Many customers want their shower hardware
to match the rest of the metal in the bathroom, while others are ready to try
the more recent trend of mixing metals within one room. There are pros and cons
to each style, so both are probably here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Offering a wide range of metal finishes for your shower hardware ensures that
clients will be able to achieve their design goals, whatever these may be.
Let’s take a closer look at the thinking behind each of these two approaches.
Matched Metals: The Safe Option
No doubt about it, the more traditional choice is to
coordinate the shower hardware, faucets, towels bars, accent items, and so
forth within one bathroom. On the plus side:
Matched metals give the room a cohesive,
intentional feel.
Using the same metal finish throughout the room
is also simple. Instead of choosing contrasting and complementary finishes, a
client only needs to pick one metallic finish that they like.
Shower hardware is generally available in a
range of finishes so that it’s fairly easy to match existing fixtures.
Matched metals are such a classic that the look
will never go out of style.
However, matching fixtures aren’t for everyone. Many of
today’s décor modes favor a curated, collected over time vibe. Instead of
ordering a matching living room set, decorators and designers are choosing an
assortment of unique pieces, often from flea markets, thrift stores, or antique
shops. From the viewpoint of these fashions, matching metals can seem boring or
artificial.
Advantages of Mixed Bathroom Metals
The points mentioned above lead some glass shower customers
to choose shower hardware with a finish different from other metals in the
space. A popular approach is to use a predominant finish, a secondary finish,
and possibly a third accent finish. At times, this can relate to practical
considerations. For example, matte black is very on-trend, but it’s inadvisable
to use dark faucets in a bathroom with hard water because of the likelihood of
permanent water spots. In a case like this, a customer might use polished
nickel for all the shower, sink, and towel bar metal but include matte black by
way of light fixtures, a metal framed mirror, and the soap dispenser. This
method can give the room a layered look and the sense of a style that has
organically evolved over the years. It can be helpful to picture what it would
look like to introduce a new metal finish into your space, so
click here
to view some popular towel bar styles and their finish options.
Disadvantages of Mixed Metals
While many bathrooms are successfully adorned with mixed
metals, there are possible pitfalls homeowners should consider before
finalizing their shower hardware choices.
If done poorly, mixed metals can feel careless
and disjointed.
Since matched metals are more popular, mixed
metals may be riskier for resale appeal.
Although it’s been here for a while already,
mixed metals could wane in popularity and be expensive to change out.
At the same time, there are steps a homeowner can take to
reduce the risks. For starters, it’s advisable to do some research and draw on
tips from professional designers. (We discuss some of these in the next
section.) A little bit of reading can save an amateur from any significant faux
pas. Another trick is to choose a very classic metal for the major fixtures and
introduce a trendy metal by way of items that can be replaced more cheaply. If
all the more permanent bathroom hardware is one finish, the fact that another
metal has been introduced by way of a mirror frame, trash can, etc. should not
be a turn-off to a prospective buyer.
Pro Tips from The Spruce
The Spruce author Sarah Lyons provides tips from designers
on how to successfully mix metals, whether through the shower hardware or other
installations. Here are few highlights from the piece:
Avoid mixing similar metals, which can look like
a failed attempt at matching, and instead choose contrasting finishes.
Within the one room, there should be at least
two instances of each of the chosen metals.
Use just one finish on each individual item or
fixture.
Think about the desired feel for the room as a
whole when selecting the metallic finishes.
Whether your customer base prefers matched or mixed bathroom
metals, you can count on Glass Simple. Our handles, hinges, clamps, and other
shower hardware are available in a range of styles and finishes that your
customers desire. Check out some of our hinges
here,
browse our site to see our complete offerings, and give us a call at
(571)707-7760 to set up your B2B account and save 25% or more off listed
prices!
