Say Goodbye To High-Shine Finishes—this Is The Better Choice For Bathrooms & Kitchens

When it comes to designing spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, there are a lot of important decor details to consider — from flooring and backsplash tile trends to countertop materials and cabinet colors. Another major piece of the puzzle, however, is hardware finishes. While small in scale, metal hardware pieces, such as faucets and cupboard handles, play a big role in tying a space together and can significantly influence the final look and feel of a room. And after years of high-shine finishes reigning supreme — think polished brass and chrome — glossy hardware is officially taking the backseat to a more timeless, organic alternative. 

In 2026, leading hardware trends in both bathroom and kitchens are set to embrace metals with patina finishes. As interior design expert Lorri Hicks Cazenave says (via Martha Stewart), "the trend is moving away from perfection and toward pieces with patina, proportion, and presence — in other words, finishes that feel intentionally imperfect. "Mixed-metal patinas are in. Soft black, pewter, and aged brass mingle on tables, lighting, and hardware. The finish palette skews mellow — not shiny — so rooms feel layered, not loud." With more homeowners today seeking spaces with character, this shift reflects a broader move toward homes with warmth and a more timeworn, lived-in aesthetic, rather than a polished, put-together vibe. 

While natural-looking patina finishes feels at home in farmhouse or rustic cottage interiors, their potential doesn't end there. In fact, patina-finished hardware can complement a wide range of aesthetics, from modern and minimalist to industrial, bohemian, and eclectic. And if you're looking to embrace the trend in your own kitchen or bathroom, you'll certainly be spoiled for choice. Patina coating can be applied to a variety of metals, including brass, copper, bronze, zinc, and pewter. Not only that, but patina finishes also come in numerous colors, with the most common being rust, black, brown, and the distinctive blue-green shade often referred to as verdigris, so it won't be hard to find one to fit in with your existing decor.

If your aesthetic leans more minimalist or industrial, consider incorporating hardware with a black patina finish. For farmhouse, vintage-leaning, or even organic modern aesthetics, a brown patinated brass or copper option can be especially beautiful. Rust patina finishes, meanwhile, are well-suited to industrial interiors, where they enhance the raw look of the style. As mentioned, we'll also be seeing a lot more of mixed metals in 2026, especially in the kitchen — even HGTV's Christina Hall has mixed hardware for a seamless kitchen design in past projects. If you wanted to mix metal patinas in your own space without it feeling overwhelming, start with incorporating two finishes — one dominant and one accent. For instance, you might use a brown-patinated copper as your dominate metal and accent it with a black-patinated iron or steel.