Mixing metal finishes in the bathroom is a great way to add an interesting and contemporary look to your home. And today I’m sharing some simple tips on how to mix metals in the bathroom, along with a guide to what metals go together, images of bathrooms featuring mixed metal finishes, places to shop for bathroom faucets and fixtures in 2024, and more.
If you’re currently planning a bathroom remodel or are making choices regarding finishes and are looking for simple tips for mixing metals in the bathroom, I hope you’ll find some great ideas in this post.
Is it okay to mix metals in a bathroom?
Thank goodness, the days of matching all the fixtures in a bathroom are over! It’s now very common to mix and match metal finishes, not only in the bathroom but in the kitchen, as well.
After considering all the mixed metal options, we chose a mix of chrome and brass metal finishes for our recent master bathroom renovation, and I love how it turned out.
Whether you prefer a modern or classic look, mixing metals adds visual interest to your bathroom and is an interior design trend that will stand the test of time.
A rule of thumb for mixing metals in a bathroom
While you should feel free to mix metal finishes in your bathroom in any way that pleases you, one rule followed by many interior designers is to use no more than three metal finishes in one room.
It’s also a good idea to choose timeless finishes like chrome, polished nickel, and brass for permanent fixtures like faucets, shower heads, and lighting, and secondary metal finishes on mirrors, drawer and door pulls, towel bars, etc.
Since it’s easier to change cabinet hardware, mirrors, etc., you can later switch out those items for a different finish if your style changes.
What metals can be mixed together in a bathroom?
Metals come in both warm and cool tones.
Warm metals include brass, gold, copper, and oil-rubbed bronze. Cool metals include chrome, polished nickel, and brushed nickel.
Black is considered either a cool-toned metal or a neutral and makes a great third metal to balance out your mix.
If you want to mix metals in the bathroom, I recommend mixing cool metals with warm metals to create a nice, eye-pleasing balance.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid mixing two metals in the same family, such as nickel and chrome, unless they’re distanced from each other or you’re also adding a warm-toned metal to the mix.
Metals also come in a variety of sheens and finishes, including matte, satin, brushed, polished, oil-rubbed, aged, and antiqued.
When mixing metal finishes, most designers agree you can mix metal finishes and sheens. However, it’s always a good idea to place your metal items next to each other before they’re installed to make sure you’re creating an eye-pleasing mix.
What metals can you mix with chrome in a bathroom?
As the two most popular metallic shades, chrome and brass (or chrome and gold) mix well together and can be combined to add a balanced look in the bathroom.
Similarly, brushed nickel and/or polished nickel mix beautifully with brass metal finishes in the bathroom.
Are gold and brass finishes still in style?
While chrome and polished nickel bathroom fixtures are trending for 2024, brass is still in style, adding a luxurious touch to any room.
Brass works well in both warm and white spaces as well as rooms with darker tones. Use brass when you want your eye to be drawn to the fixture or metal finish.
In 2024, brass finishes are becoming more subtle and toned down, with more of an antique or aged deep golden look, rather than yellow, pink or shiny finishes.
One issue with ordering brass bathroom fixtures and hardware online is there’s no way to know what color and tone of brass you’re getting until it arrives.
An item that appears to have an antique brass finish online might actually have a yellow or pink cast in person. I’ve also ordered pieces that were described as brushed or matte but which ended up having a satin or shiny finish.
However, don’t worry if you can’t find fixtures in the exact same color and finish. Similar tones go well together, too –especially if they’re not placed right next to each other.
Is chrome or brushed nickel more modern?
Chrome is one of the most popular bathroom finishes for 2024, as it works well with both light and dark color palettes.
Chrome adds brightness to a space and is usually considered more modern than brushed nickel.
Brushed nickel, also called satin nickel, has a more subdued, matte finish, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms. Brushed nickel works well in both light and dark spaces and with just about any color palette.
While brushed nickel isn’t one of the top metal finishes for 2024, it’s still a great option that won’t be out of style anytime soon,
Polished nickel fixtures have a deeper, warmer tone than chrome and brushed nickel and are considered more high-end, making them a bit pricier.
