An Interior Designer’s 3 Tips for Mixing Metal Finishes
Mixing metal finishes is a subtle yet essential way to elevate a space. You don’t necessarily walk into a room and think “there are three types of metal finishes in here!” and that’s the point. It’s not something you would notice right away but it is a layer to the overall design of a space that adds interest without making a big statement.
For some it’s difficult to envision and it’s a common concern I hear from clients: “It’s ok to mix metal finishes?” The truth is, going with one type of metal finish throughout a space can make it fall flat. Not always, but if the room’s design doesn’t have any other elements that make a statement it can feel one-dimensional. There aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to mixing metal finishes, rather some light guidelines that can be helpful when trying to figure out what works together.
Here are 3 tips for mixing metal finishes:
Be intentional.
Picking out the metal finishes you want to use needs to feel intentional. Have a plan in place for how many finishes you want to use and where. A good rule of thumb is to have to 2-3 metal finishes in a space depending on its size. The bigger the space, the more you can get away with having multiple finishes. In a small space such as a powder room, I typically stick with 2 metal finishes.
Consistency is key.
I generally like to keep the same metal finish consistent with the type of element. For instance, I will choose one metal finish for the plumbing fixtures in a space and a different metal finish for the cabinet hardware. You want to see the specific metal finish used in at least two different places for it to feel cohesive and intentional (ex. same metal finish for the sink faucet and the pot filler in a kitchen). One exception to this rule is light fixtures. You don’t necessarily need to have all brass light fixtures and can mix and match, if there is intention behind it.
Opposites attract.
There are many types of metal finishes, some have warmer undertones (Ex. brass, bronze, gold) and some are cooler undertones (Ex. chrome, nickel, black). Each finish also can come in different lusters: polished, satin, matte, brushed, antique, etc. When mixing metals, an easy way to know that two finishes will go well together is if they have opposite undertones or opposite lusters. Brass goes well with chrome, polished finishes go well with matte.
Here are some examples of spaces with multiple metal finishes:
