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A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Bathroom

Mixing metals in the bathroom is a great way to add an interesting and contemporary look to a space. And in today’s post, I’m sharing simple tips on how to mix different metals in the bathroom, a guide to what metals go together, images of bathrooms featuring mixed metal finishes, places to shop for bathroom faucets and fixtures, and more.

If you’ve been following along for a little while, you know we recently renovated our master bathroom.  As with most big projects, not everything went as planned. Things took a bit longer to receive than we expected, giving me too much time to overthink and second-guess my choices!

However, one thing I didn’t second-guess was incorporating a mix of metal finishes in our new bathroom.  I’ve always loved the mixed metal look, so I spent hours gathering tips, ideas, and inspiration on this topic — and today I’m sharing everything I learned. 

If you happen to be planning a bathroom remodel or new build and are making choices regarding finishes, I hope you’ll find all sorts of helpful ideas and inspiration for mixing metals in the bathroom in today’s post.

Beautiful bathroom ideas, with decorating ideas, designs, lighting, vanity ideas, wood cabinets, hardware, faucets, bathroom decor, glam bathroom ideas, shower tile & more - akb design studioAKB Design Studio

First, is it okay to mix metals in a bathroom?

Absolutely!  Thank goodness, the days of having to match 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. 

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.

Love this beautiful bathroom design with mixed metal finishes in the brass and chrome fixtures and decor - bathroom ideas - bathroom decor - coastal style interiors - bathroom remodel - pure salt bathroomPure Salt Interior Design

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.

A simple guide to mixing metals in the bathroom, with images of mixed metal bathrooms, 2024 trends, how to mix chrome, brass, bronze, black, brushed nickel, gold or polished finishes, and more - akb design studioAKB Design Studio

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. 

Beautiful modern master bathroom with a mix of black and brass metal finishes, double light wood vanity - pure saltPure Salt Interiors

Black is considered either a cool-toned metal or a neutral and makes a great third metal to balance out your mix.

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.

If you want to mix metals in the bathroom, I recommend mixing cool metals with warm metals to create a nice, eye-pleasing balance, as shown in this elegant bathroom design.

meg mcsherry interiors bathroomMeg McSherry Interiors

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, as shown in the lovely primary bathroom below.

Love this beautiful timeless bathroom design with a curved wall mirror and brass sconces - akb design studioAKB Design Studio

Are gold and brass finishes still in style?

While chrome and polished nickel bathroom fixtures are trending for 2025, brass is also still in style, adding a luxurious touch to any room. 

An oval or curved top mirror is the perfect way to add a contemporary touch to the bathroom - jean stoffer bathroomJean Stoffer Design

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 2025, 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.  

Love this beautiful small bathroom design with brass metal finishes - henri interiorsHenri Interiors

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 2025, 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. While brushed nickel isn’t one of the top metal finishes for 2025, it’s still a great option that won’t go out of style anytime soon. 

Brushed nickel works well in both light and dark spaces and with just about any color palette. 

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: 

Love this beautiful bathroom with light wood vanities, double sinks and mirrors, and mixed metal finishes - bathroom ideas, bathroom decor Studio McGee

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. 

Love this beautiful master bathroom with two light oak wood vanity cabinets, a freestanding tub, and vintage rug - bathroom remodel - bathroom ideas - bathroom decor - alexis andra austinAlexis Andra Austinchandelier

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:

Love this beautiful bathroom design with a freestanding tub and light neutral decor - studio mcgeeStudio McGee

Here are a few guidelines for matching metal finishes to your bathroom cabinets:

  • All shades of blue as well as black bathroom cabinets look gorgeous with brass faucets and cabinet pulls.

This beautiful bathroom is a great example, with its soft gray-blue cabinetry paired with brass metal finishes on the rounded bathroom mirrors, sconces, faucets, and cabinet pulls.

Studio McGee

  • 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.

I love how the brass and polished nickel finishes complement the white oak wood vanity in this elegant master bathroom.

Mixing metals in the bathroom is a great way to bring an updated yet timeless look to your master bathroom or small bathroom, with bathroom trends for 2024- akb design studioAKB Design Studio

  • White and gray bathroom cabinets pair beautifully with chrome, polished nickel, or brass fixtures for a timeless look.  

the cabinet gallery utah - cambridge home co - bathroomThe Cabinet Gallery Utah – Cambridge Home Co.

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. 

Love this timeless master bathroom design with a light oak wood vanity cabinet and brass sconces - jenny martin design - prestige homesJenny 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.

Love this beautiful bathroom with a woven light fixture, wood vanity cabinets, and white linen cabinetsPure Salt Interiors

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.  

Love this beautiful modern master bathroom with two sinks, neutral vanity cabinets, marble countertops, and a mixed metals in polished nickel and brass lighting, faucets, and hardware - bathroom remodel - bathroom ideas - bathroom decor - bathroom cabinet ideas - bathroom vanity ideasStudio McGee

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:

Love this beautiful modern bathroom design with a dark blue vanity, brass arched mirrors and polished nickel faucets - bathroom remodel - modern bathroom - rehabitat interiorsRehabitat Interiors

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.

