If you’re anything like me, you love to scroll Pinterest and swoon over all the beautiful interior design inspirations or curl up on the couch and watch Dream Home Makeover with Shea & Syd McGee and just dream.
OR! Maybe you’ve found yourself binging the Lucyshyn’s Designs Instagram page, full of transitional, minimalist, cozy designs! (thanks, by the way!)
There’s something so beautiful, homey, and inviting about a well-designed home - where no detail has been overlooked. But you can achieve a designer look in your own home with the right tips and tricks.
So today, we are going to talk about how to use mixed metals in your home to elevate your space and emulate the interior designer look you’ve been swooning over!
Why mixed metals?
The one thing that always stands out in a designer-worthy space is the attention to detail and the amount of interest throughout the design. You want your eyes to continue to move throughout a room, always finding something else new and interesting to see.
Using mixed metals helps create interest in a space and prevents it from falling flat. Plus, it modernizes a design without being trendy or risking falling out of style. In the world of interior design, we’ve really moved away from the matchy-matchy aesthetic: no more furniture sets, fully matching bedding, etc. Variety is the spice of life - and interior design too!
So if you want to create a space that’s full of variety, texture, movement, and interest - mixed metals are the way to go!
What are the mixed metal colours & finishes I should know?
There are many colours, shades, tones, and finishes in the world of metals. So let’s break these down so you can achieve the mixed metal look like a professional!
Warm Tones
Cool Tones
Other cool-toned metals include stainless steel & silver.
Neutral Tones
Finishes
Matte is another metal finish to consider! For more in-depth information on each metal and the various finishes, check out this blog post by Lindye Galloway here!
My tips for using mixed metals
Now that we’ve covered the basics of all the metals and the various finishes, let’s jump into my designer tips for using mixed metals in your home!
Mix the finishes, as well as the metals
It’s not just the mixed metal look that we are going for. It’s the mixed-finish look, too! When you are designing your space, try choosing one metal in one finish, and another metal in a contrasting finish. AKA. polished nickel and brushed brass ~or~ satin chrome with hammered copper.
Think high-contrast - but complementing - metals
If you choose two metals that are too similar in colour, it will end up looking like a mistake instead of an intentional design choice. So even though it may seem a little scary to combine two drastically different metals like gold and silver, it’s the complementing pairs that create an interesting and beautiful space!
Mix warm & cool tones
This plays into the last tip, but mixing a warm tone metal with a cool tone metal ALWAYS looks beautiful! And don’t forget those finishes too!
Similar features should match
One element in your design that I DON’T want you to use mixed metals is in matching or similar features. For example: in a bathroom - make all the faucet features the same metal and finish. The sink faucets, the bathtub hardware, and the shower hardware should all match. Then you can add in the mixed metal look by contrasting the cabinet hardware & light fixtures. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to use mixed metals on cabinetry. Instead, opt for consistency in your cabinet hardware and contrast with your other design features!
Two is the secret number
I find when using mixed metals in a design, two contrasting metals and finishes is the sweet spot! Choose one metal and finish as your dominant selection and then another metal/finish as your accent. So stick with two if you can - but certainly no more than three! If mixing in a third selection, try to make it a neutral metal like iron or black.
What are your thoughts on the mixed metals look?
Is it for you or too daring? I hope that if you were feeling skeptical or uneasy about incorporating mixed metals into your space before, this blog post has given you the tips and tricks you needed to make those daring decisions and create the designer-worthy space of your dreams!
If you’re excited about updating or designing a space with mixed metals but are looking for even more inspiration, this blog post by Chris Loves Julia has wonderful inspiration photos from different designers so you can explore different colour and finish combinations without the commitment!
If you’re looking for a little extra help…
Lucyshyns Designs is here for YOU! Click here to inquire about our One Room Styling service - so we can create the space of your dreams together!
