One of the fastest-growing bathroom trends to emerge in recent years has been the use of brass tapware.
This style of tapware is now sitting close behind chrome and matte black in popularity, with no signs of disappearing just yet.
Begging the question, is it just a trend or here to stay? Time will have to tell but for now, there’s no denying brass tapware is a stunning addition to the home.
One of the fastest-growing bathroom trends to emerge in recent years has been the use of brass tapware.
This style of tapware is now sitting close behind chrome and matte black in popularity, with no signs of disappearing just yet.
Begging the question, is it just a trend or here to stay? Time will have to tell but for now, there’s no denying brass tapware is a stunning addition to the home.
So what’s the difference between brass and brushed brass tapware and what style of home do they suit? We take a look at popular variations of brass tapware and the different categories they fall into.
When it comes to brass tapware, brushed brass or brushed gold is by far the leading finish. Its muted appearance offers a modern touch to a room, perfect for contemporary-style bathrooms.
The great thing about brushed brass is that it compliments a multitude of colour palates. Whether it’s a light and bright bathroom, a neutral and natural space, or a moody dark bathroom, brushed brass tapware acts as a striking extension of the overall design.
Available in both modern mixer styles and traditional three-piece designs, it's the subdued finish that allows this type of brass to contemporise a space.
Unlike polished brass, brushed brass is highly durable and won’t readily show fingerprints which means it stays looking clean and tidy.
Each brand has their own unique version of brushed brass. See the relevant collections below.
One of the less common brass tapware finishes is polished brass. This finish caters to those creating or restoring a traditional/heritage style bathroom.
Polished brass taps provide a shiny look and feel and are most suited to monochromatic colour schemes.
More often than not this finish will come in a three-piece design, further enhancing their overall fit in traditional style bathrooms.
As with any polished finish, polished brass will show fingerprints more easily and therefore will need to be wiped down more often than brushed finishes.
One of the less common brass tapware finishes is polished brass. This finish caters to those creating or restoring a traditional/heritage style bathroom.
Polished brass taps provide a shiny look and feel and are most suited to monochromatic colour schemes.
More often than not this finish will come in a three-piece design, further enhancing their overall fit in traditional style bathrooms.
As with any polished finish, polished brass will show fingerprints more easily and therefore will need to be wiped down more often than brushed finishes.
The final type of brass tapware commonly featured in homes today is living/tumbled brass. What is commonly described as a ‘natural’ type of brass, living brass is made to evolve and age as time passes.
To achieve this natural look, the brass is unsealed, allowing it to form a patina that causes the brass to naturally darken and tarnish. This effect shows the brass as a natural and raw material, making it perfect for rustic or industrial-style bathrooms.
Since this finish darkens over time, it’s important to keep this in mind when designing your space. We suggest pairing living/tumbled brass with dark and earthy tones since this will further enhance its natural appearance!
So if you’ve been asking does brass tapware tarnish? Then the answer is 100% yes for living/tumbled brass. The good news is, this means you don’t need to worry about wear and tear or fingerprints for this one, it’s all part of the process.
If you're seeking this style of brass tapware Sussex is our only provider, with a range of tumbled brass taps readily available.
Beyond this range, you can have other Sussex taps custom made in their 'Living' Finishes - simply reach out to our support team to order.
Overall, the one thing that all brass tapware has in common is they will all have a warm, yellow tone, which means that any brass finish will suit an environment with stone, timber, and other natural elements.
No matter the type of finish you go for when it comes to your tapware, you will want to match that finish to other accessories in your space. So if you choose brushed brass for your taps then you should aim to have brushed brass towel rails, shower, toilet roll holder, and so on.
The good news is that a lot of our tapware brands will sell these accessories and therefore have the exact same finish available across various products.
Just be sure not to mix brands, Phoenix and Caroma for example have a different shade of brushed brass and therefore won’t match each other.
When it comes to cleaning your brass tapware we suggest using warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Don’t be afraid to clean your taps as regularly as once a week, even for those with living/tumbled brass tapware. It’s also important to avoid using any abrasive products or harsh chemicals when cleaning your brass tapware as this will ensure you are not damaging or removing the colour.
