Inspiration / How To / How-To: Mix and Match Metal Finishes

How-To: Mix and Match Metal Finishes

By Elizabeth Yunmi Published On
Bright kitchen with blue cabinets, brass pendant lights, white subway tile, marble island, stainless appliances, and metal stools

Many homeowners have it in their minds that every piece of metal in a home should be matching. While this approach works well in some spaces, we've often found that layering different finishes throughout the home can have quite an interior impact. Which leads us to one of our most commonly asked questions: how do you mix metals?

To help answer this age-old question (and take some guesswork out of the decision-making process), we invited our Interior Stylist, Jess, opens in a new tab, to share a few of her styling strategies for mixing and matching metals throughout the home.

Bright kitchen with brass cabinet hardware

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Kitchen

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home. That's exactly why we like to start here first. Because it's a room that hums with activity, it's the perfect place to invest in beautiful pieces that you'll be looking at and using frequently throughout the day.

Begin by selecting a style point. Are you going for a clean, minimal look with only one or two metals? A heritage-inspired feel with plenty of mixing and matching, or something in between? Once you've nailed down your interior aesthetic, it's helpful to choose an anchoring piece followed by a few accents. In the first image above, the two gold Donna Pendants work as a focal point while the surrounding cabinet hardware, opens in a new tab, kitchen stools, opens in a new tab, and appliances support the look.

Stylist Tip: Think of the metals in your space as a family. Everything doesn’t have to be the same, but they should complement each other.

Kitchen with light oak cabinets and matte bronze handles, open shelves, large window, and a breakfast island with a mug and plate

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Pendants over a colorful kitchen countertopvia @valleyhousewoodworking, opens in a new tab

Kitchen sink with stainless steel faucet and brass kettle beneath a black pendant light, wooden-framed windows and potted plants on the sill

Kitchen scene showing mixed metals: brass wall rail with hanging pans beside a stainless steel range hood and stove

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Living Area

When it comes to spaces such as entryways, living rooms, reading nooks, and beyond, it helps to focus on the furniture and then layer in other design details. Is there a tall floor lamp that you’re drawn to or a lounge chair that anchors the space? A built-in dresser, mirror, or table? Start there and arrange other elements around it to create a cohesive interior aesthetic.

Entryway wall with three round brass hooks holding a denim jacket and a hanging camera above a blue upholstered bench and potted plant

Styled white dresser under a sloped ceiling with a black lamp, brass knobs and a gold planter with flowers

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Bathroom

We are often asked if it's okay to mix cool, chrome faucets and finishes with warmer metals like brass and bronze. To that, we answer — absolutely! We've found that working with a variety of metals adds a layer of interest and visual dimension. It can be helpful to approach the bathroom similarly to the kitchen. Begin by selecting a star and then build a supporting cast around it. Often, flooring, countertops, and tile will set the stage, and hardware and lighting follow next to add an elevated (and equally important) finishing touch.

Stylist Tip: If the bathroom is smaller in square footage, try to stick to two metals. If you have more space to work with, experiment with additional options.

via @edgeandlinesdesign + @jessiepreza, opens in a new tab

Bathroom vanity showing brass wall sconces, matte black faucet hardware, and rectangular mirrors over a light tiled backsplash

Bathroom sink area pairing chrome wall-mounted faucet and shower fixtures with a brass switch plate and black-framed mirror

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Door Hardware

Last but certainly not least, there's door hardware, opens in a new tab. As a general rule of thumb, we tend to separate finishes based on floor and indoor/outdoor use. For example, if you have two levels in your home, stick to one finish per floor and treat your exterior hardware as a separate family from your indoor hardware. If you have a single-story space, select one finish for all the interior handles and another for the exterior.

The front door is often a welcome opportunity to make a statement, so don't feel like it has to match with your other picks. Try adding interest by selecting a finish that contrasts your exterior paint color or go for a tonal look by choosing hardware that coordinates or almost matches your exterior palette (for example, we love our brass entrance sets, opens in a new tab with white paint or flat black sets with dark paint).

Stylist Tip: When in doubt, keep all interior door hardware the same and all the exterior hardware the same finish.

Entryway cabinet topped with a gold table lamp and glass vase beside a partially open door revealing white stairs and a matte black doorknob

While we hope this guide laid some helpful groundwork, we encourage you to experiment to see what works best for you. At the end of the day, your home is your place to play (and some of the most interesting spaces break all the design "rules"), so keep in mind that if you love the end result, it's a success.

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