When designing a space, it’s tempting to match every metal finish as it feels like the safest route. Brass taps lead to brass handles, while chrome sockets call for chrome lights. And while that room will feel coherent, it may miss the character that a more thoughtful mix can introduce.
After all, metal has its own visual temperature. Satin brass and bronze cast a warm, mellow note, polished finishes add sparkle, and brushed chrome and steel bring a cooler, more industrial edge. The most successful schemes begin with deciding how you want the room to feel, then choosing the metals that will create that mood.
Interior designer Lonika Chande, shortlisted for House & Garden’s Interior Designer of the Year award, and Original BTC director Charlie Bowles explored the subject with Livingetc executive editor Pip Rich during a conversation hosted at Focus/26 in our London showroom.
Read on for their expert tips on how to mix metals successfully.
What is the rule book for mixing metals?
Lonika suggests beginning with a change in perspective: think of metal as a material rather than a colour.
"If you had wood, you wouldn't think all the woods in the room needed to match," she says. Brass, bronze, chrome and copper deserve the same freedom.
With renovations, it’s a good idea to look at what is already there. When working on her own house, Lonika took its unlacquered brass details as her foundation. She chose antique brass switches and sockets because they settle easily into that warmth, while bronze lighting gives the scheme greater depth. These finishes differ, yet their undertones keep them in conversation.
Then she brought home a polished chrome floor lamp from an antiques dealer. Its silvery surface cuts through the brass and bronze and gives the room a lift. It is a useful move when a warm palette has become too well behaved: establish the dominant tone, then let one contrasting piece wake it up.
The other materials in the room matter just as much. Lonika recommends "tempering metals with timber, textiles and pattern rather than counting finishes". Without them, the result can feel cold.
Nor does every finish need to appear more than once. Antique brass taps and hardware can establish a bathroom's base, while one bronze or chrome light brings a change of pace.
"One strong piece can sit on its own. It can be enough,"
When two finishes still feel uneasy together, bronze often makes the introduction: its muted warmth sits happily between brass and cooler metals.
How matte and shiny metals change a room
Look at the room's existing sheen before adding more.
Polished chrome catches daylight and brings freshness or excitement. Matte and aged finishes are quieter, giving colourful or patterned rooms some welcome weight.
This is how Lonika uses metal in interiors rich in fabric and timber. "Metal cuts through that softness because it provides structure and contrast," she says. Black bronze is particularly deft around strong colour: its dark outline defines a light fitting while allowing the rest of the room to hold attention.
"You are looking at the shape rather than the finish."
Charlie likes black bronze for the same discreet quality. "I like the way it just disappears," he says. "It's not shouting too much."
That restraint also suits glossy lacquer furniture or cabinetry. Bronze takes the gleam down a notch and gives the composition more substance. Placement can tune the effect further. A polished lamp beside a window will animate a quiet corner, but placed away from daylight, the same finish becomes softer.
While finding the right concept for your spaces, it’s always worth taking the time to gather samples of the room's timber, stone and fabrics as well as the metals. Side by side, their undertones and reflections become easier to judge. You might want to check them in position to see how their appearance changes with the shifting daylight.
How to make chrome feel at home
Chrome gives a room a clean, crisp note. It feels natural in kitchens and bathrooms, where freshness is part of the appeal, yet it can be comfortable too. Lonika paired it with bright colour in her children's bathroom to create a more energetic mood in the morning.
Elsewhere, a small amount goes a long way. One polished chrome piece enlivens brass and bronze, while timber, saturated colours and tactile fabrics take away its harder edge. The room keeps its warmth and gains a little tension.
Making smart choices with metal shades
The material of a light shade changes the atmosphere as well as its appearance. An opaque metal shade directs illumination over a table, island or reading chair. "The light is forced downwards," Charlie explains. A pale inner surface gives a cleaner light, whereas a metal like copper produces an orange glow that is especially rich over timber. For bedrooms and other spaces that call for something soft and ambient, Lonika turns to fabric shades instead.
Mixed metals can lend a fitting definition too. For example, the Well Glass wall light pairs galvanised iron with cast brass. "You wouldn't necessarily think to put such different metals together," says Charlie, "but it works very well." The galvanised surface gives it an industrial character, while the brass warms the details.
How to design with living finishes
Unlacquered brass, copper and verdigris will continue to change after installation. Air, moisture and touch deepen their colour, while frequently handled areas grow brighter. Choose them with the expectation that their beauty will unfold rather than arrive fully formed.
Charlie favours antique brass for precisely this softness. "It looks used. It doesn't look perfect," he says. Copper can take a larger role indoors too. Lonika recently paired a copper splashback with moody colours, using the metal as a warm backdrop rather than a glinting accent.
Outdoors, the transformation is more pronounced. Original BTC's copper Exterior Bracket Light gradually darkens and may develop green verdigris. On an older building, that changing surface helps the fitting grow into the architecture. "Within a year or two, it looks as though it has been there forever," Charlie says. "It blends in, it doesn't shout, and it becomes more beautiful over time."
Patina asks for patience. Fingerprints and patchy oxidation can look awkward while the surface settles, so give it time. If a project needs to look consistent from day one, lacquered metal or chrome will be easier company.
