Decorating with metals

You’re often led to believe that you must have one & only one kind of metal adorning your home. For instance, sporting a silver ornament in a house full of copper fixtures would have counted as a décor faux pas. Not anymore.
 
The era of “color coordinated everything” has passed, and as of today, mixed metals are all the rage. Whether you’re opting for a subtle makeover or a downright glamorous one, this trend is the perfect fit for one and all. However, there is a method to the madness, and we’re going to tell you exactly how it goes.

Choose a Dominant Metal

With metallic finishes being the latest trend, you may be really excited to jump on to the bandwagon, but remember not to get too overexcited & overwhelmed. Go ahead & pick out one particular metal that you’d like to be most prominent around your house, and then pick one, maximum two more metals to complement it. This way, you will not only have uniformity across the room, but also some elements of surprise across the space.

Image Source: Kathy Kuo Homes

Don’t Be Afraid To Blend Tone

​If you think that gold & silver can’t be friends, think again. When used tastefully, a mixture of warm & cool metals is a winner combination.
Notice how the gold side table is pairing perfectly well with the silver pouf & arch lamp in spite of the difference in color & tone. 

Image Courtesy: Brit +Co.

Image Source: dustjacket-attic.com

Pick a Base Palette

We’re all for the mix & match, but don’t forget to consider your base palette whilst choosing your metals. If warm colors are the underlying theme for your room, your pick of metals too should primarily fall within that theme. For e.g. for a study that’s using shades of deep red & brown, the right metal mix would be gold, brass and/or copper. Similarly, for a beach house that’s being designed around cool hues like blue & green, metals like chrome & silver would be ideal.
Then again, if you’re presented with a room that has a neutral hue, you could get a little more edgy & mix it up! 

Image Courtesy: Ecstasy Coffee

Play With Texture

So far, we’ve made it pretty clear that we love a good metallic mix. So when it comes to textures, don’t hesitate to do the same. For e.g. the presence of matte finish table lamps on a coffee table doesn’t mean that you can’t throw in some bowls with a hammered finish into the same picture. 

Image Source: Belfort Furniture

Don’t Go Overboard

All things said & done, remember the most important tip of them all: subtlety is the key. You may be using more than one metal in one frame, but neither should be competing for attention. They should be able to co-exist, without one overpowering the other. Also, amidst the metal mania, don’t forget that you can always neutralize any room with non-metallic elements and balance it all out.
 
Decorating with mixed metals is a trend that we believe is here to stay.

Want to know how to personalize this trend to suit your homes? Drop in an email to mailthegreenelephant@gmail.com & we can take it from there.
 
That’s all for today, folks. Have a great week ahead!