Choosing a Hardware Finish, and How to Mix Metals

Finish is the first thing people notice about hardware. A good plan picks one main finish for the house, then uses one or two supporting finishes on purpose. Here is how to do that.

Start with what is fixed

Look at the things that are hardest to change: plumbing fixtures, lighting, appliances, window hardware and any existing hinges. If the faucets are polished nickel and you are not replacing them, that is a strong hint for the kitchen. Hardware does not have to match those pieces exactly, but it should look like it was chosen alongside them.

The common finishes

• Unlacquered brass: warm, living finish that darkens with use.
• Satin or lacquered brass: warm gold that holds its color.
• Oil-rubbed bronze: dark brown with warm highlights, traditional.
• Polished or satin nickel: cool and bright, with a slightly warmer tone than chrome.
• Matte black: graphic and modern, and it hides fingerprints well.
• Antique copper and other specialty finishes: rich accents, best used sparingly.

How many finishes?

Two or three finishes in a house is usually plenty. A practical approach is one finish on all interior doors and hinges for a calm, continuous look, and a second finish in the kitchen or baths where it relates to plumbing and lighting. Exterior hardware can be its own finish if it suits the facade.

Mixing metals on purpose

• Repeat each finish. A finish used once looks like a mistake. Used three times in a room, it looks like a decision.
• Pick a lead. Let one finish dominate and the other accent.
• Vary the sheen with care. A matte black with a satin brass works well. Two slightly different brasses side by side rarely do.
• Keep the style consistent. Mixing metals is easier when the shapes come from the same family.

Doors and hinges

On interior doors, match the hinges to the lever or knob finish on that side of the door. For doors between two rooms with different finishes, choose the finish of the more important room, or use the house's main finish.

Recommendations in our guides may link to retailers. See our affiliate disclosure.