I’m not afraid to mix metals. In fact, I kinda love it. I’ll wear gold and silver jewelry together, and I mix and match metals in my home too. It gives a space (and an outfit) a more fun/playful/hip/casual vibe and I’m all about that. Other materials can also be juxtaposed for a similar effect, like mixing different wood tones. I know, shocking! Hear me out!
Metal Temperatures and Finishes
- Silver / Chrome / Nickel – cool temperature, polished or brushed finish
- Gold / Brass – warm temperature, polished or brushed finish
- Rose Gold / Copper – warm temperature, polished or brushed finish
- Aged Bronze / Black – usually matte finish
The Magic Formula
Okay, so there is no magic formula, but this guideline is a good place to start: choose two finishes.
One should be the main finish, used in most areas (of a particular room, or your whole house)–let’s say 70% of your metal items. The second finish is used for accents and would be about 30% of your metal pieces. And I’d say you want at least 2 or 3 items in this accent finish, so it appears intentional.
I would use the same rule when choosing wood tones. Perhaps a mid-tone throughout (say, on the floor), and then either a light or dark tone (one or the other, and ideally the same or very similar wood tone if you have multiple items) as an accent.
Sometimes it might make sense to choose three finishes. Three is my favorite number, so it should come as no surprise that some spaces in my home use three. If you want to to try it, see what you like and do what looks good to your eye .
And finally, if you like a more maximalist look, don’t follow any rules! My home office is kind of that way, and I love it! lol…
How to Mix and Match
Mixing Metals
What is your overall style? Do you prefer a more classic/traditional aesthetic? Or do you have a more playful/casual vibe?
For a classic look, mix metals in a brushed and polished finish of the same temperature family, so brushed and polished silver or gold. I would suggest using the brushed finish for your base, and go for polished on your accent pieces, treating them like jewelry for a pop of bling.
For a more eclectic look, choose contrasting temperatures (and finishes), like a matte black and polished or brushed silver or gold. If doing a third finish with your metals, I would make sure it is a contrasting temperature. Say gold and silver, not gold and copper. You want it to look intentionally different, not like you bought something but it wasn’t quite a match.
Mixing Woods
When choosing wood tone combinations, it’s a little trickier. There are so many options.
Similar to my advice for mixing metals, I’d say if you’re looking for a classic aesthetic, choose similar tones that go well together but aren’t complete opposites.
If you want something more eclectic, choose high contrast tones with both light and dark options, or as mentioned above, do a mid-tone for your base and then either a light or dark tone as your accent.
If doing three different tones on your wood elements, I would make the third one painted (or stained), either white or a color, and treat it as a standout piece. Or, should the spirit move you in this way, you can do two painted/stained colors (as main and secondary) with a third being a natural wood tone accent (spoiler, this is my bedroom formula).
Bridge Pieces
If you are hesitant to try mixing finishes, consider using a bridge item. This is a piece that has two different metal (or wood) tones already in it. These would typically be found in accent pieces, like a mirror or picture frame. Use it as a bridge so the mixed metals don’t look as jarring.
Examples in my Home
Throughout my entire house, my light fixtures are all brushed nickel, and my doorknobs are matte black. Then in each room, things vary, but generally everything overlaps a bit. This is the same way I approached my color schemes (but that’s a post for another day)…
In my kitchen, my appliances are stainless steel and my faucet is a brushed nickel that has a similar look to the appliances. Then I chose matte black drawer and cabinet pulls.
In my upstairs bathroom, my toilet paper and towel holders, cabinet pulls and shower curtain rod are matte black, and my fixtures are all polished nickel. Wood in this space is either painted white or natural poplar.
My bedroom doesn’t have a lot of metal– matte black knobs on my closet doors and dresser, and brushed nickel sprinkled as an accent. I have mostly white wood furniture (both painted and whitewashed), with my dresser being a standout blue stain, and then I have beech wood accents throughout (headboard and wall hangings). Oh, and a dark tone wood bench under my electric fireplace is an exception!
I mentioned my home office as a rule breaker, so I didn’t want to leave it out of the discussion. I have a dark walnut desk and beech tone accessory items (monitor lift, a letter inbox, a marker carousel), plus painted white furniture pieces and shelving. I also have a dark tone sewing table (with painted legs as seen HERE). Metals are mostly decor items and they vary from silver to gold (both brushed and polished finishes), plus a bridge piece with both silver and gold. And there’s some white and black too. Even though it’s eclectic, I still think it has a cohesive feel.
Don’t be afraid to mix metals, or wood tones, in your home. Rule of thumb: choose something you know you love as your base, for things that are bigger and harder to change down the line. Then have fun trying different combos by bringing in fun accessories! Like an outfit and jewelry!
Do you mix metals or wood tones?
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