One of the quickest and easiest ways to create a custom look in any space is  by mixing metal finishes. I’ve found that "matchy-matchy" tends to fall flat sometimes, where changing it up can add visual interest. There are many ways to accomplish this in any room that I am excited to share with you. The first thing you can do would be to update your cabinet pulls or knobs. If they are currently chrome or that old gold color, swap those out for matte black square pulls, brass round knobs, or even satin nickel cup pulls. This is a small touch that can make a big difference!

Another idea would be considering your light fixtures. If you still have the builder grade light fixtures in bronze or chrome, maybe it’s time to replace with something a little more fun and unique. Here you can bring in more of a “show stopper” color. If everything in a space is satin nickel, maybe this is where you have your matte black moment or, say everything is already matte black, this could be where you introduce brass. Your light fixture finish doesn’t have to match the other finishes, it can be a standalone piece. Lastly, simply removing your old door hardware can do the trick. Updating those gold round knobs to satin or black levers can make all the difference!

On the other side of this, I wouldn’t recommend mixing too many finish colors in one space, either. For instance, a kitchen that has black square pulls on the cabinets, brass pendants over the island, and chrome on the kitchen sink faucet, and a stainless steel on the pot filler, would be an example of too many color finishes in one space. A more tasteful way to mix would be no more than two to three color finishes. you can achieve this by having your cabinet pulls be one finish, lighting be a second finish, and plumbing fixtures be your third finish. Below are a handful different finish combinations that look beautiful together.

1. Black and Brushed Nickel

2. Brass and Black

3. Brass and Brushed Nickel

4. Champagne bronze and Black

5. Polished Nickel and Brass