This timeless bathroom features light wood cabinetry paired with polished nickel mirrors and faucets and brass finishes in the sconces and pulls:
How to Mix Metal Finishes in the Bathroom
In general, I recommend opting for one dominant metal and choosing one or two other metals as your accents.
To begin, let the existing metal finishes in your bathroom give you a starting point. Do you already have a lot of one metal finish in your space?
For example, if you currently have brushed nickel finishes in your bathroom, you could keep some of the brushed nickel elements and add in a bit of brass and/or black to create an interesting and budget-friendly mix.
To keep your bathroom looking cohesive, don’t mix too many finishes, colors, and styles in the same room. For example, if you mix both brushed and shiny metal finishes in one room, then try to keep the styles of the fixtures the same.
Alexis Andra Austin – chandelier
On the other hand, if you decide to mix styles; i.e., modern and traditional fixtures, in one space, then make sure all the finishes are the same.
Remember, even though mixing metals in the bathroom is popular right now, there’s nothing wrong with matching all the finishes and hardware in your bathroom. Matching metal finishes is an easy way to give a space a cohesive look
Use your cabinet color as a guide when choosing metals
When choosing metal finishes, take into account the color and finish of your vanity cabinets. This beautiful bathroom from Studio McGee is a lesson on mixing metals in the bathroom to coordinate with the surrounding finishes:
Here are a few guidelines for matching metal finishes to your bathroom cabinets:
- Blue and black bathroom cabinets look gorgeous with brass faucets and cabinet pulls.
- White and gray bathroom cabinets pair beautifully with chrome, polished nickel, or brass fixtures for a timeless look.
- Light wood bathroom cabinets are often paired with black hardware for a modern look; however, for a more timeless look, brass and polished nickel are great options for wood bathroom cabinets.
This timeless master bathroom features a matte black light fixture as the accent metal, mixed with aged brass as the dominant metal on the plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware, and mirrors.
Should bathroom cabinet hardware match the faucet?
Traditionally, bathroom cabinet hardware was chosen to match the faucet finish, but that’s no longer the case.
Jenny Martin Design – Prestige Homes
Although your cabinet hardware doesn’t have to match your faucet, I do think it’s a good idea to repeat the cabinet hardware finish elsewhere in the room–perhaps in the mirror or lighting.
This helps tie the room together and create a cohesive look.
Mixed Metals in the Bathroom
Following are pictures of bathrooms with mixed metals. These beautiful spaces are filled with ideas and inspiration for incorporating mixed metal finishes in a master bathroom or small bathroom.
I love how the brass sconces and white oak wood vanity bring warmth to this elegant master bathroom.
This primary bathroom from Studio McGee combines polished nickel, polished brass, black, and aged brass finishes in a fresh way for a timeless yet modern look.
Curved brass mirrors add a feminine touch and help soften the straight edges and angles typically found in a bathroom. The polished nickel wall-mounted faucets also add a unique look to this beautiful space:
A unique mix of black, white, chrome, and brass finishes combine to enhance this mixed metal bathroom design:
A mix of brass and nickel metal finishes were used in this stylish bathroom to complement the cabinet color (Magnetic Gray by Sherwin Williams):
A mix of chrome, black and brass metals provide a focal point in this small bathroom.
Here’s a contemporary bathroom featuring a polished nickel faucet, brass mirror, and black cabinet hardware and sconces, contrasting beautifully with the white vanity.
Coordinating brass mirrors and faucets, combined with brushed nickel cabinet pulls and white sconces, create a modern and stylish look:
This elegant bathroom features polished brass cabinet pulls and mirror, combined with polished nickel sconces and faucet:
Oil-rubbed bronze faucets, mixed with black mirrors and cabinets pulls and aged brass sconces, create a timeless look:
A mix of antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls, black mirrors, and chrome faucets pair beautifully with a deep blue vanity:
Black cabinet pulls blend wonderfully with the polished nickel faucets and chrome light fixtures and mirror in this coastal bathroom:
Brass mirrors and sconces, mixed with polished nickel faucets and black pulls, create an elegant and timeless primary bathroom:
This beautiful bathroom combines antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls with polished nickel faucets and frameless mirrors for a cohesive look:
Brass sconces, mirrors, and cabinet pulls, combined with chrome or polished nickel faucets, illustrate a beautiful, yet subtle way of mixing metals in the bathroom:
This beautiful primary bathroom features different metals via a polished nickel faucet and brass finishes on the sconces, mirror, and cabinet pulls. Here’s a source for the chandelier.
