The Resurgence of Polished Finishes in Bathrooms: A Visual Indication
In the world of interior design, 2025 is all about embracing a layered, mixed-metal aesthetic. This trend, as noted by industry experts, favours a combination of warm and cool metallic finishes, with an emphasis on natural aging or pre-aged brass, and the integration of modern alternatives such as matte black and polished nickel.
Ottalie Stride, creative director of the design house Albion Nord, highlights the common use of finishes like brass and nickel in artisanal applications. These metals, she says, add warmth, timeless appeal, luxury, and character to interiors.
Lindsay Cuthill, co-founder of Blue Book Agency, adds that brass, in particular, is appreciated for its authenticity, which only improves with age. This authenticity is a key attribute that sets brass apart, making it a popular choice in the design world.
Charu Gandhi, founder and director of the interior design studio Elicyon, agrees, stating that metallics add a touch of luxury to any space. In addition, she notes that brass pairs well with deep greens, rich blues, earthy neutrals, marble, dark wood, and ceramic, but balance is key to ensure a refined and modern look.
The current trend moves away from the outdated rule of matching all hardware finishes. Mixing metals such as polished nickel with unlacquered brass or oil-rubbed bronze is actively encouraged, enhancing layered depth and contrast in kitchens and bathrooms.
Chrome and cool metallics are making a notable comeback in 2025, shifting the longstanding dominance of warm brass. Chrome is now used beyond minimalist settings and is paired with natural elements like wood and wicker for a tailored look.
Finishes are trending towards natural patinas and imperfections that give metals a lived-in, warm, and timeless character rather than overly polished, fingerprint-proof surfaces.
Matte black and gold finishes are gaining popularity alongside traditional metals, adding sophistication and warmth. These finishes complement sleek and minimalist cabinet hardware while fitting well in modern kitchen aesthetics.
There is increased interest in sustainable and customized metal applications, including mixed-metal combinations like brass, chrome, and bronze, helping achieve luxury but eco-conscious interiors.
In a notable example, the ornate gilded bathroom featured in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was a faithful copy of the one Freddie Mercury had in his Kensington house, and was recreated in a Surrey home. The bathroom, adorned with gold taps, gold shower, gold bath, gold wallpaper, and a gold ceiling, showcases the opulence that brass can bring to a space.
In contrast, a nickel-finish bathroom in Mayfair, designed by the architecture and interior design studio Charlton Brown, demonstrates the use of nickel for a more clean and polished look.
Chris Cox, founder of the furniture, lighting, and art studio Cox London, emphasizes the importance of allowing brass to age gracefully and celebrating its natural patina. Ed O'Donnell, co-founder and creative director of Angel O'Donnell, suggests that a single shiny object, such as brass taps or a pendant light, can be eye-catching without a full-tilt commitment to metallics.
Pantone's 2025 colour of the year is Mocha Mousse, a warming, bronzed hue that appears to shimmer. In an apartment on the River Thames, a sculptural, serpentine brass pendant light and a gold-leaf console table are used, offset by a sapphire-blue velvet chair.
Mixing metals can be effective, as demonstrated by a staircase by SHH, with clients now open to having multiple finishes in a space, such as nickel taps with bronze wall lights.
Alexandra Goss, an award-winning journalist who specializes in lifestyle and property features, highlights these trends, providing insights into the evolving world of interior design.
[1] https://www.dezeen.com/2025/01/01/chrome-cool-metallics-making-comeback-in-2025-interior-design/ [2] https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/matte-black-and-gold-finishes-are-the-new-trend-in-interior-design/ [3] https://www.interiordesign.net/news/mixing-metals-is-back-in-interior-design/130837 [4] https://www.elicyon.com/blog/the-rise-of-natural-patinas-and-imperfections-in-metallic-finishes [5] https://www.dezeen.com/2025/02/15/sustainable-metal-applications-trending-in-2025-interior-design/
- In the realm of interior design, lifestyle choices are becoming more enmeshed with home and garden themes, as evidenced by the growing popularity of natural patinas and imperfections in metallic finishes, a trend echoed by the use of sustainable and customized metal applications.
- As Mocha Mousse, Pantone's 2025 colour of the year, suggests, a layered, mixed-metal aesthetic is dominating interiors, with brass, chrome, and nickel being frequently integrated to add warmth, timeless appeal, luxury, and character to spaces, often paired with deep greens, rich blues, and earthy neutrals.
