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  • LuxStone Living
  • Everything You Need To Know About Hardware Finishes For Your Shower

Everything You Need To Know About Hardware Finishes For Your Shower

6 min read
  • Shower Features

Design Your Dream Shower Request a free consultation or call (800) 704-9847

Remodeling your shower? Put your unique stamp on it with fixtures finished to your aesthetic preferences. Today’s fixtures come in a range of styles and finishes, from modern matte black to a more rustic oil-rubbed bronze—all designed to fit your taste, needs and budget.

Ready to put the finishing touch on your shower upgrade? Explore our buyer’s guide for everything you need to know about hardware finishes.

What Is The Most Popular Shower Fixture Finish?

showerhead

Many of today’s homeowners prioritize durability and affordability when shopping for shower fixtures. After all, a bathroom remodel can be a significant investment, so it’s worth taking the time to select pieces that are timeless, both in style and design. Chrome fixtures are likely to meet both criteria: always a classic option and relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. With its bright, polished finish, chrome complements most bath and shower design styles. It’s also non-corrosive, so you can enjoy shining shower fixtures for years to come.

Which Hardware Finishes Are the Most Durable?

woman in bathroom

A high-performing fixture finish is required in spaces that frequently get wet, like your bath or shower. Protect your fixtures from corrosion and other stains with an easy-to-clean, long-lasting finish like bronze, nickel or chrome. Homeowners seeking a richer color for their bathroom fixtures may find bronze and nickel to be comparably durable alternatives to a bright chrome finish. 

Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures pair well with rustic or vintage-inspired bathrooms, their deep, earthy color adding warmth and a certain charm. As this finish is more labor intensive than chrome, it also can come with a higher price tag; however, bronze fixtures are incredibly long-lasting, so your investment will likely be worth it. 

Brushed nickel is a highly popular finish because of its neutral coloring and more matte appearance than polished chrome. Again, it is often a more expensive finish, but nickel fixtures notably hold up to hard water and are ultra stain-resistant, appealing to homeowners seeking a low-maintenance shower design.

Which Hardware Finishes Are the Most Cost-Effective?

Some fixture finishes may be more affordable than others upfront, but depending on the longevity of the finish, the savings may not be worth the trade when the need for a replacement fixture is not far off. It’s also worth considering your bathroom’s overall design, and what style sacrifices may be made to cut costs.

Finishes like polished chrome and brushed silver are relatively inexpensive while still versatile enough for a range of bathroom styles. Oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel and brass fixtures are typically more expensive but come with the added benefit of high durability. We recommend selecting the fixtures that most align with your budget and long-term bathroom needs if possible—ultimately, you don’t want to be remodeling or replacing fixtures down the road.

Can You Mix and Match Hardware Finishes in the Bathroom?

Mixing metal finishes in a bathroom is actually a common practice and can heighten your bathroom’s appeal if done correctly. The most important thing to remember when considering mixing metal finishes for your bath or shower fixtures is to avoid combinations in the same color family. Brass and gold fixtures will compete with each other for the eye (or worse, look like a mistake was made during installation), but matte black fixtures will pair nicely with either. Try selecting a primary metal for most of your fixtures, then accent with a bold showerhead or towel rod in a complementary finish for a design that makes a statement.

Start and Finish Your Shower Remodel With LuxStone®

Struggling to select the right finish for your shower fixtures? Get expert design advice during your free consultation, so you can bring your dream shower to life—down to the final details. Ready to get started? Contact us today!


Request A Free Design Consultation

or call to speak with a KOHLER Authorized Dealer (800) 704-9847