A mix of aged brass cabinet pulls and light fixtures, polished nickel faucets, and satin nickel mirrors, combine to create a cohesive and eye-pleasing space, as shown in this stylish bathroom.
Where to Shop for Bathroom Fixtures
Investing in a bathroom faucet, lighting, mirrors, and cabinet pulls, regardless of the style and finish, doesn’t have to break the bank.
Below are a few of my favorite places to shop for bathroom fixtures, lighting, and decor:
Wayfair
Serena & Lily
McGee & Co.
Pottery Barn
Rejuvenation
Amazon
West Elm
Lowe’s
And here’s a selection of faucets, mirrors, door and drawer pulls, and lighting that can be mixed and matched in different metal finishes.
Bathroom Faucets
Bathroom Vanities and Linen Cabinets
Bathroom Lighting
Bathroom Mirrors
Cabinet Pulls and Knobs
Looking for more design and decorating ideas? Here are a few favorite related posts from the blog:
Beautiful Bathroom Ideas, Design Trends and Decor for 2024
Beautiful Coastal Bathroom Ideas and Trends for 2024
Bathroom Mirror Ideas for Every Style and Budget
2024 Home Decor Trends and Design Styles: 10 Ideas to Try This Year
Color of the Year 2024 + Top Home Color Trends
Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Our Master Bathroom Renovation
How to Add a Touch of Nancy Meyers Style to Your Kitchen and Home
What is Coastal Grandmother Style? (and why I’m loving this trend)
Chic California Casual Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love
A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Kitchen
I hope you found this post helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions about mixing different metal finishes in the bathroom. Have a wonderful day! xo Jane
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27 Comments
Erin Crary
March 30, 2023 at 3:09 pmWe are renovating our master bath. My husband is building a white oak double vanity and we plan to use matte black and brushed brass metals. We will need cabinet hardware, faucets, mirrors and vanity lighting. I have located a few options for vanity lighting that use both metals. I’m trying to decide which remaining items need to be matte black and which should be the brass. For example, should the mirrors (we’re using dual mirrors instead of one long one) be brass and then the faucets and cabinet hardware be matte black? I don’t want it to seem as we tried to match everything-I just want it to all be tied together.
Jane
March 30, 2023 at 4:02 pmHi Erin! Your new bathroom sounds amazing! Kudos to your husband for building your vanity — I’m sure it will be the centerpiece of your space. I love your idea of using brass on the mirrors and matte black on the faucet and hardware. I think that would tie your space together nicely without looking like you tried to match everything. Wishing you all the best with your renovation! xo Jane
Jackie
January 22, 2023 at 10:03 pmHi. Thank you for a great post. I am renovating my master bath and will have grey marble subway tiles and grey marble basketweave flooring. My birch vanity is a medium-wood tone with black streaks and my white quartz countertop has grey/black variations. I really wanted champagne bronze fixtures but couldn’t commit and ended up with a “shiny” brushed nickel and I am putting up plain recessed medicine cabinets. Matte black coordinates better with the overall look but I fell in love with a champagne bronze sconce. When I put a similar champagne color next to my faucet, it doesn’t look as nice as the matte black. Does it matter if a wall sconce doesn’t perfectly match a faucet and is it weird to add a third element like matte black pulls? Is that too many metals?
Jane
January 23, 2023 at 7:31 amHi Jackie! Thank you so much for your kind words. Your master bath sounds amazing! In response to your questions, it doesn’t matter if a wall sconce doesn’t perfectly match the faucet. In fact, I would say they rarely do, so I wouldn’t worry about it at all. And I don’t think it’s weird to add in a third element like matte black pulls. Black pulls are becoming so popular that they don’t seem to stand out as a separate metal element; rather, they often just look like part of the vanity. Also, you mentioned that the vanity wood tones and countertop incorporate black, which will tie the look together beautifully. Again, your bathroom sounds wonderful, and I wish you all my best with your renovation! xo Jane
Haley
January 21, 2023 at 3:19 pmHello! Would it be weird to do gold light, mirror, cabinet hardware, and shower system, and then black faucets, towel rack, toilet holder? My main question is can you do different sink faucet and shower system, or should you try and keep those two the same?
