushed.

However, in my opinion, you can safely mix shiny with matte–as well as warm with cool.  I do, however, recommend placing your different finishes next to each other before they're installed to make sure you're creating a cohesive mix.

Can you mix chrome and brass fixtures in a bathroom?

It's fine to mix brass and chrome fixtures together, as well as brass and nickel.  As the two most popular metallic shades, brass and chrome (or gold and silver) go well together and can be combined to add stylish contrast in the bathroom.

However, as I mentioned above, try not to mix more than three metals in one space.

Are gold and brass finishes still in style?

While chrome and polished nickel bathroom fixtures are trending in 2021, brass–especially antique brass–is still in style, adding a luxurious touch to any room.

Brass works well in both warm and white spaces as well as rooms with darker tones. Use brass when you want your eye to be drawn to the fixture or metal finish.

In general, brass finishes are becoming more subtle and toned down, with more of an antique or aged deep golden look, rather than yellow, pink or shiny finishes.

One issue I'm running into with ordering brass cabinet knobs and pulls online is there's no way to know what color and tone of brass you're getting until you receive it.

Something that appears to have an antique brass finish online might actually have a yellow or pink cast in person. I've also ordered pieces that were described as brushed or matte on Amazon but which ended up having a satin or shiny finish.

So, unless you're okay with ordering and returning a bunch of items until you receive the right shade of brass or gold, you might want to choose your brass pulls, faucets, lighting, etc., in person at a local store.

As an alternative, you could just go with chrome, black, or nickel faucets and fixtures, which are generally more consistent in color and finish.

But, as always, I recommend choosing fixtures and finishes that make you happy.  So don't stress if you cannot find fixtures in the exact same color and finish–similar tones go well together, also–especially if they're not placed right next to each other.

Is chrome or brushed nickel more modern?

Chrome adds lightness and brightness to a space and is usually considered more modern than brushed nickel; however, chrome also works well with more traditional and/or vintage looks. Chrome is also the most popular bathroom finish in 2021, as it coordinates well with both light and dark color schemes.

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.

Polished nickel is similar to chrome in that it has a shiny, reflective finish.  However, polished nickel fixtures have a deeper, warmer tone than chrome and therefore work best with darker color schemes.

Both chrome and brushed nickel are budget-friendly choices, while polished nickel fixtures are a bit pricier.

Is brushed nickel out of style?

Brushed nickel is a classic finish and is still an excellent choice for bathrooms. While it's not one of the top metal finishes for 2021, it's still a great option that won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

When we remodeled our guest bathroom, other than adding black pendant lights, I kept the original brushed nickel finishes, because I like the coherent look they bring to that space:

How to Mix Different Metal Finishes in the Bathroom

How do you mix metals the right way?

There are many different ways to mix metals in a bathroom so they will compliment each other, as you'll see in the images below. In general, I recommend opting for one dominant metal and choosing one or two other metals as your accents.

To begin, let the existing metal finishes in your bathroom give you a starting point. Do you already have a lot of one metal finish in your space?

For example, if you currently have brushed nickel finishes in your bathroom, you could keep some of the brushed nickel elements and add in a bit of brass and/or black to create an interesting and budget-friendly mix.

To keep your bathroom looking cohesive, don't mix too many finishes, colors, and styles in the same room. For example, if you mix both brushed and shiny metal finishes in one room, then try to keep the styles of the fixtures the same.

On the other hand, if you decide to mix styles; i.e., modern and traditional fixtures, in one space, then make sure all the finishes are the same.

Remember, even though mixing metals in the bathroom is popular right now, there's nothing wrong with matching all the finishes and hardware in your bathroom.  Matching metal finishes is an easy way to give a space a cohesive, thoughtfully put-together look.

Use Your Bathroom Vanity Color as a Guide When Choosing Metal Finishes

When choosing your metal finishes, take into account the color and finish of the bathroom vanity.  Here are a few guidelines:

Dark blue and black vanities look gorgeous with brass faucets and cabinet pulls.

White and gray vanities pair beautifully with chrome, polished nickel, or brass fixtures for a timeless look.  Our new bathroom has gray vanities, and I plan to use a chrome finish on all the faucets and light fixtures and brass on the mirrors and cabinet hardware.

And light wood vanities are often paired with black for a more modern vibe, but brass and chrome look amazing, too, as you'll see in the spaces below.

Should Bathroom Cabinet Hardware Match the Faucet?

Traditionally, bathroom cabinet hardware was chosen to match the faucet finish, but that's no longer necessary.  Although your cabinet hardware doesn't have to match your faucet, I do think it's a good idea to repeat the cabinet hardware finish elsewhere in the room–perhaps in the mirror or lighting. This helps tie the room together and create a cohesive look.

Inspiration for Mixing Metals in the Bathroom

The following images are filled with beautiful ideas and inspiration for mixing metals in a bathroom.

Love this beautiful bathroom with light wood vanities, chrome mirrors and faucets, and brass finishes in the sconces and pulls.

Studio McGee

Brass lighting and mirror, mixed with a chrome faucet and black cabinet pulls:

Lindye Galloway

Here's a pulled together look featuring a polished nickel faucet, brass mirror, and black cabinet hardware and sconces, which contrast beautifully with the white vanity.

Pure Salt Interiors

Coordinating brass mirrors and faucets, combined with brushed nickel cabinet pulls and white sconces:

Bria Hammel Interiors

Polished brass cabinet pulls and mirror, combined with polished nickel sconces and faucet:

Studio McGee

Oil rubbed bronze faucets, mixed with black mirrors and cabinets pulls and aged brass sconces:

Jenna Sue Design

Antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls, black mirrors, and chrome faucets pair beautifully with a deep blue vanity:

Mindy Gayer Design

Black cabinet pulls pair wonderfully with the polished nickel (or perhaps chrome?) faucets, light fixtures and mirror in this lovely bathroom:

Pure Salt Interiors

Here's a wider view of the bathroom shown above:

Pure Salt Interiors

Brass mirrors and sconces, mixed with polished nickel faucets and black pulls:

Lindye Galloway

This beautiful space combines antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls with polished nickel faucets and frameless mirrors:

Jean Stoffer Design

A black sconce and mirror, mixed with a brass faucet, towel bar, and cabinet pulls:

Ames Interiors

It must be obvious by now I love the look of mixed metals in the bathroom! In my opinion, it makes for a stylish, timeless space.

Where to Shop for Bathroom Fixtures

Investing in a bathroom faucet, lighting, mirrors and cabinet pulls, regardless of the style and finish, doesn't have to break the bank.

Below are a few of my favorite places to shop for bathroom fixtures:

Wayfair
Pottery Barn
Home Depot
Rejuvenation
Overstock
Amazon
West Elm

And here's a selection of faucets, mirrors, door and drawer pulls, and lighting in different metal finishes.

Bathroom Faucet Ideas

Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Bathroom Mirror Ideas

Cabinet Pulls and Knobs

Looking for more bathroom ideas and inspiration?  Here are a few of my favorite related posts from the blog:

50+ Beautiful Bathroom Ideas to Inspire
Our Guest Bathroom Remodel: Before and After
Modern Classic Bathroom Ideas for Our Upcoming Master Bath Remodel
How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets: Easy Step-by-Step Tips

I hope you found this post informative and helpful!  Please let me know if you have any questions about mixing metals in the bathroom.  Have a wonderful day! xo jane

Mixing Bathroom Metals

Source: https://jane-athome.com/mixing-metals-in-bathroom/