Brass vs Gold: What’s the Difference?
Admiring the subtle shine of your light switches and sockets, you take a moment to appreciate how this small detail enhances your space. The rich, golden hue adds a touch of opulence – but is it gold, or is it actually brass? With their similar appearances, it’s easy to mistake one finish for the other, but they have distinct properties that set them apart.
Discover the difference between brass vs gold and which one to choose for your interiors with Dowsing & Reynolds.
What’s the difference between brass and gold?
If you’re comparing the metals themselves (not necessarily the finishes), density is the main difference between the two. Gold is denser than brass, so it will feel heavier. What’s more, gold won’t tarnish when exposed to the air because it’s non-reactive, while brass is likely to tarnish over time.
However, when it comes to choosing between brass and gold finishes for your home, the key difference is appearance. That’s because switches, sockets, and handles are typically only coloured brass or gold.
Image courtesy of @studiosidika
Brass and gold finishes can look similar, but gold is shinier and has a more yellow tone to it. Polished brass finishes especially look very similar to gold, but brass has a slightly duller tone and isn’t as vibrant. Some types of brass finishes, like antique brass, don’t actually look very similar to gold at all; instead, they have more of a brown tone with slightly golden undertones.
Brass and gold are both beautiful finishes for your home fittings and fixtures, but you’ll probably find that one complements your interior design scheme better than the other.
Gold accents instantly lift any interior, adding luxurious touches and points of interest to attract your eyes; choose brass over gold if you want your interior to reflect a more traditional heritage.
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-Founder and Interiors Expert
Brass vs gold: Which is right for your home?
When choosing between brass and gold for your fixtures and fittings, there are a few points to consider:
1. Your interior design style
Brass has a warm, vintage look that works well in traditional, industrial, or rustic interiors. Antique brass switches and sockets are the perfect final touch for these interior styles, helping to tie the space together and pairing beautifully with industrial lighting in the same finish.
Gold has a sleeker, more modern appearance that makes it a great choice for contemporary or art deco style homes. Add a touch of luxury to modern interiors by opting for gold switches and sockets and styling them with statement gold ceiling lights.
2. Your colour palette
The existing colour palette of your interiors can also hold massive sway when it comes to brass vs gold. Antique brass has brown and deep golden undertones, which makes it complementary to earthy and neutral palettes. It’s also excellent for pairing with dark tones like deep greens or navy blue to create bold, moody interiors.
Because gold is more vibrant, it pairs well with brighter colours and high-contrast colour schemes. Use gold finishes in rooms with a warm palette to really bring out the warmth in the colours and create a cosy ambience.
3. Your existing hardware
Think about your existing hardware and fittings. It might be that you already have lots of gold lighting fixtures that look great in your space, for example, so you should upgrade your other hardware and fittings to match.
In your kitchen, if you’ve already got antique brass handles, you might consider upgrading your outdated switches and sockets to antique brass ones, creating an effortlessly cohesive look and making the space feel more premium and high-end.
Image courtesy of @villa_todmorden
Can you mix brass and gold?
If you’re torn between brass vs gold finishes, you don’t necessarily have to choose just one. Mixing metals can create a dynamic, layered look in your interiors – as long as it’s done right. Here’s how to successfully blend brass and gold without them clashing:
- Stick to a dominant metal: Mixing metals adds depth to your space, but it’s best to choose one as your primary finish and incorporate the other as an accent. If most of your fixtures are brass, you might include gold in smaller details like picture frames or decorative accessories. This will ensure the overall effect is cohesive rather than disjointed.
- Consider the undertones: To ensure harmony, choose gold and brass finishes with undertones that complement each other. Antique brass with deep golden hues will pair better with warmer golds, whereas polished brass might work best with brighter, more yellow-toned golds.
- Balance the placement: Rather than scattering different metals randomly around the room, aim for balance. You might opt for brass switches and sockets in a room with gold pendant lights, or mix brass cabinet handles with gold light fixtures to keep the look intentional rather than chaotic.
- Find a unifying element: To tie brass and gold together, introduce a common thread such as a neutral colour scheme, a specific material (like marble or wood), or another complementary metal (such as bronze or black hardware). This will help the mix of metals feel curated rather than accidental.
- Test before committing: If you’re unsure about mixing brass and gold, start small. Introduce gold accessories in a space with mostly brass finishes and see how they work together. This way, you can adjust without making a big commitment and try something different if they don’t complement each other as well as you’d anticipated.
Show us your gold or brass interiors
Now that you know the difference between brass vs gold and how to choose the right finish for you, we’d love to see how you’ve incorporated gold or brass details into your interiors. Tag us on Instagram @dowsingandreynolds – we can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
Featured image courtesy of @cranglecribs
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