How to Mix Metals in a Bathroom Design

Embracing the trend of mixing metals in the bathroom is not just acceptable—it’s chic! In this article, you will learn how to harmonise different metals with copper as the dominant metal and incorporate them to infuse warmth into your design.

Mixing Metals - An Accessible Design Trend

Mixing metals for interior design was impossible in the not-so-distant past, metal was more useful as a building material. Only the most opulent of homes could afford to use metal, like the gold in Baroque, as a design feature.

In modern times, things have changed with Georgian design becoming more flexible. On top of that metal is more affordable and people can easily be able to use it as a design feature.

Now, the era of strict adherence to uniform finishes is fading, paving the way for dynamic compositions that infuse depth and character into living spaces. A judicious blend of different metal finishes adds richness and authenticity, moving away from cookie-cutter aesthetics. This is why one of the most captivating design trends revolves around the art of blending metals.

While this article does focus on bathrooms, mixing metals can be extended to other rooms in your home.

What Metals to Choose

When designing your bathroom you need to treat metal as a colour. As with any interior design, when selecting a colour try to stick to the 60-30-10 design rule with one dominant metal.

Some of the more popular metals include:

Aluminium
Brass
Bronze
Copper
Iron
Nickel
Steel

And among these, copper has seen a resurgence in contemporary aesthetics. It exudes warmth without the opulence of gold, making it a versatile addition to any space.

With the mention of warmth, mixing metals works best when pairing warm, cool and neutral metals. The proportion you assign to each depends on the effect you wish to convey with your design.

Warm metals:

Copper
Brass
Gold

Cool metals:

Aluminium
Chrome
Nickel
Pewter
Silver
Stainless Steel

Neutral metals:

Black
Cast iron
Steel

4 Rules of Mixing Metals in a Bathroom

We recommend that you follow these four rules when you are mixing metals in your bathroom design:

Establish a dominant metal
Incorporate accent metals
Ensure repetition
Mind the metal finish

Each will be explained below in greater detail:

1. Establish a Dominant Metal

It's crucial to maintain coherence, especially in smaller spaces like bathrooms. Installing a copper bath or a copper-plated wall could act as a dominant portion of the design. The copper could be balanced by cold metals from the list above, one of our favourites is the nickel and copper bath as a perfect balance.

2. Incorporate Accent Metals

Limiting the palette to a maximum of three different metal finishes prevents visual clutter. Pairing cool metals like chrome and nickel with warmer tones like brass and copper achieves a balanced composition. If you opt for a bathroom with copper accents, the warm glow of the colour emanates throughout the room.

3. Ensure Repetition

Repeating each metal at least twice reinforces the chosen aesthetic. So, if you opt for a black and white bath you could repeat the black in the frame of the mirror so as not to overwhelm the room with a dark neutral. You could use a warm brass bath as the feature, then repeat the colour with a brass tap or brass shower head.

4. Mind the Metal Finish

Consistency in metal finishes is key to maintaining coherence. While variations exist, sticking to a single finish for each metal type fosters visual harmony. Mixing different finishes for the same metal should be done thoughtfully to minimise disparities.

By adhering to these principles, you can achieve a bathroom design that seamlessly integrates various metal elements, elevating the overall aesthetic appeal.

Create an Outstanding Bathroom With Copper

At The Copper Bath Company, we clearly love to incorporate copper in any bathroom design. Our range of copper baths is an excellent choice for creating a feature piece in any bathroom whilst being complimented by other metals, such as chrome, nickel, silver or tin.

Discover more on our inspiration page or get in touch with our friendly team for more information.