You cannot mix brushed nickel and stainless steel together in a bathroom or kitchen because they both have a different finish. While brushed nickel has a brown-tone appearance, stainless steel is always shiny, therefore, mixing them will not create a uniform look as they both can’t blend.
It can be hard to choose a fixture finish to use in the kitchen and bathroom. However, choosing the best nickels can add texture to the room. It can make it stand out among others especially if you use a finishing that complements the decor in the room.
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Brushed Nickel
Brushed nickel is usually brownish in tone. It usually comes with a dull tone that has been subdued. Instead of having a shiny tone that gives an overwhelming warm feel, it has a dull tone that is treated to have texture.
Many people like brushed nickel because of how dull the color is. They prefer using such over the shiny polished counterpart. In our previous article, we were able to explain the similarities and differences between brushed nickel and polished nickel, and in the end, we were able to identify the best among them.
However, the fact remains that this finish is good. It all depends on the homeowner’s preference. While some may like the shiny warm feel polished nickel gives, others may not. So, the best depends on what you want for your home.
Also, brushed nickel will make your kitchen or bathroom looks better if it is paired with a tiled backsplash or stone countertops such as marble, granite, and slate. Since brushed nickel does not create a fingerprint or water spots, it makes it good to use.
Stainless Steel
We all know what stainless steel is. We all have seen stainless steel appliances since time immemorial. How shiny and beautiful it can be plus how easy it is to be cleaned. It is a finish that can be found in every household; be it a plate, spoon, and many others. Some washer and dryer even have a stainless steel body.
Advantages of Using Stainless Steel
- Durability: Stainless steel is durable. It can last much more than we expect as long it is maintained and cleaned regularly.
- Easy to Maintain: Another advantage of using stainless steel in the house is how easy it is to maintain. You can easily clean it. You don’t need any special cleaning products to clean the stainless steel finish.
- Stainless Steel Doesn’t Display Spots: This is another advantage of stainless steel. A finish that doesn’t display a spot. Because of this, it will be very easy for your to maintain its shiny appearance.
- Easy to Clean: As reiterated earlier, it is very easy to clean. You don’t need any special cleaning solution to clean a stainless steel finish. Paper, sponge, towels, etc, can do the work for you.
Can You Mix Brushed Nickel and Stainless Steel?
Do not mix brushed nickel and stainless steel because they both have a different finish. While brushed nickel has a matte or semi-gloss finish with a subdued brown-tone appearance, the finish of stainless steel is always smooth and shiny which when mixed may not blend well.
There is nothing like orderliness in the house. Mixing a dull finish and shiny finish can create an unpleasant look you may not like. Or have you forgotten how shiny stainless steel can be?
If you wish to mix stainless steel with another finish, let it be a polished nickel. The reason is that polished nickel is also shiny like stainless steel. It has been polished to shine and give a warm feel.
Therefore, it is better to have one in a room than to mix them. Having one will create a uniform look.
Moreover, if you have two bathrooms in your house, you can mix brushed nickel and stainless steel in these bathrooms. You can use stainless steel in your master bathroom and brushed nickel in the guest bathroom.
Nonetheless, if you wish to mix brushed nickel and stainless steel in a single bathroom, you can. There’s no law prohibiting you from doing so but be rest assured that it may create a look you may not like considering the different finish both have.
Final Thoughts
Asking can you mix brushed nickel and stainless steel is like asking if you can mix oil and water? It might not go well. Stainless steel has a very high glossy shiny finish than brushed nickel which has a brown-tone appearance. Mixing these different finishes in your kitchen or bathroom might create an unpleasant look that is not coordinated. Stick to one. If you wish to use stainless steel, stick to it. The same goes for the brushed nickel. Just choose the one that best suits your sink, countertops, etc, and use. It is very much better that way.
