Is Black Still a Trendy Hardware Finish for 2025?
Lighting, Hardware, Faucets: Is black outdated already?
For several years, Black has been a popular choice for faucets, light fixtures, and hardware. But is black still TRENDY, or is it on its way out? Is black timeless, or is it just a fad?
The answer isn’t easy.
If you ask me (which you are, by the way), black is still reasonable for the average home. Trendy? Kind of, but it’s on the other side of the hill. Timeless? Nooooo, but it certainly has its place for a while. While its popularity is waning significantly in certain styles of homes, it’s going strong in others.
What does this mean?
There was a time (like in the last five years) when you could go into any newly built ‘average‘ home and find black on every metal finish, top to bottom. And while you’ll still see a lot of it, many builders and homeowners are shifting their sights back to the brighter end of things – polished nickel, chrome, and a dab of gold here and there.
However, black (and gold/antique brass) remains strong in many modern farmhouse-style homes. Any day now, this trend will fall, but as of right now, it’s still happening.
Right now, would I do an ENTIRE HOME in black metal?
HECK to the no.
When designing or renovating a home that can last through various trends and owners, you must consider versatility and flexibility. So, let’s look at the WHAT, WHY, and HOW to see what might work for you.
MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR METAL FINISHES
Yes, black is still trendy for some metal finishes in a home. However, for future trends and owners, you should make a plan.
Why?
You want a purposeful flow from room to room and protect your investment so that it holds its aesthetic value as long as possible.
This is even more important if you have a home that isn’t built to be a specific style, such as an authentic farmhouse or an actual mid-century modern home.
Why?
When it comes to homes that are/were built to be a very particular style (i.e., a mid-century home), it’s more about what suits the home’s style and what’s authentic to it. In other words, trends matter much less.
This DOESN’T apply to a home that is STYLED to look mid-century or modern farmhouse, but fundamentally, it ISN’T that particular style.
Why?
If you remove the decor and some design features, it’s a regular home, one that’s styled based on current trends or a homeowner’s personal tastes. Insert new trends or new owners, and it can be hard to transition from the last ‘best thing since sliced bread’ into something new.
Giving yourself some flexibility (when using black) rather than committing to one finish everywhere will give you (or a new homeowner) future flexibility.
How do you give yourself flexibility when it comes to metal finishes? You make a plan, starting with mixing metals.
WHAT? Do you mean you can use different metal finishes throughout your home?
You bet your root scootin’ booty you can! Try to stick with the 70/30 rule overall – 70% one, 30% another. Even 80/20 works (this topic is a blog post unto itself).
WHAT METAL FINISHES MIX WELL?
Since our focus today is on black finishes, let’s see which metals it can accommodate…
- BLACK & GOLD
- BLACK & OIL RUBBED BRONZE
- BLACK & POLISHED NICKEL
- BLACK & CHROME
You can do any of these combos in today’s market without pigeon-holing yourself.
Long story short (as usual), black goes with everything. However, the same can’t be said of the other finishes. Don’t even TRY to talk me into oil-rubbed bronze and polished chrome as a great combo – woooof. Polished nickel/chrome and gold? You do you, boo, but I’ve never been a fan. The only time it’s passable is in a kitchen when you have gold hardware and a chrome faucet – that’s it for me.
In fact, many of us moved into homes built in the 90s, only to find a house full of shiny brass/gold. And what was the next metal finish trend in the early 2000s? There were two, actually, polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. And did either of these mix well with GOLD?
HECK to the NO.
Hellooooo 1998!
This means that if you didn’t want your 1990s home to be sitting in design purgatory as you updated it bit by bit, you had to change ALLLLLL of your metal finishes at the same time. That’s some serious coin.
The difference with black is that it transitions well with other metals—in fact, ALL metal finishes. This means you can mix and match now and later with no flames licking at your heels.
While no foolproof plan will last through every trend or homeowner’s taste, giving yourself room to move is a smart choice.
By the way, my blog is 100% powered by my Online Color Consulting clients and their photos. Thank you to everyone for sending them in—you make my colorful little world go round!
However, I’d like to take a minute (seriously, nothing I say takes just a minute) to focus on bathrooms…
THE BEST METAL FINISH FOR BATHROOMS (TIMELESS)
No matter the trend cycle or century, chrome is a clean and simple approach for a bathroom and the one that’s most likely to appeal to the masses.
