Chrome Vs Brushed Nickel Faucet – Luster or Muted Elegance?

With so many popular faucets finishes existing in recent times, it can get a bit overwhelming to decide on one. And it becomes even more difficult when you have two quite similar-looking faucet finishes like brushed nickel and chrome.

However, it’s also true both of these finishes are far from being alike. So,which is better chrome or nickelwhen it comes to the ideal faucet finish?

Chrome is better than nickel faucets inside a space that requires some shine and visual addition. While brushed nickel works better than chrome if having a more durable and lower maintenance finish is the goal.

To get a more determined answer, let’s compare chrome vs brushed nickel faucet for different purposes.

Comparing Chrome VS Brushed Nickel Faucet

Both chrome and brushed nickel are extremely popular for contemporary bathrooms and kitchens.

The hardware that requires a touch of sleek and minimalism often ends up getting a chrome or brushed nickel finish. Both are equally good at matching a wide range of hardware.

Not to mention how well chrome and brushed nickel color goes with spaces that require a neat vibe.

However, deciding between regular or brushed chrome vs brushed nickel can be tricky without understanding the advantages and drawbacks of each.

Brushed Nickel Faucet

Brushed nickel resembles chrome but with a different undertone. Both shares the quality of being reflective and shiny. However, with brushed nickel, it’s a lot more subtle.

And that’s why the shine (unlike chrome) won’t bring any attention to existing imperfections. In fact, hiding defects is one major quality that makes brushed nickel preferable and in some cases popular over chrome.

Also, an abrasive agent is necessary for brushing the surface to apply the finish. It requires removing all the smoothness. The resultant texture is unique and different from chrome.

What Are the Advantages of Brushed Nickel Faucets?

What Are the Disadvantages of Brushed Nickel Faucets?

Chrome Faucet

When I think of chrome, reflective and buffed are two words that instantly come to my mind. The overall vibe this finish gives is neat. Especially the silver tone that seems white. Chrome is known for its shining aspect and when applied right, its thickness.

What Are the Advantages of Chrome Faucets?

What Are the Disadvantages of Chrome Faucets?

Now that you know somewhat about each of these finishes, let’s get into the comparison side by side.

Chrome Loses Shine Over Time While Nickel Is Vulnerable to Tarnishing

Indeed, high-quality chrome faucets may not be easy to catch scratches and streaks, or smudges. However, once it does, removal is quite difficult. Their appearance is also vividly visible.

This is why busy households with less time for maintenance should think twice before getting chrome-finished faucets. However, this is not applicable to those who love keeping their space clean, well-maintained, and shiny wherever possible.

It’s also sad that the luster of chrome faucets doesn’t last forever. Even if you clean them quite rigorously and regularly.

On that note, to clean the chrome faucet you can use microfiber cloths. A wipe every day will be nice. Once in a while, go for a lemon wash to get rid of any hard water spots. The combination of dish soap with microfiber works too.

On the other hand, nickel is prone to tarnishing. With brushed nickel, you may see an unpleasing yellow hue developing.

However, this can be taken care of by using vinegar and water to clean the fixture. When choosing cleansers make sure you avoid anything abrasive for the matte finish.

Slight But Not So Prominent Price Difference

When comparing the price of chrome vs brushed nickel faucets, several factors can make one more expensive than another.

But for a general perspective, what’s more expensive, brushed nickel or chrome?

Typically, chrome is more expensive than brushed nickel. However, previously brushed nickel faucets used to be costlier. In both cases, the price difference is almost ignorable.

However, it’s also true that a faucet with high-end statement and features will cost you a generous amount despite the finish it offers.

The best bet is shortlisting what you are looking for, deciding on a sensible budget based on that, and finally taking your time to look around to compare.

Try not to be wooed by expensive price tags. Assuming a faucet is better since it is expensive can pay you rough in the long run. Instead, pull back and stick with a decent budget.

Warmth with Brushed Nickel or Cool Toned Chrome

This could be a big determining factor when choosing between brushed nickel and chrome faucets.

Chrome adds a cool tone to spaces that need some balancing from its already existing warm tone element. This is especially true for a room painted with a warm tone color.

With a blue undertone, chrome can be brushed or polished. It’s ideal to add polished chrome inside a space that already has brushed chrome hardware.

This is to simply balance the overall look. And so, if you have a kitchen or bathroom space with a cool undertone finish, then adding a chrome faucet will maintain the flow.

Cool-Toned Chrome Faucet Will:

On the other hand, nickel is for adding warmth and softness. But is nickel softer than chrome?

Brushed nickel is indeed much softer than chrome. And this is due to not having the luster that Chrome provides. Brushed nickel also adds sheen but it’s more metallic and subtle.

And this is why people prefer adding brushed nickel to areas that have a lot of sharp and modern edges.

The softening element of brushed nickel cuts down the sharpness from the overall vision of that space. It provides a feeling of comfort.

Brushed nickel is also compatible with almost any décor. And so, it is considered a safe bet for those who have a tough time deciding.

Now some people love a polished cooler look. In that case, there’s no objection to going for chrome even with sharp edges in kitchen areas. There are no hard and fast rules. It’s more about preference!

