Metal Finishes That Are Trending in Bathrooms Right Now

Walk into almost any newly remodeled bathroom right now and you'll notice the hardware before you notice much else. Warm tones, mixed finishes, less of the cold chrome-everything look. Here's what's driving that.

Brushed Gold and Unlacquered Brass

Warm brass is everywhere right now and it makes sense why. It pairs really well with the cabinet colors a lot of people are gravitating toward (deep greens, navy, warm taupe) and looks great against natural stone and white oak.

Brushed gold is the cleaner, more consistent version. Fingerprint-resistant, easy to maintain, no surprises.

Unlacquered brass has no coating, so it develops a patina over time. Every fixture ends up looking a little different, which some people love. Just know it needs more attention than coated finishes and will show water spots if you're not keeping up with it.

Polished Nickel

This one is having a real moment. Shea McGee of Studio McGee called it her trend of the year in her Kohler collaboration, and we've been seeing a lot more interest in it from homeowners too.

The big difference from chrome is the warmth. Chrome has a cool, bluish tone. Polished nickel is warmer with a slight brassy quality, which makes it a natural fit alongside the richer palettes people are choosing right now.

Matte Black

Matte black has been around for a few years and it's still going strong. The shift is in how people are using it. Full all-black bathrooms are less common now. Instead it's showing up as a contrast piece against lighter surfaces like white marble, pale tile, or light oak.

One heads up: it shows water spots and soap residue more than most finishes, so if you have hard water, factor that in.

Brushed Gunmetal

Gunmetal is a dark gray somewhere between matte black and brushed nickel. Good fit for contemporary, higher-contrast spaces and still fairly uncommon, so if you want something a little different without going too far out there, it's worth a look.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze

Oil-rubbed bronze is making a comeback alongside the broader warm metal trend. Dark brown, warm undertones, works really well in bathrooms going for a moodier, richer feel. Pairs especially well with deep cabinet colors like forest green, navy, and charcoal.

Where Chrome and Brushed Nickel Stand

Both are still solid choices. Chrome is affordable, durable, and works in just about any transitional or modern bathroom. Brushed nickel is picking up steam again, partly because of all the attention polished nickel is getting. It hides water spots well and works across a wide range of styles. Neither is going anywhere.

Mixing Metals

Mixing two finishes has become pretty normal and most designers are on board with it. The key is doing it on purpose rather than just ending up with mismatched stuff.

Popular combos right now: brushed gold hardware with a matte black faucet, polished nickel fixtures with unlacquered brass sconces and cabinet pulls, brushed nickel faucets with oil-rubbed bronze accessories. The main thing to keep in mind is warmth. Pairing a warm brass faucet with a cool chrome towel bar is a tougher look to pull off because the contrast is pretty noticeable. Two finishes in a bathroom is easy to manage. Three can work if one of them stays subtle throughout the space.

Remodeling Your Bathroom Soon?

Aversa Contracting handles bathroom remodels across South Jersey. If you're updating fixtures or thinking about a bigger renovation, give us a call at 609-233-6617 or find us on Instagram or Facebook for a free estimate.