Mixing Metal Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!)

Mixing metals in interior design is one of those design things that sounds good when you first hear it, but then can quickly go wrong. When done right however, it's a gorgeous and striking effect: but what makes a good mix? In this video I'm going to show you how to avoid mistakes when mixing metals to avoid a mismatched design.

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⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Mixing Metal Mistakes
00:42 - Mixing More Than 2 Finishes
1:23 - Mixing Finishes That Are Too Similar
02:56 - Not Spreading Out Similar Finishes
05:09 - Same Function, Different Finish
06:29 - Only Have a Finish Represented Once
07:44 - Not Considering a Single Finish
08:41 - Using Polished Chrome in High Traffic Areas
09:46 - Getting Caught Up In Metal Trends
11:39 - Not Considering Spray Painting Your Metals to Get Them To Match

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[plaidsquatch]

this might sound silly but your videos have really helped me level up my sims 4 builds, it can also be a bit challenging 'cause there's so much variation on colorways even in the same god damned pack... however, keeping these tips in mind really makes my sims homes more realistic and liveable 😁

[lollyann]

I don't have a house to decorate just yet haha, but I watch your content because for one I absolutely love you and think you are so funny, but also I figure it's good to get my education done early so that when the time comes I'll be ready and have a solid foundation to base my decisions on, so thank you so much ❤️ When I do get my home to decorate I'm already decided when it comes to my metal choices: I really like matte black (perhaps matte white in my daughters room) and gold/brushed gold, I just think they look beautiful together and present a nice contrast of casual and fancy 🤷🏼‍♀️

[lucybraun]

Yes, I have often gone with spray painting a metal object that was of a perfect design for my space, but not the right color. And I've always been super pleased with the results. Examples: heating vent covers, a plant stand, kitchen wall hangers.

[bluesingincat]

Another consideration with the matte black choice is the hardness of your water. It’s not appealing when hard water deposits start building up on your beautiful fixtures.

[triciag]

I agree that people think about what is trendy too much. I happen to love chrome. I have always used it and I always will no matter what. I have found that the more I focus on putting what I love in a space without regard to what's in style, the more cohesive and beautiful it looks.
Spray painting is a good tip for updating things. When we bought our house, the brick fireplace had the shiny brass, and it made it look dated. Spray painting it matte black made a huge difference! We didn't think we liked the brick and wanted to paint it, but with the matte black it looks so much better and we decided not to.
I always love how you give these tips without sounding pretentious or judgemental!

[fleurdelis]

I always thought everything had to match but I mixed metals in a subtle way within my space and I love it. I feel like it added more interest to the space. I also mixed wood tones. Everyone tells me that they feel so calm when they’re sitting in my space and that’s what I wanted to feel living here.

I think your tips are awesome for anyone who is feeling hesitant about doing it.

[beena]

The 2nd last point, "getting caught up in metal trends" was worth mentioning, as I have not heard any interior designers or YouTuber talk about it.. Thanks Nick.

[UnderTheGreydar]

Great advice, Nick! I particularly appreciate the last tip about spray painting. My home is a mixed metal nightmare and I don't have a huge budget for updating everything. I will consider painting those things that really bother me, but I can't afford to replace just yet. I'm learning that these little details can go far in helping us gain a sense of peace and rest in our homes. The more refreshed and peaceful I feel at home, the more energy I can generate to get out there in the world and improve my overall situation. Small details can go far in bringing a little happiness!

[alanapeters]

You are my favorite YouTuber hands down. You know what you're talking about, you're open minded, you're not condescending about other opinions, you really keep up to date on the industry, and mostly you just feel like my best friend that I hang out with on YouTube chatting about one of my favorite hobbies. Also you're concise and you handle sponsors so well. Keep making videos please! I will keep eating them up.

[ms.blanche]

I’m glad to know it’s ok to have 2 metals in a room. I about drove myself batty trying to get all metals the same in my bathroom renovation. I finally gave up and went with two and it looked fine.

[ImALefty]

TIPS for spray-painting your hardware to make it last longer:
1. Make sure to prepare the items that you're going to spray paint by cleaning them and making sure that no oils are present (try using acetone for this), especially for any kitchen hardware
2. Lightly sand it with #180 grit so that the paint will be able to adhere to the hardware better
3. Spray a metal Primer paint (ideally, you should do 2 coats for this)
4. Spray your base paint (2 coats as well)
5. Spray a clear topcoat (2 coats)
For a matte finish, use a matte topcoat. Never use a matte base coat and a glossy top coat :D

[cvonsutphen]

*Function, Friends, Finishes* . Great video Nick! Excellent tips! *Spray Paint Hack*, I spray painted my door knobs matte black from 1964 crusty, icky brass. Give the hardware a a thorough cleaning with Krud Kutter, use a self-etching metal primer, use automotive grade spray paint, finish with a matte top coat. How do I know this? I did it right 'cuz I did it twice. Yes, it's a time consuming process, but so worth the effort. One other noteworthy thing to think about for faucets specifically is the hardness of your water. That oil rubbed bronze or matte black finishes loses it's appeal when covered in limescale.

[rachelfeala]

I love how much you focus on practicality. As a mom of two grade school boys, this is something I think about all the time.

[ZZ_The_Boxing_Cat]

I just replaced all the brass cabinet pulls (on wall unit/book case) in living room with leather ones. It made a huge difference.
It's always that attention to detail that sets good apart from great!

[jessicaspencer]

I LOVE this! I appreciate someone who puts as much thought into “small” things as I do. I love brushed brass as well. They were out when all the gray was in but my childhood home had brass everywhere and in the 2000s it was in too

[wutexas]

It’s really helpful for amateur like me. I mean, it’s good to provide unspecific advice for us to make our space unique, but most of us ain’t get much chance to do experiment. I’d more prefer the videos that provide more specific function like “no more 2 different metallic colors”.

[lizwiens]

We are planning a big reno and I’ve been too worried about getting trends that will go out of style. You’re right, just go with what you love now and don’t worry about five ten years from now. Thanks for that, I needed to hear it!

[Blessed]

I love how you describe things. I was watching another popular designer who has a YouTube channel, and she did a video talking about 'mistakes, ' but she comes off so harsh and judgemental, It made me absolutely disagree with pretty much everything she said. I sort of cringe when people use 'mistakes' in their video titles, but you do it so kindly, and I love how you give alternatives to the mistakes, instead of just acting like "You're wrong, hire a designer to fix it, you idiot!"

[carolefreeman]

“Take trends as what they are, great new ideas..” I love and agree with your comment, it’s so true!

[davidjones]

I used to only use one metal throughout my space, but in the past few years I’ve been mixing my metals mainly through accessories. I love the depth and layered look it creates. I say do what makes you happy. Thanks Nick for another interesting video.