Home Decor: How to Creatively Mix and Match Metal Finishes

Wrong. It is a common misconception that every metal in your kitchen should look identical. In fact, kitchen styles that mix metals are incredibly chic because by breaking supposed design rules, they look distinctive and fascinating. It is entirely possible to mix bronze and nickel, stainless steel and copper in a tasteful and attractive way – so you can keep those beautiful bronze drawer pulls and use different metal finishes elsewhere in your kitchen as long as you follow this guide to smart metal mixing. We love these metal finishes that mix and match metal finishes that mix and match from HGTV.

Choose Dominant Metal Finishes

Just as you must always choose a dominant color for a space, you must choose a dominant metal for your kitchen, as well as no more than two metal accents. Typically, the dominant metal will be that which is most prominent in the room, like the stainless-steel appliances or the oil-brushed bronze faucets; no matter where you look, you should catch a glimpse of your dominant choice. The metals you mix in should complement and supplement your main metal, either offering balance in tone or texture or carrying the motif further.

For example, if your kitchen is to be largely white and gold, you might add a gleaming silver chandelier for metallic equilibrium. Alternatively, if you have brushed nickel and stainless steel, you can match Italian pewter dinnerware to the cool, textured theme.

Select Your Metals Color Scheme

Metals are essentially colors, just with a bit more sparkle and shine. Therefore, before you make firm decisions on your kitchen’s metal finishes, you should have a solid plan for the room’s color scheme. Generally, warm metals (like gold, copper, and brass) go with warm colors, while cool metals (chrome and silver) go with cool colors. Meanwhile, in neutral-colored rooms, you should feel free to go wild with your metallic mixing and matching. You can even use metals to add more texture and temperature to a room, perhaps placing a copper lamp in a gray space or a nickel-framed mirror in a beige one.

One way to intelligently mix and match metals in your kitchen is by varying the color of your cabinets. For example, white cabinets in a kitchen island can boast oil-brushed bronze fixtures while black wall cabinets use brushed-nickel knobs and pulls. You can manipulate the colors around your metals to make them flow with the rest of the room.

Mix Warm and Cold Metals

If you thought it was a sin to mix and match metals in your kitchen, you probably believe mixing warm and cold metals is akin to blasphemy. In truth, using just one metal in a space is monochromatic and boring, and using a single metal temperature in a large kitchen is equally dull. Instead of worrying about precise matching, you should be thinking about interior design in terms of harmonizing – different tones working together to make beautiful music. If your space is large enough, and your color scheme permits it, you should seriously consider integrating warm and cold metals in your kitchen.

Remember to Use Textural Metal Finishes

Unlike flat color, metals tend to add a variety of textures to your space. For example, nickel and bronze hardware tend to have a matte, brushed grain, whereas gold and chrome are glossy and spotless – unless you forget to polish them. While you are surveying different metal finishes for your kitchen, you should keep in mind your texture options to create a rich atmosphere for the eye and fingertips.

Add Neutral Metal Finishes and Tones

In this post, we’ve written much about opposing types of metal finishes and when to use them, but there is one underused metal that serves as a neutral in almost every space: Iron. Iron is neither warm nor cool, and it comes it a variety of textures to suit any kitchen style. If you feel uncertain about mixing and matching more assertive metals, you should feel confident adding iron to any room because iron doesn’t clash with any metal. In fact, iron only serves to make other metals pop, giving them more color and temperature by contrast. Iron remains the hardest working metal – at least for decorators.

For more ideas for your kitchen cabinetry, see our archives!

When it comes to the kitchen surfaces that you use while chopping your veggies, buttering your toast, and stacking your dirty dishes to cue them up for the washer, you might not think that you have very many options. But just because ceramic tile and slabs of natural stone (marble, granite, etc.) have dominated the countertop scene for the last few decades doesn’t mean you have to succumb to the trends if you don’t like them. And you might be surprised to learn that there are actually a wide variety of potential materials to consider when it comes to your counters. Here are just a few that could make your kitchen makeover a revelation (or a revolution, if you happen to be a trendsetter).

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Stainless steel.

If you’re willing to get stainless steel appliances, why not countertops? This material will give your kitchen a sleek, modern look and it has an awful lot of benefits. For one thing, it doesn’t really stain, and if you accidentally set a hot pot on it you won’t have to worry about scarring the surface with (although you probably don’t want to touch it for a few minutes after you move the pan).

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Rustic wood.

The farmhouse kitchen had something of a resurgence recently by way of giant kitchen sinks with no dividers (like small tubs ensconced in your countertop) and antique-finish hardware made to look like it came straight from 1930 (manufacturers have really nailed that dark patina). But if you like this look, why not take it a step further by installing a wooden countertop? While the original look would have called for nude wood, you’ll probably want to use some kind of matte lacquer to stave off food stains (wood is pretty porous). And you’ll certainly have to be careful about placing hot items on it without a trivet in place. But the fact that you can use the entire counter as a cutting board kind of makes up for it.

Formica.

Believe it or not, this retro look is coming back in a big way when it comes to kitchen customization. The saturated colors and metallic sparkle that made this plastic laminate so popular back when your parents (or grandparents) were kids has been recently rediscovered by a new generation of homeowners who are looking to put a personal stamp on their interior spaces. And thanks to the melamine resin used in Formica, this counter surface will resist heat, staining, and abrasion.

Composites.

You’ve no doubt heard of materials like Coriander and Silestone, and these composites can provide you with a wide range of color options as well as durability and ease of use that you simply can’t get from natural stone.

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Eco options.

Both concrete and recycled glass can make for a killer kitchen countertop. Concrete, for example, may be poured as is if you like the ultra-minimalist look. But it can also be stained and treated to look like all manner of other surfaces, including natural stone, wood, and even leather. As for recycled glass, it is crushed and molded (sometimes with concrete) to create a one-of-a-kind surface that positively glitters (and you can choose the color of glass). And if you decide you want the look of granite or marble tile, simply seek out reclaimed materials that don’t call for further mining.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.