Should Doorknobs Match Faucets?

Giovanni Valle is a licensed architect and LEED-accredited professional and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is the author and managing editor of various digital publications, including BuilderSpace, Your Own Architect, and Interiors Place.

Who doesn’t want to have a sleek, stylish interior in their home? If you’re redoing parts of your house, you should consider what hardware to use on your faucets and doorknobs. That way, you can create a home that you enjoy and feel comfortable in; however, should they match?

Doorknobs can match faucets to create a streamlined look throughout a room. However, some designers recommend mixing different metals. If using different metals, it’s important to make sure they look good together, especially in a small room like a bathroom.

If you’re redoing parts of your house, you should consider if your doorknobs and faucets look good. They don’t all have to be the same metal or color, but they should coordinate so that it doesn’t look like a huge mismatch. Keep reading to learn how to choose door knobs that match your faucets.

Should Door Hardware and Faucets Match?

Door hardware and faucets can look good together when they match. If you want to buy a new faucet and doorknobs, you can shop around. Then, you can buy the hardware from the same store so that the metal is all the same.

While mixing metals can work well, there are some benefits to using the same metal throughout a room. Here are a few reasons why you may want to match the doorknobs to faucets.

Cohesive Look

If you aren’t an interior designer, you may want to hire someone for help. But using the same metal for your doorknobs and faucets can give you a cohesive look without a designer. You can choose a metal you like, and you can get all of the hardware you need in that metal.

Your room will look more cohesive with the same metal. As long as that metal matches the walls and furniture, you don’t have to work too hard to design the space. That can be useful if you’re on a budget but want to make your house look good.

Fewer Choices

Even if you don’t need to have a cohesive look, using the same metal means you have fewer choices to make when designing. You can select one metal for your faucet and doorknobs, rather than a metal for each.

If you aren’t switching out the faucet, you don’t even have to select a metal. You can take a picture of the faucet so that you can shop for matching doorknobs. When redoing your home, you have a lot of choices, so matching the metals in a kitchen or bathroom can simplify things.

Different Looks in Different Rooms

All of your faucets and doorknobs don’t have to match throughout your house. You can select one metal for your kitchen and another for your bathroom. So if you don’t want to give up a ton of control, you can still get creative with your designs.

You can swap out one or two faucets if they’re all the same metal. Or you can keep them and use the same metal in every room. Consider your design preferences and if you want the same metal everywhere. Then, you can decide if it’s worth matching metals in every room of your home.

Why You May Want to Mix Metals

While matching metals can be easy, it may be hard to find an exact match. If you’re keeping an older faucet, you may not be able to get door knobs with the same metal and finish. In that case, you’ll have no choice but to mix metals.

Luckily, mixing metals can be a good option. As long as the metals don’t overpower each other, two colors and finishes can look good together.

Add Personality

Not every home has to look like one in a magazine. Sometimes, having different metals can add some personality to your kitchen or bathroom. It can make the space look unique, and you can choose a style that suits you.

You can choose a couple of metals that complement each other. For example, brass or gold can look very nice with silver. Combining metals can make your space look modern and refreshed, so it can be an easy way to update your home.

Match Your Style

If you like a couple of metals, you can choose them to accentuate your style. You may not think of style when designing a bathroom, but you can spend a lot of time there. And your kitchen can be the perfect place to gather with friends and family.

That makes matching metals a great way to show off your style. You can choose faucets and doorknobs that match your ideal aesthetic. Then, you can be proud of your home, and you may want to have more visitors over.

Affordable

If you’re doing a lot of updates to your home, your bill can get expensive. You may need to pay a premium on certain hardware so that it matches what you have or another piece you want to buy.

But if you’re willing to mix a couple of metals, you won’t have to buy a set. You can shop around and different stores and find more affordable options. While you don’t want the metals to clash, you have more options when you’re willing to use more than one metal in a room.

How to Mix Metals in Your Home

If you decide to mix metals in your home, you should be careful. You want to make sure the metals will work together and won’t be too overwhelming. Here are a few steps you can take when mixing metals.

Consider the Room

Consider the colors and design on the walls and throughout the room. Make sure any metals you add match the theme of the room so that it can still look nice.

If you already have a bright accent wall, you may want to choose a couple of more neutral metals, like iron and silver. But if your room is neutral, you can use a brighter metal, like gold. Then, you can match the gold with another metal.

Select One Metal as the Focus

Once you decide on the metals you want to use, select one to be the dominant metal. You can use this on your faucet and doorknobs. The metal can be the one you notice first when you walk into the room.

You’ll use the second metal as an accent. You could use the accent metal for your bowls if in your kitchen. In the bathroom, you can use a second metal for your toilet paper holder, for example.

Have Intent

You should also have some intent for the design when using multiple metals. Even if you aren’t an interior designer, think about how you want the room to look and feel. Choose and use metals to help emphasize those goals for the room.

If you don’t have any plan for the room, it can be easy to get lost in all of the hardware options. You can choose “pretty” doorknobs, but they may not look good in your house. Make sure each metal and hardware you select will serve a purpose in the room.

Don’t Overdo It

Along with intent, try not to choose too many metals. Two metals are a great place to start, especially if you aren’t working with an interior designer. You can choose metals that look good together, and you don’t have to make a ton of decisions.

One metal can serve as the dominant metal, and you can use the other as an accent. That way, both metals can stand out in the space. You won’t have to worry about a bunch of metals and colors competing for your attention, so the room can be more comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Doorknobs and faucets can match, and that can make it easier for you when upgrading your home. However, you don’t have to be afraid to mix multiple metals. If you decide to mix, make sure the metals complement each other and that you have an intent for each metal.