Antique Brass Paint Color? The 87 Top Answers

Brass has long been a popular finish for outlets, switches, lighting, handles and other fixtures around the home. With its timeless appearance, brass can complement multiple interior styles, although it may look best in a traditional or classic home interior. However, there are several types of brass finishes including brushed brass, antique brass, burnished brass and polished brass.

In this article we look at the differences between polished brass and antique brass and which design styles suit them best.

Polished brass sockets and switches

Polished brass sockets and switches have a striking finish that has been polished and therefore has a mirror-like reflective finish while still sporting the almost golden brass colour. This finish is usually bright and shiny, as well as being highly reflective. They can therefore look much shinier and perhaps more showy than satin or brushed brass (which has a matte or brushed finish), but the downside is that they can show a lot more fingerprints or blemishes than other brass finishes.

Polished brass is much brighter and more striking than antique, brushed and satin finished brass, although it can look a little less warm, but is timeless and has long been popular. It works best in traditional spaces but has a neutral style that could work well in more modern homes as well.

Antique brass sockets & switches

Antique brass or aged brass is more of a statement finish than polished brass. This beautiful finish is treated to look aged and is typically a rich brown city with light golden undertones. With a warm finish, it doesn’t shine or reflect nearly as much as polished brass, but conceals water marks and blemishes much better.

This finish works well in vintage, historic or classic styled rooms, but is beautiful enough to look great as a classic twist in a more contemporary decor. Cheaper sockets and switches can disappoint antique brass as it needs to look really sturdy and strong to look good so be sure to choose higher quality antique brass sockets and switches.

This finish may not be quite as universal as polished brass, but if the interior style calls for something more classic and eye-catching, antique brass is probably the right choice.

Lacquered brass vs. unlacquered brass

When comparing these two finishes, it very much depends on your personal preference and whether you are happy with the product finish being retained.

Lacquered brass has a finish or surface coating that prevents the brass from aging or tarnishing over time. This is a great advantage as the finish can be enjoyed throughout its lifetime. It will always retain its beautiful rich color and will not fade or warp through weather or time. If you are looking for a low maintenance light fixture or socket and switch then this is a great value option.

While unvarnished brass lacks a protective surface coating, so it can age and tarnish over time, its original finish can be easily restored by polishing.

Burnished Brass vs. Antique Brass

Antique brass has an aged finish and is typically a rich brown with golden undertones. This executive finish is not flashy, the subtlety of the finish makes it well suited to decorating most homes, but is best suited to vintage and period style properties.

Burnished brass combines the aesthetics of brightly polished brass with antique and weathered brass. In fact, it’s a finish that has the best of both worlds. Combine the gorgeous light gold tones of polished brass and blend with the brown tones of antique or aged brass. Unlike polished brass, the gold color is not shiny, it can patinate further depending on the polishing technique used.

Take a look at our full range of sockets and switches to find your perfect finish.

Your home reflects your personal style and choosing finishes for your lighting and hardware is an opportunity to consider every detail. From vintage-inspired aged brass to oiled bronze, we have a range of custom finishes to choose from. Whether you’re coordinating the finishes in your space to create a cohesive look or mixing your finishes for a more individual approach, it’s all about putting together a timeless look that you’ll love for years to come. In this guide, we’ll look at all of our finish options and explore ways you can customize your look.

Customizable lighting

Most of our lighting is assembled to order and hand finished in our Portland, Oregon facility. Our lighting is customizable so you can choose the style, shade, length and finish. Each style is available in multiple finish options to coordinate with our kitchen and bathroom fixtures, cabinet hardware, door sets and exterior hardware.

Hardworking hardware

Hardware is jewelry for your home that adds function and style – both indoors and outdoors. Durably designed for everyday use, our hardware collections are crafted from solid brass, with exclusive finishes to match our lighting and distinctive details to complement any aesthetic. And changing your closet hardware is a simple update that can give your entire space a fresh new look.