Love this elegant modern organic bathroom design with light wood vanity cabinets mixed metal finishes in the faucets, hardware and mirrors - intimate living interiorsIntimate Living Interiors

A mix of brass and nickel metal finishes were used in this stylish bathroom to complement the cabinet color (Magnetic Gray by Sherwin Williams):

Love this beautiful bathroom design with soft gray cabinets and mixed gold and chrome metal finishes - bathroom ideas - bathroom vanity - bathroom cabinets - bathroom remodel - kelsey leighKelsey Leigh Design Co.

A mix of chrome, black and brass metals provide a focal point in this small bathroom.  

Love this striking small bathroom design - the round mirror, mix of metals, black and white, and pendant light give this space a modern coastal touch - lindye gallowayLindye Galloway Studio

Here’s a contemporary bathroom featuring a polished nickel faucet, brass mirror, and black cabinet hardware and sconces, contrasting beautifully with the white vanity.

Mixing metal finishes in the bathroom - love this beautiful bathroom with a white vanity and mix of brass, black and polished nickel finishesPure Salt Interiors

Coordinating brass mirrors and faucets, combined with brushed nickel cabinet pulls and white sconces, create a modern and stylish look:

Love this beautiful bathroom design with a light wood vanity, brass mirrors and faucets, and nickel cabinet hardwareBria Hammel Interiors

This elegant bathroom features polished brass cabinet pulls and mirror, combined with polished nickel sconces and faucet:

Beautiful master bathroom design with a mix of chrome, polished nickel and brass metal finishesStudio McGee

Oil-rubbed bronze faucets, mixed with black mirrors and cabinets pulls and aged brass sconces, create a timeless look:

Beautiful bathroom with light wood vanity, bronze faucets and hardware, brass sconces and round mirrors - Jenna Sue DesignJenna Sue Design

A mix of antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls, black mirrors, and chrome faucets pair beautifully with a deep blue vanity:

Beautiful bathroom styling and decor and design ideas - dark blue vanity with a mix of chrome faucets and brass cabinet hardware and sconces - Mindy GayerMindy Gayer Design

Black cabinet pulls blend wonderfully with the polished nickel faucets and chrome light fixtures and mirror in this coastal bathroom:

Love this beautiful modern bathroom with a white oak wood vanity and mixed metals in the black cabinet pulls and chrome faucets, mirror and lighting - pure saltPure Salt Interiors

Brass mirrors and sconces, mixed with polished nickel faucets and black pulls, create an elegant and timeless primary bathroom:

Beautiful bathroom with light wood vanity and mixed metal finishes - bathroom decor - bathroom remodel - lindye gallowayLindye Galloway Studio

This beautiful bathroom combines antique brass sconces and cabinet pulls with polished nickel faucets and frameless mirrors for a cohesive look:

Love this beautiful master bathroom with double sinks, gray vanity, brass hardware and sconces, and chrome faucets - jean stoffer interiorsJean Stoffer Design

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:

Love this beautiful bathroom design with mixed brass and chrome fixtures and decor - bathroom ideas - bathroom decor - coastal style interiors - bathroom remodel - pure saltPure Salt Interiors

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.

Love this beautiful bathroom design featuring a light wood vanity, brass sconces and pulls, a corner tub, vertical shiplap walls, and woven pendant light over the tub - michelle d young design - bathroom remodel - bathroom decor - bathroom ideas - organic modern bathroomMichelle D. Young Design

A mix of brass cabinet pulls and light fixtures, polished nickel faucets, and frameless mirrors creates a cohesive and eye-pleasing space, as shown in this stylish bathroom.

Studio McGee

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 2025

Beautiful Coastal Bathroom Ideas and Trends

Bathroom Mirror Ideas for Every Style and Budget

Small Bathroom Ideas for 2025

2025 Home Decor Trends and Design Styles: 10 Ideas to Try Now

Color of the Year 2025 + 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

A simple guide to mixing metals in the bathroom, with 2025 design trends, ideas and tips for choosing mixed metal finishes, bathroom vanity inspiration, and how to mix different metals in a master or small bathroom

 

 

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33 Comments

  • Jessica
    December 5, 2024 at 7:12 am

    Thank you for this helpful post! I’m planning to do a mix of brushed nickel and brushed gold in my bathroom – to do all shower, tub, sink faucets, towel bars brushed nickel, and do lighting and cabinet hardware in brushed gold. Would you recommend keeping the shower door matching the shower head (brushed nickel) or could I get away doing brushed gold there?

    Reply
    • Jane
      December 5, 2024 at 1:41 pm

      Hi Jessica! Thank you for your lovely comment — your plans for your bathroom sound absolutely wonderful! While I do think you could get away with a brushed gold finish on your shower door, the usual practice is to match the finish on the shower door with the finish used in the shower. However, there are no set rules, so if you’re drawn toward brushed gold on the shower door, I say go for it. I hope this helps, and I wish you all the best with your beautiful bathroom updates! xo Jane

      Reply
  • Liz
    November 15, 2024 at 9:18 am

    Hi Jane,
    I want to do champagne bronze shower valve and head. Champagne bronze bathtub water valve with spout. I can’t really commit to doing a bronze shower trim or handle on glass door, I feel that would be to much. Would brushed nickel for the shower door trim and handle work?

    Reply
    • Jane
      November 15, 2024 at 10:40 am

      Hi Liz, Absolutely! I think using brushed nickel on the shower door trim and handle would look great. Your bathroom finishes sound beautiful, and I can tell it’s going to look amazing. Wishing you all my best with your bathroom updates! xo Jane

      Reply
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