Warm-Toned Brushed Nickel Faucet Will:

Both Requires Regular Cleaning, Chrome a Tad Bit More

If I get asked which faucet finish is easiest to clean between brushed nickel and Chrome, I have to say brushed nickel. However, it is simply because chrome needs some handling to maintain its luster. The difference is not too much.

Both brushed nickel and chrome faucet finishes are easy to clean. It’s just that, the warm soft tone of brushed nickel helps to hide water spots better and requires less effort for cleaning.

But that does not mean cleaning chrome is something challenging. You just need to clean the faucet almost every day. This is because the shine of chrome makes every spot extra visible. Something brushed nickel faucet has less to worry about.

However, the cleaning itself is an effortless process no matter if it’s for chrome or brushed nickel.

For Cleaning Brushed Nickel Faucets Consider:

For Cleaning Chrome Faucet Consider:

A Brushed Nickel Finish Is More Durable than Chrome

Brushed nickel holds a lot of quality to declare it one of the most durable finishes for faucets. First and foremost, brushed nickel is tough to catch scratches.

And even if it does, due to the brushed nature of the finish, you will hardly see the blemishes. The light reflectiveness of a finish is what determines how it displays the blemishes. And the matte sheen and the lacquer coating can protect the surface to a great extent.

What about Chrome? Does chrome last longer than a brushed nickel?

Chrome does not last longer than brushed nickel. It is a soft metal and needs the user to be extra attentive for maintenance. In terms of durability, brushed nickel certainly wins the race.

Brushed Nickel Has a Gentle Presence While Chrome Is for Making Statement

The retro vintage feel of chrome makes it unique and indeed something that adds a lot of shine and luster to any bathroom or kitchen.

If you have a small space, then adding chrome faucets can really brighten up that area. Most chrome fixtures will instantly work as statement pieces wherever you include them.

Nowadays, modern faucets will have a chrome finish for their popular vintage touch and elegance. On the other hand, to do the exact opposite brushed nickel is ideal. I mean, if you have a pretty loud décor, then toning it down with brushed nickel will be wise.

If you don’t want the faucet to grab attention, then brushed nickel is optimal. The gentle presence of the finish helps maintain a more traditional look that is still popular and favorable to many.

Chrome Offers More Range of Options than Brushed Nickel

There’re a lot of options to browse for both of these metal finishes. However, chrome is slightly ahead of brushed nickel.

There are more chrome faucets with unique angles, curves, and designs to explore. This could also be due to the reason that chrome has been around longer. Compared to brushed nickel, you will also find more room for customization with chrome.

For Higher ROI Chrome Is More Suitable, Brushed Nickel Works Best for Rental Units

Adding chrome finish fixtures definitely contributes to the overall value of your house. It indeed will provide a better return on investment considering the resale value. And so, if you own the house, chrome faucets might be not just glamorous by looks but also by ROI.

However, if you live in a rental unit, a brushed nickel faucet will be ideal. This is because the finish can withstand more and is compatible with rough usage. Plus, this will also be suitable for units that you own but are considering giving for rent.

Best Option Between Brushed Nickel VS Chrome Faucet for Kitchen and Bathroom

Both finishes can work inside the kitchen as well as the bathroom. However, based on their characteristics one will work better than another for diverse needs.

Go for Chrome Faucet in Kitchen If:

Go for a Brushed Nickel Faucet in the Kitchen If:

Chrome faucets are preferable to brushed nickel faucets inside the kitchen as it matches the shiny appliances/utensils. However, some people prefer the low-maintenance quality of brushed nickel faucets in their kitchen.

Go for Chrome Faucet in Bathroom If:

Go for a Brushed Nickel Faucet in the Bathroom If:

Between chrome or brushed nickel bathroom fixtures, the latter is more popular as it’s comparatively less difficult to keep clean. Also, bathrooms are quite vulnerable to streaks and water spots. Something chrome is not good at handling.

Mix-Mash Rule for Chrome and Nickel

Can I mix chrome and brushed nickel?That’s an evergreen question to exist to date.

You can mix chrome and brushed nickel fixtures if that’s what you prefer. However, since brushed nickel belongs to the warm family, it will clash with the cool tone of chrome.

So, if you are trying to match a brushed nickel fixture, the safest bet is to stick with the warm tone and add a brushed nickel faucet. On the other hand, you can match polished chrome with brushed chrome to add some depth and edge.

Remember, different finishes together may create some accent and depth to enhance the style. But going overboard is always a risk. Also, some colors go well with both chrome and brushed nickel. For example, both of these finishes are quite suitable tones for black sinks.

Overall Thoughts

Now that we’ve compared chrome vs brushed nickel faucets, you can sit down and plan.

Don’t forget to consider your home style, maintenance flexibility, desired appearance, and aesthetic demands. Apart from these personal taste factors, you also want to consider the colors, size, and lighting elements inside your bathroom and kitchen.

All this play quite a significant role in selecting the ideal faucet finish. I hope you will make a smart choice. See You in My Next Guide!