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How to Combine Metal Finishes for a Stylish Kitchen

For years, designers and homeowners lived by a tried-and-true rule: don’t mix metals in the kitchen. It kept the space simplified and cohesive, and made it feel put-together. But times are changing. Today’s kitchen design embraces mixed metals as a way of bringing a layered, curated feel to the heart of the home. 

 

Combining finishes makes a space look intentional, adding visual interest and depth in a way that matching metals just can’t quite pull off. When done thoughtfully, mixed metals make a space look well-designed rather than overly coordinated. Not sure how to mix metals like a pro? We’re here to help.

Start by Identifying Your Kitchen Style

Before you head to the store and start selecting finishes, take a minute to think about your kitchen style. While there are no hard-and-fast rules, some styles lend themselves more easily to certain finishes. Your kitchen’s style can help guide you in the right direction. For example:

 

  • Modern kitchens: chrome, stainless steel, black

  • Traditional kitchens: polished nickel, brass, bronze

  • Transitional kitchens: nickel mixed with warmer tones

  • Industrial kitchens: black, steel, and darker finishes

 

Look at inspiration photos and notice how metals are used in various spaces to help you get started. Considering your kitchen’s style will help you steer clear of randomly mixing metals and instead intentionally layer them in a way that supports your space’s design.

Choose Your Dominant Metal First

Even though you’ll be using multiple finishes, it’s always best to have one dominant metal. It will become the visual anchor of the kitchen and keep it from feeling chaotic and scattered. Often, this metal will appear in cabinet hardware, faucets, appliances, or the range hood. 

 

After selecting your primary metal, you can choose one or two complementary metals. Most designers agree that the best practice is to use only 2-3 metals total in the kitchen. This works because it allows you to keep the space cohesive, repeat finishes, and keep the room from looking busy.

 

For example, you may want stainless steel appliances (the dominant metal) and accent them with brass cabinet hardware and matte-black lighting.

Mix Warm and Cool Metals for Balance

 

One of the most effective ways to create both balance and contrast is by pairing warm and cool metal tones. This creates contrast, visual depth, and dimension.

 

Warm metals include

  • Brass

  • Gold

  • Copper

  • Bronze

 

Cool metals include

  • Chrome

  • Stainless steel

  • Nickel

  • Pewter 

 

Balance is key here. Avoid using all cool or all warm metals to make the space feel intentional. For example, using a chrome faucet paired with bronze light fixtures makes them both pop.

 

Certain color combinations always look great together! Balancing warm and cool tones, sheen, and visual weight gives these combos an edge:

 

Keep Appliances Consistent

 

While mixing metals works well for fixtures and hardware, most designers agree that appliances should stay consistent. In other words, you want them all to match. Two great options that can let your other metal choices take center stage are stainless steel and black stainless steel (which is stainless steel with a black matte coating applied).

 

Consistency in your kitchen appliances matters because they’re so large. They carry a lot of visual weight, and when they don’t match, the kitchen can feel disjointed. Instead, you can let them be your primary metal or treat them as a neutral and let them fade into the background. Add personality through other finishes: lighting, hardware, and decor.

The Nitty-Gritty Details: Repeat Metals and Assign Metals

 

A key design rule when mixing metals is that every finish should appear at least twice in the space. This ensures that your choices look intentional and creates a visual rhythm. So, for example, if your faucet is matte black, make sure something else—your cabinet hardware or your light fixture—is also matte black. If you use brass drawer pulls, add a pop of brass to an open shelving display. And decor counts here, too! You can repeat metals in picture frames, your utensil crock, trays, or other pretty metal features. 

 

Another designer trick that can help is to assign each metal to a specific category. For example, if you have stainless steel appliances, use matte black for all your light fixtures and bronze for all cabinet hardware. Or use chrome for faucet and sink accessories, gold for light fixtures, and matte black for everything else.

 

This approach keeps the design feeling organized and intentional and helps maintain balance throughout the kitchen. As an added bonus, it makes future updates easier. By defining where each metal belongs, you create a kitchen that feels carefully planned and thoughtfully layered, instead of one that feels haphazard or mismatched.

Using Neutrals to Let Metals Shine

 

To further keep the use of multiple finishes from overwhelming the space, you can allow neutral materials to act as visual buffers. This means letting your choices in metals have center stage while other features play a supporting role. These often include:

 

  • Countertops

  • Backsplashes

  • Cabinet paint or stain

  • Flooring

 

Using natural materials as your neutrals gives the eye a place to rest and allows the metal accents to stand out. For example, choose a white or light-colored island countertop, a neutral tile backsplash, and a natural wood stain for your cabinetry. These materials are beautiful, fit into any style, and set the tone for the rest of the space.

A Kitchen That Feels Curated and Timeless

Mixing metals is one of the easiest ways to take your kitchen from so-so to stunning. This trick makes your space feel dynamic, layered, and thoughtfully designed. By following a few guidelines—identifying your style, choosing dominant and secondary metals, mixing warm and cool tones, repeating finishes, and using neutrals—you can achieve a kitchen that has character and feels personal and curated.


And if you still feel unsure, our team of designers would love to help you. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in the DC area, Maryland, or Virginia, contact us. We can help you bring your kitchen to the next level and make it a space you love.