Gold-colored finishes

Left to right:

Aged Brass: Classic brass with a matte finish for a timeless, vintage-inspired look.

Classic brass with a matte finish for a timeless, vintage-inspired look. Brushed Satin Brass: A gold-colored, matte brass; goes well with our aged brass.

A gold-colored matte brass; goes well with our aged brass. Aged Brass: Slightly darker than aged brass, aged brass has a satin brushed finish.

Old Brass is slightly darker than Aged Brass and has a satin finish. Lacquered Brass: Light gold with a lacquer coating for a long-lasting, lustrous finish.

Pale gold with a lacquer coating for a long-lasting, lustrous finish. Unlacquered Brass: A lustrous pale gold with no lacquer coating, Unlacquered Brass is a vibrant finish, meaning it will gradually age and develop a characterful patina over time.

copper surfaces

Left to right:

Antique Copper: Satin finish brass with an antique tinted finish for a beautifully aged look.

Satin finish brass with an antiqued tinted lacquer finish for a beautifully aged look. Polished Copper: Classic bright copper with a lustrous, long-lasting finish.

Classic light copper with a lustrous, long-lasting finish. Copper Penny: An exclusive option for our best-selling Carson Lighting Collection. This dark brown satin finish will age and patina to a distinctive oxidized shade of green over time.

Silver finishes

Left to right:

Polished Nickel: Silver with warm undertones; Unpainted surfaces will age and darken over time.

silver with warm undertones; Unpainted surfaces will age and darken over time. Polished Chrome: Smooth, cool silver with a clear coat to prevent tarnishing.

Smooth, cool-toned silver with a clear varnish to prevent tarnishing. Brushed Nickel: Nickel-plated brass with a textured, satin finish and warm undertones.

Nickel-plated brass with a textured, satin finish and warm undertones. Brushed Aluminum: A light silver tone with a matte finish; pairs well with other silver tones including warm brushed nickel and cool polished chrome.

dark surfaces

Left to right:

Oil-Rubbed Bronze: Dark, almost black with warm undertones and a matte finish.

Dark, almost black with warm undertones and a matte finish. Burnished Antique: Antique brown with subtle gold accents and a satin finish.

Antique brown with subtle gold accents and a satin finish. Black Enamel: A true black color with a sandblasted satin finish.

Shop our custom lighting and hardware and find a variety of finishes to suit your space.

Brass fixtures and fittings were all the rage a few decades ago, but this super shiny look has gone out of fashion. Let’s face it — door handles don’t shine for long, and endlessly polishing away dirty fingerprints is torture. Luckily, it’s easy to turn shiny brass into a beautiful antique finish that looks a lot more stylish. Anything from picture frames to fancy candelabra can be turned into vintage-style home decor with items like vinegar, salt and baking soda, or paint. You’ll be as good as old in no time.

advertisement

How to turn shiny brass into antique brass Credit: aerogondo/iStock/GettyImages See more photos

video of the day

prep work

Clean the object in warm soapy water to remove grease, dust or dirt. Dry with a soft cloth. For handles and other attachments that are difficult to remove, this can be done while still attached, although items that are handled regularly may need a thorough scrubbing. If the brass is lacquered or lacquered, soak the object in paint stripper overnight or rub with sandpaper. You can also coat with acetone nail polish remover before placing it in boiling water for a few minutes. To do this, the brackets would have to be removed. Be careful when using paint strippers and acetone as they are highly flammable and the fumes can be toxic.

advertisement

salt and vinegar

Using a salt and vinegar rub is the easiest and cheapest way to roughen up your brass. Mix one part salt with three parts vinegar and apply to the brass with a brush. Malt, white wine, or apple cider vinegar all work well. The acid causes the brass to oxidize quickly, a process that tarnishes brass over time. Leave it on overnight, then rinse thoroughly before drying with a soft cloth. You can also soak brass objects in the salt and vinegar mixture. Leave for at least an hour, then remove the items and bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Allow to cool before polishing with a cloth.

