Antique Brass: How to style the finish that works with any interior

There’s something about antique brass that feels like it just belongs. Soft, warm and quietly confident, it’s a finish that has natural depth and patina… it feels calm, lived-in, and completely at home.

“Antique brass is one of those finishes that instantly brings a room together. It’s warm without being showy, organic without being rustic. There’s a quiet elegance to it that just feels right – and it’s so easy to use in any décor scheme.”
– Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Interiors Expert & Co-Founder

How to Style Antique Brass

Not sure how to make it work? Interior expert and Dowsing & Reynolds Co-founder Ally Dowsing-Reynolds shares her tips on how to make Antique Brass work in your home:

1. Think of Antique Brass as the New ‘Neutral’

“Your fixtures and fittings can actually help steer your overall design, which is why I always suggest to choose them first, as opposed leaving them until the end. However, if you’re struggling to decide, antique brass is a failsafe option. It gives you a strong, timeless foundation to build on, because it works with just about any style. It’s a finish that you really can’t go wrong with.”

2. Let Texture Do the Talking

“Antique brass really comes alive when it’s surrounded by organic materials – think linen curtains, textured blankets and matt finishes.

Try pairing it with items that feel tactile and grounded to bring out it’s warmth and character.”

3. Create Flow Through Repetition

“Your eye is naturally drawn to contrast, so when the same warm tone repeats a few times – on a switch, a pendant light, or a cabinet knob for example – it subconsciously feels more calm and cohesive.

You don’t need everything to match, but repeating antique brass accents in a few touchpoints gives the room a seamless feel.”

4. Use It to Soften Neutral Colour Palettes

“Antique brass is a brilliant in rooms where you’ve got cooler neutral tones like greys, whites, sage greens or even charcoals. It adds depth and cosiness – it’s warmer than chrome or black, and less shiny polished brass which makes it ideal for modern homes that still want to feel characterful.”

5. Focus on the Details That Get Touched

“We often forget that light switches and handles are the things we physically interact with the most.

When those details feel right, whether that’s heritage-inspired toggles, knurled metal dimmers, or flush-fitting switch plates, it changes how the whole room feels.

Everything feels calmer, and your guests will feel it too.”

Ally’s Antique Brass Favourites

Discover Ally favourite antique brass pieces in the video below and see how she’d use them with tips on positioning, styling and more.

Why choose Antique Brass?

Pairs with both modern or traditional interiors
Adds character to new-builds
Works beautifully with neutrals, moody colours and natural textures
Feels considered, crafted and timeless

Explore the Collection

From bubble chandeliers and pendant lights to toggle switches and internal handles – our entire Antique Brass collection is designed in-house and hand-finished to achieve a patina that feels effortlessly lived-in.

Written by: Natalie Walsh

Meet Natalie, our fabulous Content Manager here at Dowsing & Reynolds. Natalie is a whizz when it comes to crafting marketing content and copy that wows our audience, but when she’s not working, you can expect to see her in the front row at a country music gig or with her head in a good book.