Sherwin Williams Pure White
Bathroom fixtures are the biggest PITA to change. For this reason, I would stick with what’s timeless and simple, and NOTHING is more timeless than chrome, whether you love it or not. I also wouldn’t do a mix in the average home, not if you want a timeless home. Mixing finishes in a small space like this (i.e., black faucet/light and chrome shower fixtures) can look poorly planned and disconnected unless done carefully by a professional (but even they do it wrong sometimes).
Almost EVERY choice is timeless in this space – smart money!
And again, don’t get me started on gold and chrome; this is a trend I NEVER understood, not in the 90s and not now (as it’s somehow been resurrected – SACRILEGE!).
However, if you really want black fixtures in a bathroom and are worried about trends, consider black for your smallest bathroom—ideally a powder room, as it has the fewest fixtures (the same goes for gold).
Benjamin Moore Super White
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
But you must admit, this looks pretty fab, too, and is ten times more timeless…
And don’t kill the well-intentioned Ginger messenger; I’m just trying to help. We built a home three years ago, and I did black in TWO BATHROOMS as I like the look, and it suits the house (which you’ll see shortly). This leads to our next topic (because I don’t stop talking in real life, either).
THE EXCEPTIONS
Some homes are exceptions to the rule because they’re actually a particular home style. For example, a house that’s a farmhouse that’s ALSO decorated in ‘farmhouse style’ is authentic. A home that’s decorated in a mid-century style that’s actually a mid-century style home will withstand the test of time much better as it relates to trends.
Take this next room, for example. While cream and beige were NOT trends when this photo was taken, they look good because they suit the home (one of my favorite clients ever).
The Best Beige Paint Colours for Today’s MODERN Home
In these homes, if a particular finish happens to be trendy, it’s more incidental than purposeful.
This is one reason I wasn’t afraid to do all black in two bathrooms at our lake home. I also knew we’d sell before this trend disappeared.
Benjamin Moore White Dove & Sherwin Williams Online
The vanity came with this hardware – I’ll be changing it to black.
The Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors
4 Ideas to Give a Small Bathroom Some Personality!
Because it’s a lake home, there’s more flexibility and forgiveness given to things that may/may not fall outside of what’s trendy. I also did a lot of shiplap and even painted some surfaces GRAY. In other words, I went for a few trends that are ON THEIR WAY OUT. However, certain choices will always suit it, regardless of trends, because it’s a lake home.
Simply put, some looks transcend the trend cycle because they authentically suit the home.
I’m also a big believer in loving the home you live in, and if you have the luxury of being able to change things that become outdated in the future, then why not do what speaks to you?
PRACTICE MODERATION ON A LARGE SCALE
One of the many things I love about this next bathroom is the CHOICES my client made in hard finishes…
This is a great mix of transitional & modern farmhouse that will transition easier in the future! Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- all of the hardware is currently TRENDY and suits the subtle modern farmhouse style of the space
- take away the shiplap and black fixtures, and you still have TRANSITIONAL BONES that can be shifted into the next trend
Practicing moderation doesn’t just apply to metal finishes; it applies to EVERYTHING (except wine). If you don’t commit too hard to one particular trend/color/style, you leave yourself open to easier and more affordable changes in the future.
IS BLACK STILL TRENDY ON CABINET HARDWARE? IF NOT, WHAT IS?
No. While many are still doing it, black cabinet hardware has fallen out of favor in a big way. In its place, I see a lot of highly polished nickel and antique brass (less gold).
The Best Medium-Depth Beige, Greige, & Taupe Paint Colors
If you don’t want to look dated, don’t do black cabinet hardware (with a few exceptions). Don’t get me wrong, this next kitchen looks amazeballs overall, but in the next few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if it transitions to polished nickel…
The Best Sage Green Paint Colors
IS BLACK STILL TRENDY ON PLUMBING FIXTURES, FAUCETS & LIGHTING?
No, black it taking a backseat to chrome and polished nickel with a dash of gold.
IS BLACK TRENDY ON DOOR HARDWARE?
Yup, there’s still a lot of black kicking around, and I expect this to stay into late 2025.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter | White Dove | Graystone | Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
SUMMARY: THE BEST METAL FINISHES FOR TODAY’S MODERN HOME
If I wanted SOME black finishes without going too far, here’s what I might do (approximately 70/30 split)…
- MAIN LIGHT FIXTURES: black or chrome
- FIXTURES IN SECONDARY ROOMS (not including bathrooms): BLACK or CHROME (or highly polished nickel)
- KITCHEN FAUCET: chrome
- HARDWARE ON CABINET DOORS: polished nickel
- INTERIOR DOOR HARDWARE: black
- EVERYTHING IN A BATHROOM: chrome (I might do a small bathroom or powder room in black)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTS: black
However, stick with a highly polished nickel and chrome combo to be safe.