advertisement

Fake it with paint

You can buy spray paint that mimics the antique brass color. Simply place the object or objects on newspaper, outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Spray according to instructions. For a more rustic look, layer it up. Start with a light coat of black spray paint, followed by burnished gold and a final coat of black. Avoid spraying too thick – the colors should blend. Leave to dry overnight. You can also lightly rub the paint away from the edges with fine sandpaper for an aged look.

advertisement

Try it

Shop around for a wax liniment made with metallic powders and pigments. Most ranges are available in metallic colors and black. The wax is suitable for any surface and can be rubbed in by hand or with a soft cloth before polishing. It gives a more luxurious, understated shine to pale yellow brass. Another instant solution is brass darkener. Brass objects age decades in the liquid within a few seconds.

Create Stunning Natural Looking Faux Marble & Stone Countertops with Epoxy Resin – It’s Easier Than You Think |

PaintTopics.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Prepare a frosting by mixing black latex paint with frosting medium, following product directions for proportions. You can add some brown color e.g. B. burnt umber to get a warmer glaze. Apply the glaze with a household brush, working in 2-foot sections. Immediately wipe the icing off with a clean cotton rag, leaving the dark icing along the edges and in cracks and crevices on the surface. Repeat on adjacent sections, dodging the edges to avoid a noticeable overlap. If you want a darker look, apply a second coat of glaze after the first is dry. Let the glazed piece dry for 24 hours.

This post is sponsored by Lowe’s.

Brass is back folks. Although it had a few rough spots (look at you, shiny yellow doorknobs), it’s been around forever and I’d argue that it’s one of the most classic metals. It adds warmth to any space and looks great with virtually any color and texture. It’s been my metal of choice for 5 years and isn’t going anywhere!

Left picture: pot filler

Image links: faucet | Buttons

Image link: Sconces

Image link: Faucet | Buttons

Brass FINISH

Brass comes in a variety of finishes, each with a different look.

Unvarnished brass has no finish and will patinate over time (my favourite).

Polished brass has a lustrous, bright finish and will not tarnish.

Satin brass has a brushed finish. It’s not glossy, so it won’t show fingerprints.

Antique brass has a brushed finish meant to look aged. It is darker than satin brass and usually has more brown tones.

Delta also makes a pretty brass finish called Champagne Bronze, which is like a cross between antique brass and satin brass. We have used it in customer projects and also have it in our own kitchen.

I don’t mind mixing different brass finishes from different brands. The only rule of thumb I stick to is to keep the tone of the brass consistent across a room. In our kitchen we have shiny brass clasps and a satin brass faucet, but the tone is the same so they go well together.

our brass PICKS

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite faucets, pot fillers, hardware and lighting below. Keep scrolling to see our White Cape Cottage kitchen picks too!

Faucet Links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8th

A well-designed brass faucet can make such a statement in a kitchen. We ordered #4 for the White Cape Cottage kitchen, have #3 in our home kitchen and have used #7 on a few kitchen renovations in the past (it’s a lot). I also LOVE the unique grip detail in #6 and have #8 on my buck list (can you blame me?).

HARDWARE links: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8th

We used #5 on our recent Airbnb renovation—it almost exactly matches Delta’s champagne bronze finish (faucet #7 and pot filler #3 above). For White Cape Cottage we have our eye on #6, #3 and #7. I sense a good brass mix in our future.

LIGHTING Left: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8th

Ahh, brass lighting. My favorite. We’re installing three #4 flush mount lights in the center of the White Cape Cottage kitchen instead of recessed lights and I’m so excited for them to arrive! We also installed #3 in the bathroom (stay tuned for the reveal sooooon).

What do you think of brass? are you a fan

Brass, a mixture of copper and zinc, has been around for centuries. Due to its strength and similarity to gold, it is often used for jewelry, decorative arts, and even as currency. Common brass antiques include clocks, lighting fixtures, fireplace accessories, window fittings, doorknobs, weather vanes, musical instruments, and military medals (hence the term “top brass”). Early brassware typically contains 20% to 80% zinc, while modern brass alloys may contain other metals such as nickel or lead for strength.

