One of the questions we get all the time is how to mix metals. With styles and trends ever-changing, going from everyone loving gold to silver to matte black, sometimes the best answer to keep up with the trends is to mix and match! By mixing different metals you can add a level of dimension and cohesion throughout the home. Here are some of our favorite rules of thumb to get you started!
1. Use Metals of the same finishes and undertones
One of the best ways to mix metals is to match those of the same finishes. By matching the finish you ensure that the metals have the same texture. The metal finish we suggest, to begin with, is brushed metals. Brushed metals are created by a brush or wheel that has been spun at a very fast rate to produce a brush-like finish. Through our work, we have noticed that this metal finish seems to be the most cohesive and look the most similar when purchasing them sight unseen.
In addition, the undertones of the metals are super important when trying to mix and match. Nickel, gold, brass, and copper all have warm undertones and can be more easily mixed. While chrome and stainless steel both have cool undertones. However, white and black do not have cool or warm undertones and can be used universally between both color palettes.
2. Don’t worry about the fridge
Now making sure you are matching textures and undertones can sound even more difficult if you also take into consideration the fridge, and other regular kitchen appliances, but don’t! The fridge, stove, hood vent, dishwasher, etc. are considered to be utilitarian and can be ignored when planning out the other metals in the room.
So, don’t be worried if your heart is set on gold pulls while having a stainless steel fridge! You can still do that! Although we do suggest matching all appliance colors together to have a more seamless appearance in the kitchen.
3. Limit your options
Though multiple metals have the same finishes or same undertones, we suggest limiting the number of metals you use in one space to three. Now, you do not have to use all three, for example, matte black and gold can be a stunning combination in just about any space, and can make such a statement that a third color is not necessary.
However, adding too many mixed metals to a space can make the room look heavy and disorganized. We also suggest that you should choose one of the three metals to be your dominant metal while the others are accent metals that will bring context to space. You can think of this almost as throw pillows but in metal form.
4. Know what style you are going for
Metals can impact the feel of a space and can play to different styles. For example, if you are going for a French country or vintage farmhouse a copper would be a great option as a main, or decorative metal. However, we would suggest against using glossy gold as that can add too modern of a feel for a vintage space. On the other hand, if you were going for a modern, or contemporary feel, polished gold would be a great choice. In addition, chrome and stainless can give an industrial feel to the home.
5. Trust yourself!
Overall you know what you want your home to look like! Trust the process, and don’t be afraid of taking a few risks, and understand that you can always change hardware and décor in the future!
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Lynds
