09/04/19

The Mixed Metals Trend

Mix your metals for an on-trend interior

Metals and metallics have been a hit with interior designers since 2016 (at least) and they have been regularly touted as a trend to watch out for in every year since. This year, 2019, is no different. Gone are the days of picking out just one metallic tone and sticking to it though, these days it’s all about mixing and matching.





It’s well worth investing in this trend too, because if recent years are anything to go by, metal finishes are going to be around and yes, on trend, for the foreseeable future. The reason mixing metals has become so popular among the interior design fraternity this year, is because of the richness, depth and interest it can bring to your space.

But be warned, as with all interior design trends there are few tips and tricks worth knowing to help you get it right. As with any design scheme that requires mixing and matching, it’s important to avoid looking haphazard and messy.

With that in mind, here are a few guidelines to help you mix your metals right this season.

Firstly, decide which metal will play the main role in your room, and then select a few other metal finishes to support and accent it. For example, if you invest in a big, bold gilded mirror above the living room mantel piece, this is a natural focal point, so make gold your main metal and complement it with smaller ornaments in other metals.

Remember, warm metal finishes like gold, copper, brass, rose gold and so on, can look fantastic next to cooler metals like silver, chrome and steel, so you can mix metals from both sides of the fence; warm and cold.


Don’t forget that the metal finishes you choose not only need to work well with each other, but with the rest of your room too. Warm metals go great with warm colours like browns, rich greens and reds while the cooler tones go with cooler hues like while, blue, grey and purple. This is important to help make the entire space feel cohesive once it’s fully decorated and furnished.

It’s not just true metal that can add to the metallic finish in your space either. Many fabrics also make use of metallic threads, so think outside the box when you’re thinking about how to complete your room. Curtains, rugs and even upholstered furniture can introduce larger pops of metal colour, while cushions and throws are more subtle. These items are also great for helping to spread the metal touches through the room, instead of ended up with everything clustered together in once space.

Metal pieces of furniture don’t have to be manmade either, if your more interested in the natural look and even sustainability as a theme in your home, then what can be considered natural metals are a great way to embrace the mixed metals trend. By natural metals we mean materials like iron, bronze and other, typically dark metals that can serve as beautiful, tactile yet neutral additions to your space. It doesn’t all have to be glitz, glamour and shine if that’s not your thing.

Finally, to help avoid falling into the trap of it all becoming too haphazard, a top tip is to mix your metals but limit your shapes. That means if your furniture tends to be linear and box shaped, then stick to buying accents and accessories in similar shapes to help keep some consistency throughout your space. The same principle works if you prefer curves or your working with patterns VS plain surfaces.