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An in-depth guide on satin and brushed nickel to help out on your next home renovation
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So you’ve chosen to use nickel for your next kitchen or bathroom remodel, but now you have to decide which finish you’d like to use. Should you go with satin or brushed? The finish of your faucets, light fixtures, and doorknobs is like the icing on the cake when tying together the overall feel and aesthetic of a space. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about these two finishes so you have all the information you need to craft the perfect space that fits your taste and style.

Things You Should Know

  • The finish on brushed nickel is rougher and has a more rustic aesthetic.
  • Satin nickel has a consistent and non-reflective texture that makes it appear very smooth.
  • Satin nickel is more durable than brushed nickel, but pricier.
  • Nickel is a popular metal used in faucets, showerheads, and doorknobs in residential areas and commercial areas as well.
Section 1 of 7:

Appearance

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  1. Thanks to its smooth texture and the lacquer treatment, satin nickel appears especially shiny and lustrous wherever it’s placed. Meanwhile, brushed nickel has a rougher texture and doesn’t reflect light as well. You can usually see the lines where the wire brush was run across its surface. Though, if you're going for a vintage style, that might be just what you're looking for.[1]
  2. Given that they’re made of the same metal, no matter whether you choose a satin finish or a brushed finish, you’ll still be left with a lustrous silver color with a subtle gold tint. So if you’re thinking about interior design, they will both likely pair with similar color schemes.[2]
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Section 4 of 7:

Upkeep

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  1. A milky white tarnish can form on brushed nickel over time, especially when it’s placed where there’s lots of humidity, such as in a bathroom. To avoid this tarnish from building up, you’ll have to clean brushed nickel platings more often. On the other hand, the lacquer treatment given to satin nickel greatly slows down this tarnishing effect, so you won’t have to clean it that often.[4]
    • Fingerprints and scratches will also show up a lot more obviously on brushed nickel.
    • Brushed nickel fixtures should be cleaned with a soft, damp rag daily.
    • Satin nickel can be treated just with a soft cloth that’s either dry or slightly dampened, and only ever really needs to be cleaned when you see big smudges or spots that need to be polished.
Section 5 of 7:

Manufacturing Process

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  1. The term “brushed” refers to the rougher looking finish the nickel is given. The metal is swept over with a wire brush or other tool and then treated with abrasive chemicals that really bring out the more rugged and rough quality of the finish.
  2. This is the process of plating one metal on top of another. In this case, nickel is being placed on top of another metal piece. The electroplating process is then followed by a lacquer treatment, leaving the finished nickel smooth and even looking.[5]
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Section 6 of 7:

When to Choose Satin vs. Brushed Nickel

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  1. The lacquer treatment given to satin nickel makes it more durable than brushed nickel and less susceptible to tarnishing. For things like showerheads, faucets, and bathroom door knobs that are exposed to humidity and used more often, satin nickel might be your preferred choice.[6]
  2. The brush marks and rougher texture of brushed nickel give it a certain rustic charm, and it’s a very aesthetically pleasing finish to use in places like your kitchen sink faucets and door knobs. Both satin and brushed nickel have a very traditional look to them, but the brush strokes on brushed nickel just work to emphasize its super eclectic feel.[7]
  3. Since they’re both nickel, the two types are similar when it comes to color. So there’s no need to worry about picking out a separate color scheme for each type or worrying that they’ll clash with one another. If one area of your house would benefit more from satin nickel and another from brushed, feel free to utilize both.
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About This Article

Garrison Hullinger
Co-authored by:
Interior Designer
This article was co-authored by Garrison Hullinger and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A.. Garrison Hullinger is an Interior Designer and the President of Studio Garrison. With more than 15 years of experience, he specializes in client-centered design that balances beauty and warmth with comfort and functionality. Garrison and GHID’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Interior Design Magazine. Garrison attended Oklahoma Christian University. This article has been viewed 18,792 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: October 23, 2024
Views: 18,792
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 18,792 times.

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