Metallic finishes impact the overall design of any home and ultimately unify the design.
Every home has metal in it. From metal in door handles, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, plumbing finishes and more, metal seems to be everywhere.
Choosing the right metal finish involves answering many questions: Do all metal finishes work with all home styles? Which metals are trendy and which are timeless? Which metals look better with darker interiors than with lighter interiors? And finally, the big question: can I mix or should I match metals in the house?
Think of metal as the jewelry of the home. Just as the metal finish on a pair of earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, or a watch makes a statement about a person's outfit, metal finishes affect the overall design of any home. Choosing the metal finish may seem like one of the smallest decisions you'll need to make for your project, but ultimately, it's what ties the entire design together!
Metals and house styles
What metal works with what style of house?
The style of the home you design will determine whether you choose a metal that is a fad or a more timeless one. Many home designs are traditional, so choosing a traditional metal will be more in keeping with the home and reduce the risk of the design looking dated. Remember, fads are fleeting, so if this is your home or a property you will keep for some time, then choosing a more timeless style will save you from having to remodel sooner than you would like.
Let's take a look at some of the most common options.
Matte black Matte black is a popular new option on the market today. Matte black is taking off in interior design along with the use of black windows in a home. Matte black works well in eclectic style homes and modern homes and can even make a difference in the design of a modern farmhouse.
Satin and oil bronze finishes. They have a deep, rich color and are most often seen in Mediterranean, Tuscan, and rustic style homes. These finishes provide a more traditional look and feel.
Copper It's sure to leave a bold impression! It's a fantastic metal to use in Tuscan, rustic, ranch, steampunk, and farmhouse style homes. The shine and warmth of copper gives these homes a more earthy feel.
Polished Nickel It's more of a basic metal. It's a finish that anyone can feel confident working with because it works well in a long list of different style homes. Polished nickel is darker than chrome and can vary in color just by changing the lighting in a room.
Chrome It is very durable and easy to maintain. It is usually the least expensive of all metals used in homes. Chrome is an ideal metal to use in beach houses, river houses, and lake houses, as it blends well with homes designed around water. The clean, shiny feel of chrome also blends well with the decor of these home styles.
Brushed Nickel It's durable, to say the least. It doesn't leave fingerprints or water spots and works well in a long list of homes, condos, and apartments because of its durability.
Polished brass and gold. Metals are back with a vengeance. But you either love them or hate them; honestly, there seems to be no middle ground. They work very well in traditional, vintage, and eclectic designs. Polished brass and gold are durable and are great for pairing with other finishes and accessories. Although some people think this style is “old-fashioned,” it's not the finish that makes the style dated, but the shape and design of the object.
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Considering the colors used in the overall design of the home plays a big role in choosing metals. Brushed nickel, for example, tends to have a more grayish color, making it a great choice for use in homes with blue undertones.
Chrome, on the other hand, has a more silvery feel to it. It's a great choice for homes with white painted cabinets and walls.
The boldness of black and darker colors creates drama, creating the perfect backdrop for warmer metals like gold and polished brass.
Mix and match?
Although there is no rule stating that all metals must be combined, there are some guidelines to follow if you choose this option. Keep in mind that the overall design of the house should convey balance. The design needs rhythm and flow that create a feeling of “comfort.”
As mentioned above, the finishes on plumbing fixtures, door hardware, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures act as the “jewelry” of the home’s interior. In fashion, you want to match your jewelry to the style of your outfit – delicate pieces to enhance formal wear, and statement jewelry to liven up casual wear.
As is the same with home interiors, some people consider mixing and matching metals a big mistake. But the way the mixing and matching is achieved can change most naysayers and greatly affect most designs. If done right, it projects a sense of “cutting edge design.” Remember that in most investment properties, the goal of the design should be to make the home look new or modern.
Large bathrooms and open spaces that are connected, even kitchens and dining rooms, are ideal places to mix and match metals.
Here's how to get started:
- Choose a “feature metal,” or the metal that will dominate the final look. Use the dominant finish on the object that is the focal point of the room (e.g., the kitchen island with the sink and faucet).
- Use the same focal point finish on the sink faucet as on the cabinet hardware because both are “high touch” items.
- Choose a complementary metallic finish for the lighting.
- Please note that the metal finishes you select should all have the same shine.
- Also pay attention to the undertones of the metals. Keep warm undertones with warm colors and cool undertones with cool colors.
By following these tips, the room will feel more balanced and create rhythm and a better sense of flow, even though not all metals match. It is always important to remember that metal combinations work best in larger spaces. Since larger rooms offer the eyes a wider space to look around, metal combinations in larger spaces often create an interior that invites you to look around. On the other hand, small rooms (for example, bathrooms) are often more attractive when metals match and give the area a more harmonious look and feel.
The metal finishes you use will make all the difference in any design. They will set the tone of the interior and help achieve a formal or informal atmosphere. The choice you make about metals can be the driving force behind the sale of your next big investment!
