Luxury home decor is an increasingly popular design choice among homeowners, with the market expected to grow 5.14% between 2021 and 2027. Adding mixed metals is one option worth considering as more design enthusiasts seek an affordable way to turn their rustic living rooms into luxe spaces or add warmth to a stainless steel kitchen.
Regardless of your decor choices, mixing metals can be done. However, there’s a correct way to include them without compromising good taste for tackiness.
If you’re unsure how to add mixed metals to your home decor in a tasteful way, these seven tips will help get you started.
Choose a Primary Metal
Mixed metals work best in your design if you choose a dominant metal and incorporate one or two other finishes.
For example, if brass is the primary metal in the kitchen — such as a brass hood vent, pendant lighting and faucet — matte black cabinet handles or lighter silver accent pieces can infuse a bit of glam or a more modern look.
Prevent mixing metals in even halves or perfect thirds so the dominant color serves as the focal point. Whoever walks into the space should be able to determine the primary metal finish.
Enhance Metallics With Mirrors
Mirrors are a popular design choice for reflecting natural light and making a smaller room perceivably larger. Reflective surfaces also complement mixed metals.
Suppose you’re interested in using mixed metals throughout a small room without going overboard. In that case, mirrors can highlight a few metallic elements while continuing to make the space feel more open.
You might even choose a mirror with a metallic frame to play off the mixed metal decor. Mercury glass may also deliver the luxe mixed metal aesthetic you’re after.
Match Metals to Your Color Palette
Are your walls covered in vibrant, patterned wallpaper? Is your living room sofa a bold, midcentury orange? Consider matching your mixed metal choices to your color palette.
Brushed nickel or chrome handles will stand out against a black or navy bathroom vanity, while you may opt for a mirror with a black frame.
Additionally, you could accent that orange midcentury modern couch with brass, brushed nickel or wrought iron decorations on the coffee table.
Balance Cool and Warm Metals
When mixing metals in your home decor, the general rule always includes a dominant metal with accent colors.
However, balancing cool and warm hues can also make a statement in any room. For instance, if your kitchen has stainless steel appliances and shiny chrome fixtures, you can warm up the silvery style with brushed gold or copper handles.
Polished gold creates a stunning juxtaposition alongside matte black metal, as well. Consider adding black and gold decor to living room shelving, light features and accent tables.
Accentuate With Metal Art
Incorporating metal trinkets into your home decor is an excellent way to mix colors without going overboard. You could place an antique copper shaker on a chrome bar cart or hang brushed bronze sconces next to a dining room table with heavy wrought iron legs.
Metal art provides another opportunity to accentuate a room with mixed metals. Metal art may comprise abstract pieces and handcrafted designs you can hang. You might also choose to personalize a metal sign to spell a family name, monogram, phrase or symbol.
Many people hang their metal artwork with nails or velcro. However, magnetic hanging hardware is a supportive alternative that allows you to easily move your artwork around whenever you want to switch up your home decor.
Tie the Dominant Metal Into an Open Floor Plan
It may be tempting to cluster similar colors and finishes to create two distinct spaces when mixing metals in an open floor plan. However, this may result in a look that’s too busy or poorly thought out.
Instead, begin by looking at your open floor plan as one room and try to tie the dominant metal throughout the entire area. For example, if the primary metal color in your kitchen is matte black, consider adding a wrought iron chandelier in the living room.
You can then include the accent metals of your choice to create a better distinction between the two spaces.
Incorporate Different Finishes
What’s old is eventually new again when it comes to interior design. For example, shiny brass fixtures were popular in 1970s and 1980s home decor. Today, brass is back — but in a more subtle finish.
However, just because brushed metals are more common in modern decor doesn’t mean the polished look is out. There are many decorative opportunities to incorporate different metal finishes into a space.
Grandmillennial design has grown in popularity thanks to HGTV designer Erin Napier. Blending classic decor with contemporary design is at the heart of this style, reviving vintage furniture and trinkets in a youthful way.
Antique brass and polished silver could complement each other nicely in a space that aims to strike a balance between old and new, as can chrome and brushed nickel.
Style Any Room With Mixed Metals
You can enhance the decor in any room with mixed metals — all it takes is adding a few small elements. Of course, the trick to making the style work is by creating the look in moderation.