Jane
January 22, 2023 at 8:56 amHi Haley! Thanks so much for reaching out! I think you could use different finishes on your sink and shower faucets, especially since it sounds like you’ve got a good balanced mix of both finishes throughout the bathroom. I’ve seen kitchen designers use different metals on the main sink faucet and the prep sink faucet, and it looked good, so I think the same idea can apply in the bathroom. I hope this helps, and I wish you all the best with your bathroom updates! xo Jane
Elizabeth
November 27, 2022 at 6:35 amHi Jane. This article is fantastic! Thank you for posting your amazing thoughts and ideas. I’m in the process of reworking what will be my retirement home in a coastal town. I have gutted one of the bathrooms and need to finalize the decorative touches. The vanity with attached makeup vanity is birch with driftwood stain and the faucet as well as the shower fixtures are in Kohlers vibrant brushed bronze. I could actually keep the vanity hardware the same finish and sconces as well, all kohler. That would be easy and I’m sure would lovely however wondering what other options you might suggest. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Jane
November 27, 2022 at 10:01 amHi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for your comment and kind words. Your coastal home sounds wonderful, and the finishes in your bathroom sound perfect. The Kohler brushed bronze finish is beautiful — and since I’m all about keeping things easy, I like your idea of keeping the vanity hardware and sconces the same for now. Once the bathroom is completed, if you feel you need some contrast, you could (fairly) easily switch out the vanity hardware for something else — perhaps something in black or polished nickel. But honestly, what you have going on sounds amazing! I’m excited for you and wish you all the best with your remodel! xo Jane
Elizabeth
November 29, 2022 at 5:39 amThank you Jane for your positive feedback. I’m so happy I found your excellent site!
Heather Wooten
September 21, 2022 at 7:48 amHello! I need help ASAP! Can i do a Chrome tub filler with Gold shower and bath faucets?
Jane
September 21, 2022 at 10:32 amHi Heather, I’m not sure what bathroom configuration you have, but if your tub and shower are combined, I wouldn’t usually recommend mixing a chrome tub filler with a gold shower head. However, if you have separate tub and shower areas in your bathroom, I don’t see a problem with having chrome tub fixtures and gold in the shower area. I hope this helps! xo
michelle
September 15, 2022 at 7:48 pmHi Jane, great post! Do you by chancee know where the vanity is from? The wood colored double sink vanity with the full mirror and light fixtures above the mirror?
Jane
September 16, 2022 at 8:06 amHi Michelle, thank you so much! I can’t say for sure, but it looks like it was probably custom made by a cabinetry company. You might want to check with a local design shop or building center to see if they sell custom-made cabinetry. It does give you a much wider range of options and sizes than ordering pre-made cabinets. I hope this helps — have a beautiful weekend, xo Jane
Brenda Hampton
July 13, 2022 at 7:53 pmLove this post! We are redoing a small bath and have chosen a dark cabinet that currently has bronze hardware. The bath will have light gray walls and gray mosaic tile floor. The shower and faucet hardware is brushed nickel. My dilemma… what color metal for lights and mirror? The cabinet hardware can be changed. Help
Brenda Hampton
July 13, 2022 at 7:54 pm.. also, the shower walls will have a white tile. Thx
Jane
July 14, 2022 at 10:34 amHi Brenda! Thank you so much for your kind words. Your bathroom remodel sounds lovely! My first thought for the mirror and lighting is to go with brushed nickel. However, if you do decide to change your cabinet hardware to a different finish, such as brass, then you could easily repeat that finish in your mirror and/or lighting as well. For inspiration, you might want to take a look at my post 70 Modern Bathroom Designs You Will Love. Some of the bathrooms in that post have features that are similar to what you’ve described. I hope this helps, and I wish you all the best with your bathroom updates! xo Jane
Andrea Wilson
July 2, 2022 at 4:02 pmHi! This post has been extremely helpful. We are building a new home and the master bathroom has me stumped. I’d love your input. I plan to have a dark blue vanity with brushed brass cabinet pulls, bath hardware, and faucets. Our main hardware throughout the house is oil-rubbed bronze. What is the best thought on hardware for the glass shower and towel racks? Will the ORB clash horribly with the dark blue and brass?
