Your Success Guide to Mixing and Matching Metal Hardware Finishes

Mixing and matching metal hardware finishes lends the perfect finishing touch to a beautifully designed and decorated home space. These are the design accents that have the power to pull together the look of a room or add striking interest to a space.

One of the questions our customers frequently ask us here at World CopperSmith is how, when, and if they should mix or match hardware finishes. The key is finding balance and selecting the right combination of finishes. There are several factors to take into consideration when visualizing your finished room or space.

The size and style of your living space will influence how much flexibility you have with mixing and matching your hardware finishes. Your vision for your home is the most important factor. What follows are guidelines and best practices to consider as you decide how you want to mix and match hardware finishes.

Why Mix and Match Hardware Finishes?

In the past, a single color and style were chosen for the hardware finishes in a room or space. Those days are over. Your concept of how you want to design your space can include mixing and matching hardware finishes in your choice of tones and metals.

There are many reasons you may choose to mix and match hardware finishes. Updating the look of a room, refreshing a room by adding hardware accents, or completely renovating a space are common goals.

Hardware finishes offer creative design options for a variety of budgets. Updating hardware finishes is a good way to refresh the look of a room without completely replacing everything in it.

Mixing and matching hardware finishes infuses new energy into the space. The key is understanding how many metal finishes can be used in one area and when to match finishes. This guide will help you through the process.

Best Practices for Mixing Metal Hardware Finishes

Before you decide to mix hardware finishes, evaluate the area or spaces you are renovating or decorating. These tips apply for quick room refreshes or comprehensive home renovations.

Take the size of the room into account when determining if it is a good candidate for mixing finishes. The larger the space, the more options you have for mixing hardware finishes.

There are many design elements within a room when considering hardware finishes. Lighting, furniture, paint colors, and plumbing all contribute to the completed design.

Wondering what your hardware options are as you consider what finishes to mix and match? Consider these metal hardware possibilities:

• Drawer Pulls
• Drapery Accessories
• Door Knobs
• Latches
• House Numbers
• Door Knockers
• Cabinet Knobs
• Pot Filler Faucet
• Window Hardware
• Shelves and Brackets
• Hooks and Picture Hanging Hardware
• Switch Plates
• Registers
• Bathtub Hardware like Push Button Drains, Filler Faucets, and Overflow Drains
• Mailboxes
• Mail Slots
• Outdoor lighting
• Rivets
• Umbrella Stands

What is your preference for metal hardware finishes? More important than the latest trends are your likes and what makes you feel comfortable. Also consider the color of the walls, carpet, and floor as you envision the look of the room.

You can unleash your creativity by designing beautifully balanced spaces filled with interest and dimension. Keep in mind combining two or more polished metal hardware finishes will give a dramatic, glamorous look. Mixing a polished metal with a satin or matte metal offers a more refined, subtle result.

What Metal Finishes are Available to Mix and Match?

Mixing and matching metal hardware in a room will give it a wonderfully polished look if done properly. It is useful to know a little about the various metals and if they complement each other or are in sharp contrast with one another.

Avoid mixing two metal finishes in the same color family. It may seem similar metals should work together, but when the color is too close, the result often appears slightly mismatched rather than intentional. An example of this is satin nickel and shiny chrome. The colors are similar but the undertones do not match side-by-side.

Metal hardware finish tones are classified as cool, warm, or neutral. As you explore mixing and matching hardware finishes for your project, the more familiar you will become with what coordinates well.

Nickel works nicely with brass and gold because of its warm undertones. Nickel, brass, and copper also coordinate well because of their similar undertones. Black is neutral and you can pair it with any other hardware finishes. Understanding the underlying tone will help you coordinate the look you are trying to achieve in the room.

Cool, Warm, and Neutral Metal Hardware Finishes

Polished chrome, copper, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass, black metal, and brushed nickel are popular finishes. You probably have a favorite metal or a preference for a primary metal finish.

Your dominant metal hardware finish can make up to 75% of the room. Select one or two other metal hardware finishes for the remaining accents. Do you like warm metal finishes or do you prefer cool?

Warm metal finishes include copper, gold, brass, and nickel. If you have dark wood in the room, warm metal enhances the rich elegance of the wood.

Cool metal finishes are generally the silver tones including chrome and stainless steel. Matte black is sometimes considered cool but is more often thought of as a neutral tone that works together well with most hardware finishes.

Stainless steel coordinates with a variety of metal hardware finishes. This Morelia Bathroom Vessel Sink in Polished Stainless Steel is simple yet sophisticated. The contrast with another metal finish on the bathroom light fixtures and drawer pulls is striking.

Different metal finishes include sheens and textures. Metal hardware can be polished, brushed, satin, matte, or antique. Incorporating different sheens can add visual interest to your spaces.

It is possible, although less common, to mix warm and cool metal finishes if the room is large enough. There should be space between the contrasting finishes. Place a coordinating neutral finish in between the two, such as a brushed stainless steel finish.

What Are the Best Rooms for Mixing Hardware Finishes?

Rooms that are ideal for mixing hardware finishes include:

• Bathrooms that are medium to large in size

The fixtures in the shower, the showerhead, bathtub hardware, towel bars, towel hooks, toilet paper holder, the sink faucet, and the bathroom mirror all are great options for metal hardware finishes.

