Stainless steel sinks are a staple in millions of kitchens, as they’re durable, long-lasting, and easy to maintain. Once you choose your sink, your next step is to select a faucet (if you haven’t already). After all, what good is a sink without something to provide water?
While it’s easy enough to pair a stainless steel faucet with a stainless steel sink, what should you pick as an alternative faucet material? We’re here to review the best color pairings for stainless steel sinks, so stick around to learn more!
In This Article:
Should The Faucet Match The Hardware Or The Sink?
Generally speaking, the faucet usually matches the hardware (such as cabinet knobs) throughout the space rather than the sink. That said, you can always switch it up and choose a few different finishes throughout your kitchen. You could choose to match the sink to the faucet or the sink to the hardware.
Or, match all three – the choice is yours. However, if you want a cohesive appearance in your kitchen, you might appreciate the looks of a matching faucet and cabinet hardware best. When the hardware matches the faucet, it creates a streamlined appearance, tying the space together. The sink rests out of eyesight when you look at the kitchen from further away, while the faucet and hardware are on full display and often catch the eye first.
Of course, if you have a farmhouse or apron-front kitchen sink, the sink will probably be the first thing you see when you walk into the kitchen, as these sinks tend to be the star of the show. If you have this type of sink, the situation is a bit different, as you’ll see all three metals when you walk into the space.
Again, you can choose to mix metals, or you can select three similar metals. For example, if you have a hammered copper farmhouse sink, you could install a copper faucet, and cabinet pulls. On the other hand, if you have an enameled or fireclay farmhouse sink (usually white or cream), you could incorporate a couple of metal finishes between the faucet and hardware. It’s up to you!
Is It Okay To Mix Metals In The Kitchen?
Although trends of previous years insisted you choose a single metal finish for your entire home, these days are behind us. In recent years, people have started mixing metal finishes to create a beautiful, eye-catching, and dynamic appearance throughout their homes.
While most folks choose to pair warm tones with other warm tones, you can mix cooler tones and warmer finishes. In some cases, warm and cool tones can clash, so be sure you like the combination before committing to a set of hardware or numerous fixtures.
Mixing metals can add visual interest to any space, whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. So, if you like a few different metal finishes and can’t seem to choose one over the other, you might want to consider both!
Ultimately, it’s your home, so you can use whichever metals you like best. Mix and match to your heart’s content!
What Finish Goes Best With Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel sinks are a standard feature in millions of homes, as they’re relatively inexpensive yet offer an impressive array of benefits that entices many folks. So, it’s no surprise that these sinks are some of the most popular options on the market today.
Once you choose your stainless steel sink, you’ll need to choose a faucet. Over a dozen faucet finishes are available today, with numerous metals and colors to choose from. The finish you choose can significantly affect the flow of your kitchen, so it’s essential to choose a finish you like.
However, before you grab any random faucet, consider how you want your kitchen to look. Many designers warn against mixing warm and cool metals, so you might want to think twice before grabbing a beautiful glossy copper or brushed gold faucet. Of course, the choice is yours, but if you want a cohesive appearance, you might want to stick with specific tones.
While you can choose whatever faucet finish you like, we can offer a few tips to help your kitchen’s design flow better. So, if you have a stainless steel sink, here are a few potential faucet finishes you should consider:
Silver Tones
Silvery tones work perfectly with stainless steel sinks. Several faucet finishes work well for this, including chrome, stainless steel, and nickel. They feature the same cool tone as stainless steel, so combining them works beautifully.
Generally, it’s best to steer clear of warm tones and undertones if you’re hoping for a seamless and cohesive appearance in your kitchen. Sometimes, the colors can clash, creating an unwelcome dynamic in the space.
Black
If you’re hoping for a striking contrast between your sink and faucet, you may want to consider a black faucet. Matte black faucets, in particular, work beautifully with stainless steel sinks, as the flat surface of the faucet balances out the shiny surface of the steel.
Pair the faucet with matte black hardware for a striking contrast throughout your kitchen. To step it up, even more, consider painting your cabinets a lighter color, such as white or cream, to elevate the contrast even more!
White
It’s hard to go wrong with white finishes, as they match just about anything. While white faucets aren’t as standard as metal finishes, a few options are available today. Some models feature a white faucet body with stainless steel or chrome handles for a dynamic appearance, so if you’re hoping for a bit of variety, these options work perfectly.
Pops Of Color
If you appreciate a vibrant pop of color to brighten a space, you can choose a colored faucet. Like white faucets, these faucets are fewer and far between than metal finishes, but there are a few available today.
You can find rich blues, deep greens, bright yellows, and vibrant reds, among other options. Some faucets feature a two-toned finish, with the arch of the faucet body featuring a pop of color and the rest of the tap boasting a metal tone (such as stainless steel or chrome).
These faucets work beautifully in bright, vibrant kitchens but can also create an added visual element to neutral kitchens.
Accent Faucets
A few faucets are available today with specialty finishes, including wood, glass, and stone accents. Generally, these faucets feature primarily metal bodies, with only a small part of the faucet featuring an accent material.
If you like the looks of an accent material, you could choose one of these options, as these faucets can pair well with stainless steel sinks. However, selecting an option with a silver-toned metal is best, as warmer tones don’t usually pair as seamlessly with stainless steel.
What Faucet Finishes Don’t Match Stainless Steel Sinks?
As mentioned, most designers warn against mixing cool and warm metal finishes. Of course, the choice is yours, but many folks don’t like the combination of the two options. With this in mind, brass, bronze, and gold metal finishes generally don’t match a stainless steel sink.
If you’re hoping for a dynamic appearance in your kitchen, then these faucets might be the perfect solution. However, if you appreciate a more subdued or minimalistic approach to design, these finishes might not be your best bet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Match Light Fixtures To My Kitchen Faucet?
Absolutely! You can match your light fixtures to your kitchen faucet, hardware, and appliances throughout your kitchen. However, while matching the fixtures works beautifully, this is an excellent opportunity to mix in a few metal finishes (if you’d like).
For example, let’s say you have a white farmhouse sink with an exposed stainless steel sink interior. You choose a silvery-toned metal faucet, such as chrome or nickel. Then, for the lights in your kitchen, you could decide to make a statement with contrasting metals.
You could incorporate brass or bronze finishes to create a dynamic appearance in the space, such as a few pendant lights suspended from the ceiling above the island or sink. If you decide to incorporate mixed metals, be sure you like the appearance of the mixture before you commit to purchasing them (while you could always paint, it’s easier to make sure you like it before buying!).
Is Stainless Steel Out Of Style?
Design trends change every year, with the popularity of particular finishes ebbing and flowing as they fluctuate. While stainless steel has had its time in the spotlight and is no longer the most popular faucet finish, it remains a trendy pick.
Many folks appreciate the clean look of stainless steel, not to mention its durability, longevity, and low-maintenance nature. So, while it might not be the most “in-style” option, it remains a solid choice among metal finishes.
Can You Mix Finishes In The Bathroom?
Absolutely – like the kitchen, you can mix finishes in the bathroom as much as you’d like! You could choose a glossy chrome faucet for the bathroom sink and matte black shower fixtures. Or, you could match your faucets and add a bit of contrast with the cabinet hardware. The choice is yours!
