When building or remodeling a bathroom, one of the most essential design choices is the finish you choose for bathroom fixtures. We have researched different kinds of finishes, what finishes are trending, and each finish’s pros and cons.
There are many different types of finishes for a bathroom. Here are ten different ones:
- Copper
- Chrome
- Polished Brass
- Satin Brass
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze
- Matte Black
- Gold
- Brushed Nickel
- Polished Nickel
- Stainless Steel
Now that you know the ten most common finishes, continue reading to learn about each finish in-depth and answers to other questions you might have, such as which metal to get to avoid rusting.
What is Considered A Bathroom Fixture?
Before we talk more about the finishes for your fixtures, we just wanted to quickly describe what is considered a fixture. When we talk about a fixture, we refer to any object that is firmly in place in the bathroom. This includes sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
Top Finishes for Bathroom Fixtures
Copper
Copper finishes have a rich, bold color that adds an elegant feel to a bathroom. It looks best when paired with subtler decor, like marble. One of the advantages of copper is that it has antimicrobial properties and can “heal” itself when scratched. Over time, the scratches in the material turn darker and blend in with the dark patina, which is a natural fading that happens when the copper is exposed to oxidation over time.
The downside of copper is that it can be harder to find matching accessories, and it is more likely to get scratched than other finishes. It requires more maintenance than other finishes do. That being said, copper finishes work well with a Tuscan, eclectic, farmhouse, and steampunk bathroom decor.
Polished Chrome
Chrome is very shiny and tends to be the cheapest, easiest to maintain the finish. One of the best things about chrome is that it works with nearly every style and makes everything look clean and crisp because it is a more neutral color. It looks great in bathrooms that are traditional, contemporary, and industrial.
While easy to clean, it shows water spots and fingerprints easily. This means it needs to be cleaned often so that it continues to look its best. Chrome tarnishes over time, so you need to learn how to care for it properly. However, polished chrome is resistant to scratches, making it a good option if you have kids or other guests who might be rough on the finish.
Polished Brass
This finish is easy to clean, easy to find, and easy to match to bathroom accessories. It is durable, shiny, and bright. The lacquer they use to make the finish protects the metal from tarnishing. If your bathroom is traditional, minimalist, or modern, polished brass is an excellent finish to use.
Polished brass will lose its luster over time and is one of the more expensive finishes.
Satin Brass
Satin brass is more muted than polished brass, which makes it good to add to both light and dark bathrooms. This finish looks matte and smooth and isn’t shiny like polished brass is. Because it isn’t shiny, fingerprints and water spots don’t show up as much as they would on polished brass. Satin brass looks beautiful when used in tandem with a contemporary or modern decorating style.
This finish is almost as expensive as it is beautiful, and it can be harder to find in stores. It is also more difficult to find accessories that will match the matte type finish.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
Oil-rubbed bronze is a dark finish and is chemically darkened to give it more of an antique look. It is durable and very easy to match other bronze fixtures to. To make other bronze fixtures already in place match, you have to rub a darkening agent on them.
If you want to create a bathroom with a vintage or Mediterranean-style feel, oil-rubbed bronze is one of your best options. However, while easy to find in stores, it is quite expensive.
Matte Black
Matte black is a great finish if you want to add a small improvement to your bathroom but don’t want to change the entire thing. This finish can be added as an accent piece to the bathroom. It fits with minimalist, modern, and art deco themed rooms.
Finding accessories that match matte black is relatively easy; however, you might have a harder time finding matching fixtures in this finish.
Gold
This finish makes a bathroom feel luxurious and fits well in a modern, contemporary, or eclectic bathroom style. Adding gold to a bathroom looks very warm and inviting while adding richness to the decor.
Gold finish is either a gold-colored metal or a coating of minerals mixed with karat gold. When searching for a gold finish, it is essential to pay attention to whether it is gold or just gold-colored.
Pure gold does not tarnish and resists corrosion, moisture, and high temperatures. This makes it very durable. However, depending on the mixture of metals used, the finish might tarnish over time. Look for a blend with nickel added, as it prevents tarnishing. The amount of gold used will determine durability as gold is highly durable.
Brushed Nickel
Brushed nickel gives a very traditional, homey look. This is one of the most durable and long-lasting of all the finishes on this list. Because it is very subtle, it will match any style, but it won’t stand out. If you want a bathroom that looks very uniform and unified, this is the best finish for you!
It is easy to clean, easy to find, and matches nearly everything. The only thing it does not go with is stainless steel. Brushed nickel costs more than chrome but not nearly as much as oil-rubbed bronze. This makes it not a cheap finish nor an expensive one.
Polished Nickel
This finish is brass coated in nickel and adds a warm feel to the bathroom. It is cool because it changes color when the lighting adjusts, and it is very shiny. This can be used as an alternative to chrome or brushed nickel in contemporary, modern, or traditional bathrooms.
Because it is a shiny finish, it needs regular cleaning to maintain its polished look. Finding matching accessories and fixtures for this finish can be expensive and difficult because it is a hard color to match things with.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an excellent alternative to chrome because it is more durable and requires less maintenance. It is more resistant to scratches and water spots than chrome. Stainless steel works with industrial, modern, and contemporary bathrooms.
This finish can be more expensive than other finishes, and it isn’t resistant to all kinds of stains.
What Should I Consider When Looking For Bathroom Fixture Material?
When you are shopping for bathroom fixtures, it is important to be aware that a finish can be added to plastic or metal. So, make sure that the fixture’s base material is added to is durable and will be able to stand up to the temperature and moisture fluctuations in the bathroom.
Metal tends to be better for bathrooms as it tends to be harder, stronger, and more durable than plastic. Plus, metal won’t warp when exposed to heat. Make sure the metal is a type of metal that won’t rust, as it will need to withstand wet conditions.
What Metal Does Not Rust In The Bathroom?
When considering a metal finish for a bathroom, it is crucial to look for a finish that is unlikely to rust after being exposed to the moisture caused by a shower or faucet. Brass is very heavy and durable. While it can be expensive, it will not rust.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, try stainless steel. This material looks like silver but is cheaper and durable. This material will not rust and is highly resistant to corrosion when taken care of properly.
What’s Trending In Bathroom Fixtures?
Right now, polished chrome, brushed nickel, and matte black are the most popular bathroom fixture finishes. We have included some products below that score highly on Amazon and help you keep up with the trends!
Pfister Jaida Waterfall Bathroom Faucet
This polished chrome faucet looks beautiful as well as trendy.
Click here to check this out on Amazon.
Qomolangma Shower Head
This showerhead has a brushed nickel finish and is made with brass and stainless steel to make it extremely durable.
Click here to check this out on Amazon.
KES Bathroom Sink
If matte black is more your speed, check out this sink!
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Happy Decorating!
Now that you have read this post, you should know what kind of finish you want to use for your bathroom and what style that finish matches. After reading this post, you are prepared to decorate your bathroom with style!