Brass is Back! Home Interior Design Trends 2020

The old designer adage of “if you wait long enough, everything comes back into style” is certainly true when it comes to brass. The one time staple of interior design has made a comeback!

Back during the decadent 1980’s and 1990’s when our televisions were ruled by Miami Vice, Dynasty, and Beverly Hills 90210, brass was where it was at! Home interiors were filled with brass accents; cabinet hardware, light fixtures, faucets and hinges radiated that familiar yellow gold.

A true sign of luxury, bright brassy-brass home interior accents oozed elegance and class and were a status symbol of good taste. But just as our hairstyles got a bit more relaxed, so too did our interior design preferences.

By the late 1990’s we saw home interiors trends shifting to warmer finishes such as satin or brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze. We even saw some going less Laura Ashley and more Terminator, with industrial finishes like chrome and stainless steel. With that, brass faded away into obscurity.

Well, believe it or not - BRASS IS BACK! And this isn’t your 1980’s shiny-glowing brass. Nope, the brass of today has aged beautifully and has a whole new look!

So it is time to re-welcome brass into your design scheme!

The finish of the new brushed brass is less reflective and softer - perhaps the gentler cousin of the shiny brass of the 80’s. Still oozing with opulence, elegance, and taste, but more pleasing and understated. This amiable new and improved brass is a wonderful addition to interior design choices, but still a classy shout-out to yesteryear.

 

The resurgence of brass might be due, in part, to its versatility. The brass finish blends beautifully into many different design styles including contemporary, traditional, farm, cottage, nautical and most others.

Brushed brass cabinet knobs and pulls, for example, pair perfectly with white, painted and wood cabinetry making them a great choice for kitchen remodels with any design objective in mind.

For light fixtures, a splash of brass can really brighten up a room and the softer tones make the lights more of an accent rather than a center piece. Brushed brass wall sconces, for example, are an excellent way to add a touch of “wow” to a room without over doing it.

Brushed brass faucets and bathroom accessories are widely available and add a sophistication to baths and kitchens. Paired with marble, granite, tile, or almost any color, the look gives a sense of sophistication and warmth.

 

Although most of us took a break from brass for a while there, it has certainly resurfaced and reinvented itself as an excellent design option. The versatile, warm and inviting brushed brass finish is an excellent way to incorporate metal accents into your home interior design. It’s okay, embrace your inner 80’s and be bold - brass is back and it’s beautiful!