How to Mix Metal Finishes into Your Kitchen’s Design

Updating your kitchen can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to incorporating different metal finishes. However, mixing metals can create a dynamic and stylish look that's easier to achieve than you might think. By focusing on key elements such as choosing a focal point, exploring undertones, and keeping the overall design in mind, you can craft a kitchen that is not only visually appealing but also timeless.

As you begin your design journey, keep these principles in mind:

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to designing a kitchen that you’ll love today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

The top tip for mixing metal in kitchens in 2024 is to choose one focal point or metal and use that as your starting point. This could be a new hammered copper range hood, a blue vintage stove with hefty gunmetal hardware, or custom ceiling tiles.

Once you find the center of your design wheel, you can start choosing various accent pieces as your spokes. Every choice should relate back to or complement your anchor metal. If you fall in love with door latches that clash with your dream sconces, one or the other has to change. Sticking to this system will help you create a cohesive scheme without too much back and forth.

The easiest way to mix metal finishes in the kitchen is to pick either warm or cool metals and work within that category. For instance, gold, copper, and brass all have warm yellow and orange undertones that make them seem cozy and homey. Silvery metals such as chrome and stainless steel feel cool and sophisticated.

Darker metals such as burnished steel, wrought iron, and anything with a matte-black finish can act as neutrals. They look equally good with gold or copper as they do with stainless steel or chrome.

Your choices for mixed metal finishes shouldn't be considered in a vacuum. Remember, these brass pendant lights and lacey copper fruit bowls don't exist independently of their surroundings. The metals you choose can complement the rest of your décor, either providing an interesting counterpoint or complementing a color scheme or overall motif you've already committed to.

For example, hammered brass is highly reflective and throws off light from a chandelier or through bay windows to help brighten up a kitchen featuring dark blue cabinets and slate tiling. Black nickel faucets look stunning against minimalist all-white décor and can add depth to an airy kitchen swathed in pastels or light neutrals.

As you're playing with different combinations, keep in mind you can mix and match both metals that are different colors and metals that embody different styles or that feature various textures. Matte and polished pieces can coexist in perfect harmony. Throw in some satin and you've covered the primary texture trifecta. A hammered piece here and a galvanized piece there only ups the style ante.

Experiment with vintage and modern metals, too. Stainless steel is a calling card of modern design, but it can play well with aged brass hardware — especially if you find some mixed metal pieces featuring both steel and brass elements to help pave the way.

Remember the advice given by legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off."

Before you finish your kitchen, look around and consider removing at least one metallic element from your design scheme. Maybe that brass and black pull-down kitchen faucet shouldn't be next to a bright gold farmhouse sink. Perhaps burnished silver pendant lights and copper countertops aren't quite the statement you really want to make. But maybe everything truly is perfect.