From appliances to hardware, furniture and light fixtures, metal can be found just about anywhere in your home. Here we take a deep dive into the five most common types of metals and metal finishes.

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Types of Metals

While there are many types of metals, below are the five most common options found in your home decor and furnishings.

Aluminium

Aluminium has a dull silver finish, making it similar in appearance to stainless steel. It's lighter in weight and more affordable than steel, although it isn't as strong. While aluminium doesn't rust, it does oxidise – creating a chalky white residue. Aluminium is most often used in outdoor furniture and tends to work best with cool colours.

Stainless Steel

An alloy of carbon, iron, chromium and other metals, stainless steel is found in furniture and fixtures throughout the home – from accent tables to kitchen sinks. Because of the chromium, it has corrosion resistance – it doesn't rust, oxidise or corrode and is a low-maintenance material. It's much stronger than its look-alike, aluminium. Stainless steel is versatile and works particularly well with cool tones, but it can also fit in with warm tones. If you use stainless steel with warm tones, using other gray accent pieces can help the metal fit in better.

Brass

While shiny, polished brass was out of style for several years, matte, antiqued brass has made its way back into the home decor scene. A mix of copper and zinc alloys, brass can be made in various colours including red, yellow, gold, bronze and brown. However, the most common colour is gold. This metal is typically corrosion-resistant and antimicrobial – making it great for knobs and taps. While it is corrosion-resistant, harsh cleaners can cause cracking.

We recommend washing brass with mild soap and water. Solid brass can be expensive – look for brass plating for a budget-friendly price. Brass can be used to brighten a space with cool tones and it mixes well with wrought iron.

Copper

If you want to brighten your space and include warm tones, copper is the right metal for you. Using copper is a great way to add warmth to a white or neutral-toned kitchen or bathroom. Copper is reddish orange in colour and is found on all types of decor and fixtures such as lighting and sinks. It's resistant to corrosion and is antimicrobial. Look for copper on high-quality cookware because of its superior heat conductivity.

Copper can acquire a patina of greenish blue over time due to oxidation. To prevent this from occurring (especially if copper is used outdoors), coat with beeswax or carnauba wax, buff with a clean cloth, apply a coat of linseed oil and then cover it in lacquer.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron refers to metal that has been hammered or bent into shape as opposed to being cast or poured, rendering it with a rough surface. Since it is corrosion-resistant and durable, it's commonly used to make fireplace accessories, outdoor furniture, pot racks, rustic beds, lighting and more. Wrought iron shines in a space that is mostly white or neutral-toned. Avoid using wrought iron in a room with lots of dark colours, as it will blend in with the space.

Can You Mix Metals?

When you’re decorating with metal, you can stick to the same type of metal or use a primary metal with one or two accent metals to go with it. Think about the base colours in the room you’re working with: If your space has mostly dark tones, use bright metals to contrast. If your space is lighter in colour, use black and matte metals. Similarly, if your room has mostly red tones, avoid using copper which will fail to stand out.

When mixing metals, you can choose to stick to a cool-toned or warm-toned colour palette, or if you’re comfortable, try mixing contrasting tones. Remember to create a colour story with your metal – group similar metals together, such as using all copper knobs on lower cabinets and wrought-iron pulls on upper cabinets. This will make your design choices look intentional.

5 Types of Metal Finishes

Antiqued

This type of metal finish creates a surface roughness that appears to stand the test of time, often by darkening or tarnishing the metal. Antiqued metal works well in traditional, rustic and French country homes.

Brushed

A brushed metal finishing is a matte finish that looks as if it has been smoothed with a paintbrush, leaving faint brushstroke marks on the metal surface. A brushed finish looks great in modern and industrial spaces. The brushstroke surface defects give the metal a unique character that can augment your space.

Hammered

It's as simple as it sounds. A hammered metal finishing has many small indents adding surface texture. Using this decorative finish can help you add detail to an otherwise plain space and looks great in French country-style homes and warmly decorated kitchens.

Polished

This metal finishing creates a reflective, mirror-like surface on metals. Metal polishing shows smudges and fingerprints more readily than other finishes. Polished metal is a common stainless steel finish that is found in many traditional homes.

Satin

This is similar to brushed metals, however, this type of finishing is smoother and usually does not have brushstroke marks. The sheen is between matte and polished. This softly glowing finish looks great in modern and mid-century modern homes.

Wayfair sells many metal objects – from wall art to bed frames. Search some of our most popular metal items below.

Tip: Now that you’re clued up on metals and finishes,why not also check out our guides:

• The Best Types of Door Knobs & Door Locks for Your Home
• Brass, Bronze or Nickel: Which are the Best Kitchen Finishes?