There are many things that do not mix in interior design and many metals fall into this category. Mixing metals can create a truly wonderful appearance but you want to be sure that you do it right. If you are interested in adding space depth or visual interest you can combine iron, brass, gold, silver and much more. However, what you need to remember is that there are some rules you will need to respect.
Always Choose Dominant Metal
The metal that you like the most should be the prominent one. After that you want to consider a couple of metal accents in order to complete a perfect look. As an example, gold will create room unity and it looks great when you add accent metals. When you have kitchen hardware that mainly shows oil-brushed bronze, you can add accent through copper pots for a great goal. When the kitchen is stainless steel base, a vintage item that features gold or silver can increase texture and charm. With gold you can also add chrome for a balance.
Mix Cool And Warm Tones
When you use warm metals like brass and gold you get a rich texture and color pop, especially when you combine them with cooler metals like chrome or silver. In many cases we see people think that finish matching is the very best way to coordinate metal mixing but the truth is that this normally leads to a look that is not as interesting and quite monochromatic.
Always Respect Interior Design Color Scheme
Matching and mixing are always recommended but you should always think about current color palette as metal tones are selected. Warm metals are typically to be used with warmer hues while cool metals need to be considered with cooler hues. When the room is neutral, metallic accents are better as they are going to add color, texture and warmth. Gray tone use can be quickly improved with a gold mirror addition.
Never Disregard Texture
As you use metals it is really important to consider textures. This can create a huge difference as you are mixing metals. Make sure that you combine hammered, polished and matte finishes in order to create an atmosphere that is truly rich.
Natural Iron Use For Neutral Effect
In the metal world of interior design use we see iron as being neutral. The modern touch with industrial element will add a great dark element touch to the palette that requires toning down. Natural iron does not clash with tones coming from other metals and will help the warmer metals like gold to have a better color pop.
Keeping Things Subtle
When you use two metals you may want to be sure that they are not competing for viewer attention. Mixing materials like gold and silver can definitely be great and will add an interesting dynamic to those settings that are normally symmetrical.
Two Finishes Are Enough
It is always great to play around with the metals that you are using in your design. However, you do not want to exaggerate. A great rule of thumb is to simply opt for 2 finishes. Three can be used when you utilize statement pieces or when metals will be spread across larger areas. Ideally though, two metals are recommended, one for accent and one for the prominent tone.