You may have grown up hearing that mixing gold and silver, whether in jewelry or hardware is a big no-no. Well folks, I’m here to blow your mind! Not only is mixing metals allowed, it can give your room the finishing touch you were looking for. It can add depth and character to a room with no extra effort. However, you must do it intentionally for it to look good. Here are some tried and true rules to help you mix metals like a pro.
Don’t do Matchy-Matchy
In general, I am not a fan of matching too many things in a room. This includes furniture, fabrics and metals. So throw that mentality out the window. Too much matching doesn’t look good. Mixing metals can make your space feel more curated and collected and creates that “aha moment” when you step into your space.
Opposites Attract
A good place to start is to choose metals that are totally different from each other. If you choose metals that are similar but not exactly the same (such as brass and gold), it looks like you were trying to match the metals but they were just a little off. Instead, pair brass with chrome (or another dissimilar metal) so it looks intentional.
Don’t Overmix
Don’t choose too many metals. That will just end up looking messy. Instead, choose a max 3 metals to round out the space. It’s better if there is one dominant metal and the other metals round out the space as accents. If the metals are split 50/50 throughout the space, it can feel chaotic.
Stainless Steel
If you have a lot of stainless steel in one spot (such as your appliances in your kitchen) consider that as one of your metals.
Choose Metals that Fit the Space (and Your Style)
Satin and polished nickel work well in all spaces but especially those with more of a traditional feel. Matte black works well in a more modern setting. At the end of the day, go with what you love. Don’t choose brass because it’s trendy right now. Choose metals that reflect you and that you like. If you like the metals in the space, then that space will reflect you and you will be happy to be there.
Don’t Stress
Last but not least, don’t stress and don’t overthink. Just choose finishes you like and look at them next to each other before you install them.
For hardware ideas, click here.
I recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
