How to Choose the Right Finish for Your Bathroom

The finish on your faucets, shower hardware and accessories sets the tone for the whole bathroom — and it's one of the easiest ways to give the room a custom, pulled-together look. Here's how to choose a finish you'll love living with.

Start with the popular finishes

Polished Chrome

Bright, mirror-like and timeless. Chrome works in almost any style, is widely available so it's easy to match across fixtures, and is very durable. It does show water spots more readily, so a quick wipe keeps it gleaming.

Brushed Nickel

A warm, soft satin sheen that hides water spots and fingerprints better than chrome. Brushed nickel is the go-to versatile choice — it coordinates with warm and cool tones alike and suits transitional and traditional baths.

Matte Black

Bold and modern, matte black adds striking contrast against light tile and white fixtures. It's on-trend and dramatic; just plan on wiping it down, since dust and hard-water spots are more visible on a flat black surface.

Brushed Gold & Champagne

Warm, luxe and increasingly popular. Brushed gold tones bring a soft, upscale glow and pair beautifully with white, black or deep green as an accent finish. Other finishes — like gunmetal — are available on select products too.

Coordinate across the room

For a cohesive look, keep your plumbing fixtures — bathroom faucet, shower hardware and tub filler — in the same finish. Towel bars, robe hooks and the toilet flush lever should usually match too. Lighting and cabinet hardware can either match or be a deliberate, complementary accent (for example, brushed gold lighting with matte black plumbing). The key is to make any mix look intentional rather than accidental.

Match the finish to your style

• Modern / contemporary: matte black or polished chrome.
• Traditional / classic: polished chrome or brushed nickel.
• Transitional / warm: brushed nickel or brushed gold.

A few practical tips

• Consider upkeep: matte black and polished chrome show water spots most; brushed finishes hide them best.
• Lighting changes everything — a finish can look cooler or warmer under different bulbs, so view it in your own bathroom's light if you can.
• Stick to one finish family for the main fixtures, then have fun with accents.

Want to see finishes in person before you decide? Visit our South El Monte showroom, or browse our faucets and shower doors to compare. Questions? Contact us.