Some things clearly do not mix well together (think oil and water, your pet cat and goldfish, and late nights and early mornings!). However, gone are the days when mixing metals in your home decor was considered a style faux-paus. In fact, when done right, a mixed metal look can give a room a highly styled, high-end feel.

Choose Your Main Metal

The key to developing an interesting, yet cohesive design is to choose a dominant metal and one or two complementary metals. (We love nickel paired with brass, gold paired with black metal, silver and black…basically any metal paired with black.) The concept is similar to working with several colors (a main color and a couple of complementary hues) in a single space. By repeating your main metal throughout the room, you achieve a sense of unity. The other metals will serve as accents in your space, providing visual interest and guiding your eyes to key places throughout the room. For instance, you can achieve a high fashion look by incorporating your favorite metals into your living space, perhaps on the legs of a sofa, coffee table and the base of a lamp. Then add a few accessories, such as wall art and a small sculpture on your coffee table, in a complementary metal to add interest and bring your room to the next design level. Likewise, a single gold or bronze accessory, such as a favorite vase or hanging light fixture, can add warmth and character to a modern kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances.

Match Your Tones

Generally, we suggest matching your metals with the surrounding color palette. For instance, use warm metals (brass, bronze, copper and gold) with warm colors to create a colorful and vibrant living room, or use cool metallics (such as silver, stainless steel and aluminum) with your favorite greens and blues for a sophisticated and serene master or guest bedroom. Not sure what to use? Black coated metal goes with anything!

Stick with a Single Style

Make your mixed metals look like they belong in the same room by sticking with a main design theme for your pieces. Whether you love ornately designed shapes or clean, simple lines, choose furniture and décor to suit the style of your room. For example, you can pair wall art with a lavish gold frame and an ornate bronze lamp or hanging light fixture to add a mixed metal flair to your traditionally styled living room.

Focus on Texture and Depth

In addition to the tones of the metals, you should focus on texture and depth. By bringing sculptural elements to your space, such as on a coffee table, a bookshelf or on top of a bedroom dresser, you can give your room dimension and lift the design from ordinary to outstanding. You can create further visual interest by selecting pieces with different finishes, such as matte and polished metal accessories.

More than Just Accessories

If you like the look of mixed metals but aren’t ready to dive in with furnishings and more expensive (and permanent) pieces, you can test the waters with home accessories and decor. A gallery wall is the perfect opportunity to incorporate different metal frames. Try mixing mostly black frames with a couple in silver and a single bronze or gold frame for a sophisticated grouping. Stick with a single style of frame and artwork (traditional, modern or other) to bring unity to the group, and you’ll have a gallery wall worthy of any home. Of course, home accessories can also be used to bring in mixed metals through lamps, sculptural pieces and much more.

By following these guidelines, you can achieve a sophisticated design that’s high on character and easy to incorporate into your space. Go ahead, and let your metals mix and mingle!

Want to break even farther out of your mixy-matchy norm? Get more tips for mixing and matching furniture and home décor? Read our Mad for Mixed Media blog post and our Mixing and Matching Tips and Tricks post.