Hardware Finish--Does All Hardware Need To Match?

by Anonymous

I have a question about choosing hardware, light fixtures, etc. Is the rule to choose the same finish for these items throughout a house? For example, if I chose a bronze finish for fixtures, hardware for one room, should I carry that them throughout the house?

Answer:

The short answer to your question is...YES. You do want to keep the hardware consistent throughout.

It's been my experience that people generally fall into one of two categories--(1) people that give absolutely no thought to hardware/metal finishes, and combine anything and everything, and (2) people who live by hard-and-fast rules, and keep all of their hardware/metals EXACTLY the same finish. The first one is a decorating no-no, but the second one is very extreme. There is a happy medium.

When it comes to your hardware and metal finishes, you do want consistency, but you don't necessarily have to have the exact same finish throughout the house. The main thing is just to ask yourself, "Does this finish blend with and enhance the style of my home?"

For example, if your house is decorated in a Tuscan style, with earthy warm colors and worn, aged finishes, the last thing you want to introduce into that space is a shiny, bright, silver lamp. But there are several options that WILL work in that Tuscan space. You could certainly use oil-rubbed bronze, but an antique black finish would also work.

So again, do pay attention to consistency of your hardware/metal finishes, but don't necessarily be bound to just one color.

Now with that said, I'm going to backtrack just a bit, because in my personal opinion, there is one thing that I do think needs to be THE SAME finish throughout the home to maintain continuity--door knobs and hinges. Maybe this is just a personal thing on my part, but I'm VERY particular about door knobs and hinges being the EXACT SAME color throughout an entire home. They don't have to be the exact same style. You may prefer a much fancier door knob on a master bedroom door than on a home office door. But for me, having the same color throughout the home on door knobs and hinges is imperative.

Happy decorating!