I Asked Interior Designers What Hardware Finish Is Back — This Is It

If you want to update your kitchen’s style, a fresh coat of paint on your kitchen cabinets or a bold backsplash will always make a kitchen pop. But a carefully curated collection of knobs and pulls can be the detail that subtly ties your room together. “Homeowners are finally seeing cabinet hardware as a place to explore, have fun, and take risks,” says Jenna Schnabel Wedemeyer of Schnabel Interiors in Lexington, Kentucky. “It’s an easy and inexpensive option when your style or preferences shift.”

In recent years, I’ve been seeing fewer silver kitchen accents, as nickel and chrome fixtures have given way to brass or matte black hardware. “Today’s interiors are all about warmer tones in paints and fabrics, and the hardware follows suit,” designer Yena Jung explains. But the pendulum is swinging toward a classic, old-school favorite finish again, at least in terms of hardware, and designers are embracing this momentum. 

Designer Christina Kelley sees cool-toned finishes poised to make a major comeback. “Silver tones are big in fashion and art right now, so naturally, that’s shaping interior trends, too,” she says. In fact, many pros say a cool metal finish has the power to withstand time and trend. 

“I don’t think nickel or silver hardware is falling out of fashion,” says designer Dorothy Tsui of Bobeche Interiors. “It remains a popular choice for modern spaces due to its ability to blend seamlessly into the background, allowing the overall design to take center stage.” 

Ideally, these metals would look fresh and clean in a finished project, but silver always runs the risk of presenting as cold or sterile. One solution: Reach for polished nickel. “Its warmer silver tone offers a timeless and elegant look that won’t compete with other design elements,” Tsui says. Kelley agrees and says polished nickel could easily replace matte black and faux gold fittings, if you’re looking to change things up in an existing kitchen or bathroom without it clashing the rest of your decor or finishes. 

With so many options to choose from, finding the perfect finish could feel a tad daunting. To help whittle down your search, Kelly recommends consulting your jewelry box. “Start with what jewelry tones you’ve always loved,” she recommends. “Don’t chase trends if they’re not you — and see which kitchens you’re drawn to on Pinterest for inspiration.” After all, your home should always be a reflection of … you. 

And don’t be afraid to mix two complementary finishes, Schnabel Wedemeyer says. “By all means, don’t be overly matchy with your plumbing, hardware, and lighting finishes,” she says. “These should never be the same. How unoriginal!”