If it’s okay to mix colours, patterns and textures in your home décor, then why not metals too? Here’s a few ways to work with mixed metals for eye-catching effect…
• Pick one main or ‘dominant’ metal and build everything else around it. Choosing a main metal will give a room a sense of unity, while accent metals will help lead the eye around the space. Also consider the size of the room, as a larger, more open space can get away with more metallic elements than a smaller space, which runs the risk of feeling like a crammed little antiques shop if you use too much metal.
• Don’t be afraid to mix and match metals, like combining iron with copper or silver with gold, etc. There are no rules. If you’re unsure about mixing the likes of gold and silver together though, go for gold with grey. Also, don’t be afraid to mix warm metals (like gold and brass) with colder ones (like silver, stainless steel and chrome). Nicely done, mixing metals offers a great way to make the pieces in your home look like they’ve been collected over the space of decades.
• When it comes to room colours, a neutral palette will allow metallic accents to really stand out. Otherwise consider pairing warm metals, like copper, gold and brass, with orange, red and brown shades, and cooler ones, like silver, with blues, greens and a dash of purple. Or you could toss that idea completely and mix warm with cool – ever seen how gorgeous copper and blue look together? You can never go wrong with mixing gold and black for dramatic effect. A black-and-white backdrop will also set the stage for a mix of metallic accessories. And don’t be fooled – metals go well with pastels too (think rose gold with a soft pink or mint green with a hint of silver). Layering different shades of the same metal can also create interest and depth. Gold, for instance, in its various shades, always looks regal without coming off as kitsch.
• Blend metals with other materials, like wood and glass, as well as rich textiles, like velvet, faux fur, satin and leather, for a look of luxury and opulence. You can bring these materials in with chairs and tables, bedding, scatter cushions, ottomans, lamps, throws, rugs and window treatments. And don’t be afraid to use texture within the metals themselves by varying their finishes. You can easily combine matte with polished or hammered for a bit of variation. Metals don’t always have to be shiny. Iron, for instance, won’t clash with other metals, plus it will add a ‘grounding’ effect to the mix.
• Combining metals with mirrors or glass is always a good idea because metals go extremely well with anything that reflects light. Create a gallery wall of mirrors in beautiful metallic frames and watch it come to life.
• Mixing metals can look amazing in a kitchen too. Think a metallic backsplash, for instance, made up of various metals in a jigsaw-puzzle effect, or copper pendant lights over a kitchen island, chrome handles on cabinetry, brass taps on a farmhouse sink, shiny stainless steel appliances – the options are endless.
Image: Sophie Sollmann
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