Bronze, often confused with brass, is an alloy of copper, tin, aluminum and other metals such as manganese. While bronze has a yellowish hue, brass tends towards gold and copper tones. Although both will tarnish, brass can usually be polished to a warm shine, while bronze develops a dark patina that is difficult to lighten.

To add to the confusion, there are other metals that look like brass that can fool even the most seasoned collector: cupro-nickel, for example, is actually nickel silver, not antique brass. Items marked “Old Bronze” are made from brass or other inexpensive metals (e.g. pewter) and then plated with real gold or copper to achieve a convincing antique brass finish. You might also come across brass plated parts that are not solid brass.

When identifying brass antiques, keep the following in mind:

Antique brass is not magnetic.

Antique brass has golden undertones.

Antique brass has natural imperfections due to age, use, or cost of production. Expect scratches, oxidation, tarnishing and discoloration.

Antique brass will be very heavy.

Antique brass will have a vintage feel.

The best way to distinguish between bronze and brass metal alloys is to examine the tarnish on your piece. Bronze tends to tarnish while brass can turn black. Another indicator is the color and how the object reflects light. If the piece is yellow with a shiny finish, it’s probably brass rather than bronze.

Whether you’re a baker just starting out or a master chef looking to clean up, we’ll help you put together a 21-tool beginner’s baking kit. For anyone who already owns these handy baking tools, this list can finally provide the motivation you need to get rid of that soufflé dish you never use. Building your inventory of baking equipment starts here.

Brass fixtures and fittings were all the rage a few decades ago, but this super shiny look has gone out of fashion. Let’s face it — door handles don’t shine for long, and endlessly polishing away dirty fingerprints is torture. Luckily, it’s easy to turn shiny brass into a beautiful antique finish that looks a lot more stylish. Anything from picture frames to fancy candelabra can be turned into vintage-style home decor with items like vinegar, salt and baking soda, or paint. You’ll be as good as old in no time.

advertisement

How to turn shiny brass into antique brass Credit: aerogondo/iStock/GettyImages See more photos

video of the day

prep work

Clean the object in warm soapy water to remove grease, dust or dirt. Dry with a soft cloth. For handles and other attachments that are difficult to remove, this can be done while still attached, although items that are handled regularly may need a thorough scrubbing. If the brass is lacquered or lacquered, soak the object in paint stripper overnight or rub with sandpaper. You can also coat with acetone nail polish remover before placing it in boiling water for a few minutes. To do this, the brackets would have to be removed. Be careful when using paint strippers and acetone as they are highly flammable and the fumes can be toxic.

advertisement

salt and vinegar

Using a salt and vinegar rub is the easiest and cheapest way to roughen up your brass. Mix one part salt with three parts vinegar and apply to the brass with a brush. Malt, white wine, or apple cider vinegar all work well. The acid causes the brass to oxidize quickly, a process that tarnishes brass over time. Leave it on overnight, then rinse thoroughly before drying with a soft cloth. You can also soak brass objects in the salt and vinegar mixture. Leave for at least an hour, then remove the items and bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Allow to cool before polishing with a cloth.

advertisement

Fake it with paint

You can buy spray paint that mimics the antique brass color. Simply place the object or objects on newspaper, outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Spray according to instructions. For a more rustic look, layer it up. Start with a light coat of black spray paint, followed by burnished gold and a final coat of black. Avoid spraying too thick – the colors should blend. Leave to dry overnight. You can also lightly rub the paint away from the edges with fine sandpaper for an aged look.

advertisement

Try it

Shop around for a wax liniment made with metallic powders and pigments. Most ranges are available in metallic colors and black. The wax is suitable for any surface and can be rubbed in by hand or with a soft cloth before polishing. It gives a more luxurious, understated shine to pale yellow brass. Another instant solution is brass darkener. Brass objects age decades in the liquid within a few seconds.