How to Mix Metals in Your Home Decor: 6 Tips to Follow

Intentionally mixing metals in a space can elevate an interior's elegance and sophistication. That's because sticking to one metal finish in a room makes a space appear flat and one-dimensional, says designer Shannon Claire Smith, while mixing up to three metal finishes adds depth and interest. Smith and other designers offer more tips for how to mix metals for the best results in your home.

Mix Opposites for Contrast

A room will look more purposeful if the tones of the mixed metals are very different, Smith says.

“If mixed metals are too close in color and finish, the end result could look like an error,” says designer Killy Scheer. She suggests choosing a combination of opposites, such as satin nickel and polished brass, so that it's clear the intention is to create a contrast. Another combination to avoid? Brass and gold—these two golds clash.

Take Note of Undertones

Designer Brittany Farinas offers a tip when mixing brass with another metal. She suggests incorporating another metal element that has the same warm undertone as brass to achieve harmony in the space.

But it gets tricky with a few combinations, as in the case of brass, bronze, and copper. Brass (more yellow-gold) and bronze (more reddish-brown) mix well because they look different and both have warm undertones. Copper won't usually mix well with brass or bronze because it takes on a look that's similar to either one, Smith says.

Achieve a Curated Look

Properly mixing metals with intention gives a home a curated feel.

“Combining different metal finishes and sheens gives the impression that a design evolved over time,” Scheer says. “It’s a great way to make a room feel collected rather than pulled straight from a catalog.” 

“To mix metals properly in a space, there needs to be a sense of purpose to each metal's presence,” Mimi and Hill designers Miriam Silver Verga and Hillary Kaplan say. “Our rule of thumb is that each type of metal should be seen in at least two places in a room, excluding appliances.” 

Avoid Mixing Too Many Metals

Too much metal mixing can backfire and cause a space to appear confusing, cluttered, and busy, says designer Teri Clar. If you have black door handles in a bathroom, keep the robe hooks black, even if your sink faucet and pulls are brass, she explains.

Many designers follow this rule of thumb: mix one to two metals in small rooms and no more than two to three metals in large rooms. For example, in a small powder room, stick to mixing no more than two metals for a cohesive look.

Designer Cynthia Vallance says that although there is no hard, fast rule, she uses two to three metals in a room.

"Select a dominant one that will carry the space, and then place the remaining metals accordingly as accents," she says.

Choose a Dominant Finish

Choose one dominant metal when mixing two or three metals. To help you successfully mix three metals in a room, apply the 60-30-10 decorating rule to the metals as a guide.

Selecting a dominant metal finish in a bathroom or kitchen is important for another reason: the same finish from one manufacturer may slightly vary from another manufacturer, Scheer says.

“Chrome looks basically the same no matter the manufacturer," she says. "But oil-rubbed bronze can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer."

As an example, consider using chrome as your dominant metal and oil-rubbed bronze as accents to minimize variances. Or if you are choosing oil-rubbed bronze as your dominant finish, just make sure all of the items come from the same manufacturers so the quality of the finishes match.

Pick Metals That Make Sense

Select your mix of metals by considering the room's use and overall feeling. For example, in more formal spaces, such as a primary bathroom or powder room, designer Mary Patton prefers to use brass regardless of what other metal is used around the rest of the house.

Here are a few more metal combinations to try. When in doubt, remember that matte black and gray iron are considered neutral metal colors that go with just about any other metal.

• Chrome and brass
• Chrome and black
• Black and brass
• Satin brass and polished nickel
• Stainless steel and gold
• Black, polished nickel, and antique brass