Polished Brass Vs Antique Brass Cabinet Pulls: What Are The Differences?

Brass hardware is a popular choice for the types of cabinet hardware used in homes, as it's a timeless style that will continue to look great for a long time after you install it. Brass has been used as home hardware for cabinets and drawers for at least 300 years, primarily consisting of copper and zinc. Two of the more popular types of brass finishes for cabinet pulls are polished and antique.

Antique is a finish applied to the brass, giving it a dark patina and a rich look. It has a deep brown color with gold undertones. To create this antique finish, manufacturers will use chemical treatments to generate an oxidation reaction. This reaction causes the brass to become darker more quickly than during the natural aging process. Polished brass has a high-gloss finish that's reflective and creates a focal point. This finish is one of the most traditional options for hardware, as it almost universally enhances the look of other items.

Because antique and polished brass provide such different looks, they're not interchangeable. You'll probably want to focus on one or the other for the hardware in your home, matching the design look you're seeking. Polished brass can be slightly more expensive, but the cost differences are not significant, so you can focus on the look you want.

The biggest advantage of selecting polished brass cabinet pulls is the statement they deliver for your design by complementing traditional materials used in cabinets like wood and glass. It also works well with a variety of colors for your painted wood cabinets. Many people associate polished brass with high-end homes and hotels, meaning using it can create a feeling of luxury. When you have a traditional design in your home or cabinetry, such as Victorian or Art Deco, polished brass is an ideal selection. When using the cabinet pulls in a kitchen or bathroom, the lacquer coating can protect it from messes, although it still may show water spots. The coating also gives it protection from suffering damage when used outdoors for cabinets in an outdoor kitchen. 

One of the biggest downsides to using polished brass is that fingerprints and smudges will show up without regular cleaning – this can be a high maintenance type of finish. It needs cleaning and polishing on a regular basis to avoid tarnish. Additionally, when maintaining the polished brass cabinet pulls, you have to take special steps to clean the brass hardware without causing damage. Don't use abrasive materials, or you could scratch and damage its finish. Even if you always clean it properly, the lacquer coating could fade over time, leaving the brass susceptible to oxidation. When it oxidizes, it may develop a patina or tarnish.

One of the biggest benefits of using brass hardware with an antique finish is that the aging process used to create it isn't exactly the same from piece to piece. This gives each of the pulls character and warmth. This finish has a weathered look that seems to give it a textured appearance. You don't need to constantly polish the pulls, yet they remain resistant to rust and corrosion.

Many people like the look of antique brass pulls when paired with wood cabinets, as the earthiness of both materials is highly complementary. Additionally, antique brass is versatile enough to complement many paint colors. It stands out against neutral cream or gray colors, while showing off its warm undertones with deep green or burgundy shades. Antique brass' finish has a vintage charm that makes it a highly popular selection for complementing traditional interior styles.

A significant downside to this finish is that antique brass can suffer damage when cleaning it. Avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning brass hardware, and do not use wire wool on the surface. Further, some people dislike that the chemical aging process used to create the antique brass finish doesn't always look like a natural patina. If your home features a modern or minimalist design, the antique finish will appear muted compared to some other cabinet hardware finishes you could select, such as black hardware or oil-rubbed bronze hardware.