Jane
July 3, 2022 at 8:05 amHi Andrea! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. The finishes in your new master bathroom sound amazing! I think the oil rubbed bronze will provide a nice contrast to the brass and dark blue finishes. One thing that might help quell your concerns is to purchase a towel bar in the ORB and place it next to one of your brass pulls and something in the same shade of blue as the vanity. I know it always helps me to see things visually before placing them together in a room. I wish you all the best with your new home! I know making all the finish choices can sometimes seem overwhelming, but it sounds like you are a natural! xo Jane
Andrea Wilson
July 3, 2022 at 3:35 pmThank you for the input!
Jane
July 8, 2022 at 6:39 amOf course! I’m always happy to help! xo
Justine
April 14, 2022 at 6:13 pmHi there! This article has been so informative, so thank you! We are currently building a second bathroom and our cabinet pulls and mirror are a polished gold. We also picked out brushed nickel for our sink faucet and shower fixtures. Can I ask what you’d recommend for the light fixture and towel racks? This is where I’m tossed up between the two metals. The bathroom is very small, so all the metals will be very close.
Jane
April 15, 2022 at 7:32 amHi Justine! Your new bathroom sounds wonderful. If your light fixture will be hanging or mounted near your mirror and you can find a fixture in a gold finish that is similar to your mirror, you could definitely do a gold light fixture. Otherwise, I’d probably go with a brushed nickel or black finish on the light fixture. However, if your light fixture is a ceiling mount, not too close to the mirror, I think you could get away with a gold finish that doesn’t necessarily match the finish on the mirror. For the towel racks, I’d probably go with brushed nickel, simply because brushed nickel towel bars, toilet holders, etc. are usually easier to find. That said, I always recommend choosing finishes and fixtures that look and feel right to you. I’m sure it will all come together beautifully! xo Jane
Emily
April 11, 2022 at 9:00 pmGreat post!! Can I ask your expert opinion as well? I am adding two more bathrooms to our house and they both will have Brizo’s polished gold faucets and shower fixtures. Have you seen Brizo’s polished gold? It is beautiful!! BUT………. it is impossible to match or coordinate. It is like no other polished gold around. So, what would you recommend for the glass shower hardware, mirrors and sconces?
The first bathroom is black and white so that’s pretty easy but the second bathroom is white and a pale blush pink with a light oak vanity. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllppp!!!
Thank you!!
Jane
April 12, 2022 at 1:34 pmHi Emily! Your new bathrooms sound amazing! To avoid clashing with the polished gold faucets, you might consider using a chrome or polished nickel finish on the mirrors, etc. Both have a shiny finish that would complement the polished gold faucets. Of course, in your black and white bathroom, you could go with a black finish as well. For any hardware that’s far enough away from the faucets, you could probably get away with using a gold or brass finish without worrying about matching the polished gold exactly. You obviously have amazing taste, so ultimately, I suggest trusting your own instincts! xo Jane
Emily
April 12, 2022 at 1:36 pmWow! Thanks for the quick reply!
Tiffany
December 19, 2021 at 11:55 amI have a white vanity with marble vein like top nickel faucet black mirror and black light with glass what color of pulls should be on vanity ? Should the towel holders be a certain metal. We have black toilet paper holder and a shelf that is blackish metal and wood. Walls are agreeable gray i believe floors are whitish with gray shower curtian white.
Would adding a brass or look ok or too much. Light above toilet needs change but to what maybe a simple pendant or globe that is black and rim brass or gold to it?
Jane
December 20, 2021 at 10:14 amHi Tiffany! Thank you for your message — your bathroom sounds absolutely beautiful! The nice thing about vanity pulls is you can test out a color or finish by installing just one or two pulls, and if you don’t like the look, you can try something else. If you’re curious about adding in some brass elements, perhaps you could buy a couple of brass pulls and install them to see how the brass tones look with your vanity and the other finishes in your bathroom. If you like the brass pulls, then you could add in some additional brass with the light fixture you described for over your toilet. As far as towel holders go, I think either black or nickel would tie in well with the rest of your finishes. I hope this helps! Have a wonderful day! xo Jane