Mixing Brass and Nickel Finishes In A Kitchen

Mixing brass and nickel finishes in a kitchen just got easier with these tips to keep in mind!

modern kitchen brass and nickel metal fixtures — Brass pendants and bar stools coordinate nicely with nickel cabinet hardware

Do you remember when every aspect of a kitchen matched completely? Kitchens had all the cabinets in the same color, the metal finishes were practically identical, and all appliances matched the same finish! Now a days, mixing metals in the kitchen is the norm. When it comes to mixing brass and nickel finishes in a kitchen, there are a principles to keep in mind and then the rest is just fun.

Should your kitchen faucet match your cabinet hardware?

Having a cohesive metal finish look doesn’t mean matchy matchy. Your kitchen faucet should match either your cabinet hardware or a metal element that is a foundation in the room such as the appliances or pendant lamps.

farmhouse sink in a bohemian white kitchen — Match the faucet to the cabinet hardware or light fixture for a cohesive kitchen

brushed nickel modern cabinet pulls for two tone kitchen — Hardware in the same finish brings two tone cabinets together

In my kitchen, I decided to match the faucet with the nickel cabinet hardware even though I had brass light fixtures in the space. Keeping all the cabinet hardware the same keeps the look of the cabinets cohesive even with two tones of cabinets.

See my Kitchen Reveal

Having the same metal finish makes the eye take in the entire space rather than focusing on an out of place metal finish. You can see my nickel cabinet pulls by Liberty Hardware and more on their website or The Home Depot.

Mixing Metals In Kitchen Decor

One of my biggest tips when mixing metals in the kitchen is to keep families together as much as possible. A family of appliances should match (unless you have a specialty range that offers a pop of color). A lighting family should reflect the same metal finish (unless you have multiple lighting areas or a breakfast nook which can have a different metal finish) and the hardware of consecutive cabinets should match (an island could have different hardware).

brass sconces and pendant lights in a two tone kitchen — Brass light fixtures with nickel cabinet hardware

Although I had two different styles and shapes of lighting, the matching finish makes them feel cohesive. The room would look less cohesive if I had brought in a dark bronze or black light fixture without having any other element in the same finish.

white and maple two tone kitchen with brass and nickel finishes — Mixing brass and nickel finishes in modern bohemian kitchen

Mixing Brass and Nickel Finishes

So what is my best advice for mixing brass and nickel finishes? Keep your cabinet hardware in the same finish and lighting in a new finish! It creates a warmer tone in your kitchen and thus a much more inviting space for entertaining.

Don’t forget to pull any top layer finish down to the ground. Since all my brass finishes were closer to the ceiling, I went with brass stools so that the finish would be visible throughout the room.

brass and velvet orange kitchen stools in two tone modern kitchen — Coordinate bar stools with the metal finishes least prevalent in the kitchen to tie them in

Cabinets hardware is such an easy way to upgrade a kitchen instantly. Head to your local hardware store and pick up your favorite hardware to transform your kitchen soon! One of my favorite hardware brands is Liberty hardware. You can find them at Home Depot plus the Francisco cabinet pull shown in my kitchen!

Do you like mixing metal finishes? What’s your favorite place to mix metals in your home? Share in the comments below and pin this post to your kitchen Pinterest board!