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 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.
AKB Design Studio – pendant – sconces
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.
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 aim for two metal finishes (three at most), and repeat each one at least twice so the design feels intentional.
Where to Mix Metals
- Faucets
- Cabinet hardware
- Lighting
- Mirrors
- Shower and tub fittings
- Towel bars and toilet paper holders
- Door knobs and hinges
It’s a good idea to choose timeless finishes like chrome, polished nickel, or brass for permanent fixtures like faucets, shower heads, and lighting, and secondary metal finishes for mirrors, drawer and door pulls, towel bars, etc.
Since it’s easier to change things like cabinet hardware, towel bars, and mirrors, you can switch out those items for a different finish if your style changes at some point.
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.
Bria Hammel Interiors – Spacecrafting Photography
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.
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.
AKB Design Studio – sconces – similar mirror – similar mirror
Are gold and brass finishes in style?
Unlacquered brass is trending for 2026, while chrome and polished nickel bathroom fixtures are also in style, adding a luxurious touch to any room.
Brass works well in warm white spaces as well as rooms with darker tones.
Marie Flanigan Interiors – Julie Soefer Photography – JBH Editorial Styling
Choose brass when you want your eye to be drawn to the fixture or metal finish.
AKB Design Studio – Sylvie Li Photography
In 2026, brass finishes are more subtle and toned down, with an antique, unlacquered, aged deep golden look, rather than yellow, pink or shiny finishes.
One thing to be aware of when 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 aged or unlacquered 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.
Bria Hammel Interiors – Spacecrafting Photography – similar mirror
Is chrome or brushed nickel more modern?
Chrome is one of the most popular bathroom finishes for 2026, 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.
Pure Salt Interiors – Vanessa Lentine Photography – mirror
While brushed nickel isn’t one of the top metal finishes for 2026, 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.
Marie Flanigan Interiors – Julie Soefer Photography – JBH Editorial Styling
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?
Jenny Martin Design – Coast Prestige Homes
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 matte 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, you might want to keep 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 your space a cohesive look.
Jenny Martin Design – Coast Prestige Homes
Use your cabinet color as a guide when choosing metals
When choosing metal finishes, take into account the color and tone 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:
- All shades of blue and green bathroom cabinets look gorgeous with brass faucets and cabinet pulls.
AKB Design Studio – Photographie Interieure Co
This beautiful bathroom is a great example, with its soft gray-blue cabinetry paired with unlacquered brass metal finishes on the rounded bathroom mirrors, sconces, faucets, and cabinet pulls.
- Wood bathroom cabinets are often paired with matte 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.
- 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.
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 – Coast 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 several 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.
This contemporary 3/4 bathroom features a mix of brass and polished nickel finishes, complemented by board and batten wall moulding and accent lighting under the vanity.
Jenny Martin Design – Coast Prestige Homes
This primary bathroom combines polished nickel, polished brass, matte black, and unlacquered 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:
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.
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, matte black, and brass metals provide a focal point in this small bathroom.
Here’s a contemporary bathroom featuring a nickel faucet, aged brass cabinet hardware, and brass sconces and shower head, contrasting beautifully with the warm wood vanity.
Pure Salt Interiors – Vanessa Lentine Photography
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 work well with the polished nickel faucets and chrome sconces 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:
This statement powder room features an aged brass finish on the sconces and towel ring and a nickel wall-mounted faucet, illustrating a beautiful, yet subtle way of mixing metals in a very small bathroom.
Pure Salt Interiors – Vanessa Lentine Photography
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 brass shelving, cabinet pulls, and light fixtures with polished nickel faucets and mirrors creates a cohesive and eye-pleasing space, as shown in this stylish bathroom.
Here’s another view of the beautiful primary bathroom shown earlier in this post, featuring a mix of polished nickel faucets and aged brass sconces and cabinet pulls.
Jenny Martin Design – Coast Prestige Homes
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
Quince
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 Trends and Design Ideas for 2026
Beautiful Bathroom Remodel Ideas for Small Bathrooms and Master Baths
How to Make Your Bathroom Look Expensive (Without Renovating)
The Best Bathroom Paint Colors for a Fresh, Timeless Look
Beautiful Coastal Bathroom Ideas and Trends
Bathroom Mirror Ideas for Every Style and Budget
Warm White Bathroom Ideas: Timeless Paint Colors and Design Inspiration
Small Bathroom Design Ideas for Full Baths, Half Bathrooms and Powder Rooms
Statement Powder Room Ideas: How to Elevate Your Small Bathroom with Style
Top 10 Interior Design Styles and Trends for 2026
Bathroom Design and Decor Ideas for Small and Master Bathrooms
The 10 Most Beautiful Home Decor Trends for 2026
Modern Cottage Interior Design Ideas for a Cozy, Timeless Home
2026 Interior Color Trends: The Hues Defining the Year
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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35 Comments
Sue G
March 20, 2025 at 10:02 amHi Jane,
I have really enjoyed this article.. thank you! Remodeling a smaller main bath with brushed nickel plumbing fixtures. Ordering mirror and sconces online and would like to incorporate brass/gold. Since I am unsure if the gold metals will match, should I play it safe and a get gold mirror and brushed nickel sconces or vice versa? Thank you!
Jane
March 21, 2025 at 6:55 amHi Sue! Thank you so much for your kind words! Your bathroom choices sound lovely, and honestly I don’t think you could go wrong with either option. Just as a personal preference, I would probably lean toward doing gold/brass on the sconces simply because a gold/brass sconce always catches my eye — and it seems like there are many beautiful brass sconce options available. That said, I think you should go with what feels right for you. If you find the perfect gold/brass mirror and you love it, then I would recommend going in that direction. A frameless mirror is another option, as it would take one of your metal choices off your hands! Again, I don’t think you can go wrong here, so just go with what your heart is telling you and you can’t go wrong. I hope this was helpful in some way, and I wish you all the best with your bathroom remodel! xo Jane
Jessica
December 5, 2024 at 7:12 amThank 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?
Jane
December 5, 2024 at 1:41 pmHi 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
Liz
November 15, 2024 at 9:18 amHi 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?
Jane
November 15, 2024 at 10:40 amHi 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