• Kitchen

How about mixing metal hardware finishes on the faucet, the pot filler, overhead lighting, knobs, drawer pulls, and the range hood?

Look at the trim on this Artisan AT2 Custom Range Hood. The trim provides a striking contrast that makes this a centerpiece of any kitchen.

• Dining Room

Wall sconces, dining room table accents, chandeliers, overhead lighting, door knobs, and drawer pulls are ideal for metal hardware finishes.

A Copper Table Top with a hand hammered, aged finish provides an elegant focal point for any dining room. Mixing complementary metal hardware finishes on drawer pulls and lighting creates attractive accents that work well with the primary metal.

• Connected spaces like an open Kitchen/Dining Room or a Living Room/ Dining Room also work well for mixing metal hardware finishes.

The reason these rooms are optimal for mixing metal hardware finishes is the larger space balances out the different metals. When you decorate a larger area like a kitchen or even a bathroom, two or possibly three different metal hardware finishes can be incorporated into the decor without overwhelming the room.

It is appealing to tie the look of a space together with a light fixture, appliance, or piece of furniture that has both the primary metal finish and the accent metal. This effortlessly adds cohesiveness to the room.

Another tip is to place similar finishes at approximately the same height. For example, faucets and hardware on drawers or cabinets are at the same level. Light fixtures can be a contrasting metal finish at a different height in the same space.

Select a Dominant Hardware Finish When Mixing Metal Hardware

All metal finishes are attractive, but to avoid a room that is too busy, you’ll usually want to pick one metal finish as the dominant hardware finish theme. Copper is a very dramatic metal so if it takes center stage, you’ll want to pair it with other metals that complement it in tone and style.

Which item will be the focus of the room? If it is a copper bathtub like this beautiful Del Cobre Fire Copper Bathtub, it is a showcase piece that will be the first thing noticed when anyone enters the room. Other pieces nearby need hardware that blends in visually with the focal point. Contrasting metal hardware on pieces farther from the anchor piece will create attractive accents in the room without detracting from the beauty of the bathtub.

You can also play with complementary metals accenting the dominant hardware finish. This amazing Barcelona Clawfoot Bathtub is an excellent example. The primary metal comes in your choice of copper finishes. (Pictured here in Polished Copper.)

The distinctive clawfoot accents are available in contrasting metals such as Polished Brass or Polished Nickel. Multiple options allow for maximum design flexibility. The Drain fixtures also come in a variety of metal finishes. When you mix hardware finishes like this, the result is dramatic, stylish, and distinctive.

Planning and Budgeting Your Hardware Finishes

If you are mixing and matching hardware finishes as part of a larger home renovation project, take time to consider:

• Which room or rooms will be renovated
• What are the sizes of the rooms?
• What is the entire projected budget for your home renovation?
• What is the budget for hardware upgrades?
• How much time is allotted for the project?

Consider all the changes you want to make in each area of your home. Smaller rooms do better with matched hardware finishes.

It is also possible to match metal hardware finishes for larger spaces, but larger rooms offer greater design flexibility that includes mixing metal finishes if desired. Two or three metal hardware finishes can be attractively incorporated into larger bathrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms.

Another rule of thumb is to match the hardware finishes and the plumbing. This gives visual continuity and a cohesive design. Don’t forget the importance of lighting and lighting fixtures. You can match these or use complementary styles.

What Are the Best Rooms to Match Metal Hardware Finishes?

Smaller areas and compact spaces can become overwhelmed by mixing hardware finishes. It is better to match hardware finishes in these areas:

• Powder Room

• Smaller or Compact Bathroom

• Front Porch

• Entry Room

• Laundry Room

Best Practices for Matching Metal Hardware Finishes

When the space you are designing is smaller, every change or addition in design has a greater impact and is more noticeable. Avoid using different sheens when selecting your hardware finishes.

Look at the entire space, including the wall color, floor, and furniture as you consider what accents to add. Don’t forget door knobs, switch plates, outlet covers, mirror accents, lights, and hooks. You can create attractive, stylish results by matching metal hardware finishes in compact areas.

What to Avoid When Mixing and Matching Hardware Finishes

Plan out your room decor to create a visually attractive result. Don’t overdo it. Too many metal finishes can result in a space that feels cluttered or overly busy.

If untreated copper is your primary metal, it may darken over time. Keep this in mind as you select accent hardware finishes to mix and coordinate.

Whenever mixing hardware, similar styles and finishes should be located in proximity. Contrasting metals will achieve the best result when positioned apart and in larger rooms. This avoids the feeling the room is overwhelmed or that too much is going on.

Enhance a Space by Mixing and Matching Hardware Finishes

Consider the size of the room and your goals for the finished look as you evaluate mixing and matching hardware finishes. Think about hardware finishes as you start planning your room rather than saving the finishes for last.

When you understand the guidelines for mixing and matching metal hardware finishes, you can then follow them, adapt them, or change them to fit your vision of an attractive room. Your project is your canvas and, with so many metal hardware finishes and styles available, you are only limited by your imagination.

World CopperSmith offers more than 80 metal finishes and textures with options for every home design or remodeling project. Our metalwork experts will help you achieve the customized look you desire. Visit World CopperSmith today to visualize how you can mix and match hardware finishes to renovate or rejuvenate your home.