Home Update: Mixed Metals

Home updates of any kind – from redecorating to full-on renovations – can be daunting for numerous reasons. However, the days of “everything needs to match perfectly” are over – mixed metals are in and here to stay – and this makes updating each room in your space much more approachable.

With the neutral wood and brick of this home, themes of chrome and matte black metals don't overwhelm and balance each other beautifully.

With these pro tips, your space will pull off mixed metals beautifully, and in no time.

Choose: A marrying element

When incorporating different metals in a room, it might be as simple as starting with an item that couples the two together. Think along the lines of a décor item, or even a mirror with a unique frame with both elements. One simple item like this can allow other items to flow and tie everything else in the room together with ease.

Choose: A finish and stick with it

A trickier portion of mixing metals is sticking with the same finish. Once you decide on the look of the room (modern – polished, matte) or traditional (oil rubbed, supercoated) and anything in between) – it’s wise to choose just one finish to achieve the results you desire.

Choose: A leading metal

The leading metal would be the main metal of the room – other metals would supplement this metal. It would be ideal to choose this metal for fixed, high-traffic and high visibility fixtures such as kitchen faucets or bathtub faucet sets to lead the tones for all the other elements in the room. For those who prefer a more modern look, trendy finishes like shiny copper or chrome and stainless work well here. For farmhouse or French country styles, brass and oil-rubbed finishes are perfect. Matte finishes may work well for many different styles, depending on other details and the overall look of the room.

Choose: Less over more

It might be easy to get carried away with so many beautiful metals and finishes, but less is more has never been a more practical and wiser tip here. Too much going on can easily overwhelm, clutter, and pose the opposite effect of what is trying to be achieved. It’s always smart to stay subtle and highlight a few special pieces while keeping the rest of the room neutral or with non-metal elements.

Stay subtle and highlight a few special pieces, while keeping the rest of the room neutral or with non-metal elements.