Choosing a faucet and its finish can be completely overwhelming at times. With plenty of choices such as material and color, the options may include polished chrome, brushed chrome, polished nickel, brushed nickel, bronze, oil rubbed bronze, brass, and of course matte black. There are even light and dark varieties to each, as well as polishes and satin versions. Crazy enough, there are probably more. There are so many options that it can be confusing to know which way to go. Fear not. This simple guide will help elevate your knowledge in no time.

You might have vagal idea about the difference between polished nickel, chrome, polished bronze and copper. Fear not, we’ll get into more details about these finishes. Over the last 10 years, mixing finishes has become popularized, but the general rule is to get all your fixtures and accessories in a matching finish. It’s also a good idea to buy the all your fixtures from a single manufacturer that offers sets and bundles.

Let's look at the pros and cons of some of today's most popular finishes available the best stylistic uses for each. 

Polished Brass
An all-time favorite, polished brass is one of the best options you can go with due to its vintage look. It is easy to clean, has a durable finish and it is much easier to match with other accessories and fixtures in your bathroom. Moreover, this option looks great with modern, traditional as well as electric settings.

All in all, this option is not without drawbacks. The first drawback of the polished brass option is that it is more expensive especially when compared to brushed nickel and chrome.

Brizo Tresa Bridge Lavatory Venetian Bronze

Bronze

When compared to chrome and brushed nickel, the bronze offers greater aesthetic appeal and aore traditional feel and look. If your bathroom has other brass items, purchasing the bathroom faucets will improve the ambience and save you money. These faucets are durable, easy to maintain and easy to match with other fixtures and accessories. It will also not show fingerprints or water spots. On the flip side, oil-rubbed bronze faucets are more expensive than brushed nickel and chrome. All in all, they go well with Tuscan/ Mediterranean and traditional settings.

Native Trials CPS409 Trough 48 Polished Copper

Copper
Copper bathroom faucets will give your bathroom a rich feel especially when considering copper is both bold and unmistakable. Mixing these faucets with subtle materials like marble on the countertop will help achieve a remarkable feel. Some of the benefits of using copper include the material’s antibacterial properties and the fact that it is easy to find. The main disadvantage of copper is that shiny copper finish requires more maintenance than other options such as chrome and oil-rubbed bronze. In addition to that, copper is not as durable and it is tricky to match these faucets with other accessories. Copper faucets are perfect for the farmhouse and Tuscan settings.

Polished Nickel
Slightly darker than chrome but exhibiting the same luster, polished nickel can appear to change color depending on how it's lit. It's at home in eclectic, traditional, modern and contemporary bathrooms. It can be expensive and challenging to find matches for, but it makes up for this be being easy to maintain and is extremely durable.

Chrome
This is by far the most popular finishes used. It is inexpensive, durable, easy to clean and maintain. It also matches easily with other fixtures and accessories. The only disadvantage is that it shows fingerprints and water spots. You will always be spoiled for choice when it comes to options for a bathroom faucet. Always make sure you profoundly understand the pros and cons of the option you choose to go with.

Jason Wu for Brizo Widespread Lavatory Faucet Matte Black

Matte Black

Adding a matte black fixture to your bathroom can make it appear like you've completely renovated the room although all you did was switch the fixtures! It's easy to maintain but finding matching pieces might be difficult and it can be expensive. It works best in eclectic or modern designs.

Choosing the finish for your bathroom fixtures can be fun and exciting. Today, you have a wide range of choices to fit any budget or style. Work with your designer or design-build contractor to understand all of your options. They will help you to make the perfect choice.