READ MORE
How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-Part Series
The 11 Best Warm Neutrals That AREN’T BEIGE!
How to Update Oak Cabinets WITHOUT Paint
Are Gray Paint Colours Still Trendy for Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors?
Is Beige Back? Is Beige…dare, I say – TRENDY?
Are White Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors Still Trendy
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2023, UPDATED IN 2024
This post came at a great time!
I have an old oil rubbed bronze faucet, I need a new kitchen faucet and trying to decide between polished nickel and black. Our cabinets are pure white SW with black hardware, lighting is black, door knobs (which you can see from the kitchen on several doors) are black. Also, black honed countertop. We have stainless steel appliances. I was thinking black but now that you mention that 80/20 rule…I’m thinking polished nickel ? One other thing I should mention is the faucet I have now has 4 holes and if I don’t find another with 4 holes then I need to put 1 or more of those caps to cover the holes on it…which leads to another question…do I match that to my black counter or to the faucet color?
Curious what your thoughts are?
Thanks!!
P.S love your posts they often make me laugh out loud!! I also chose a full house color based on your posts (agreeable gray)
Wahooo, I love timely posts – it’s like the Universe was listening ;). So, without seeing your space it SOUNDS like black will be best. If you had nickel cabinet hardware, I’d say otherwise, but you know, I worry that JUST the nickel faucet will come out of nowhere (even though you have the appliances to help it out). As for the holes, I would want to blend those bad boys in for sure (but it could also make me buy another similar faucet just so I don’t have those plugs, you know? Again, without SEEING it it’s tough, but those are my first thoughts :).
Thank you for the quick response! Black was my initial thought as well 🙂
What are your thoughts on brushed nickel for a bathroom? Dated?
It depends on the bathroom, but chrome tends to look more timeless 🙂
So now that paint trends are leaning warmer, fixtures are leaning cooler. Is that correct?
That’s funny, and a very valid comment!
The interior door vs secondary room vs bathroom door statement threw me a bit.
If most of the door hardware is black, is the bathroom door an exception?
Hey Erik, thanks for your note. I reread it myself and was confused! I’ve fixed it so it should make more sense now ;).
Hi! I came to ask for clarification on this same question. If my bathroom fixtures are all brushed nickel – but I’d like all my interior door hardware to be black, this works? I have 3 doors in the bathroom – one to enter from the bedroom, one from the sink area of the bathroom to the walk in closet, and one into the toilet/shower area.
Hey Sara! It can work, as long as you have a few other black accents in the room – maybe some framed art or small decor item? Otherwise the black can look a bit foreign.
I read this just as I was about to order all matte black finishes for my bath remodel. Honestly, it kept me up all night questioning my choices! This morning, I sent messages to a bunch of my 25 – to 35 year old friends, asking their opinion on black vs chrome. All eight of them told me they associate chrome with their grandparents homes! They also pointed out how every water spot shows up on chrome. A few sent me pics of their matte black fixtures and said they still loved them. I guess I am wondering if black is going to be timeless given the changing tastes of younger people. Two of them mentioned that the gold fixtures would definitely date but felt that black is always a good choice.
Your article definitely points to black as a trend that will fade, but is it possible that tastes are changing for good? White subway tile has stood the test of time. It is what is in my 1940s home (with black accents) and what I am putting back in there!
hmm I would love to read her response to this one!
I’m painting out my kitchen cabinets a neutral color and also changing out my kitchen appliances to a dark stainless or blk
What color door handles do I use on cabinets
I also presently have brushed chrome faucets
But have bronze light fixtures and a copper table top.
Hi Kylie our kitchen cabinets are two toned white uppers and SW chelsea gray lowers. We have stainless steel appliances, black faucet and blanco anthracite sink. My husband wants black cabinet door handles but I’m leaning towards brushed nickel (all Interior door handles are brushed nickel). I’m thinking matte black handles for powder room cabinet with black faucet and accessories (cabinet color is also SW chelsea gray). Would love your input 🙂.
I can see why black would be appealing, but in a space like this, sometimes your colors/depths/finishes need a bit of breathing room, which polished nickel allows. You can definitely get some black in other places for accents, but I worry about it being so harsh on the upper cabinets!