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Gleaming Elegance: Polished vs. Brushed Nickel Showdown

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel, Both polished nickel and brushed nickel look great in the kitchen and bathroom. However, if you’re heading to the store to buy one of these items, you’ll need to know which one is superior to the other. Which one has a gleaming hue that exudes an overwhelming sense of warmth? In terms of corrosion and scratch resistance, which one is better?

This quick guide will walk you through a comparison of polished nickel and brushed nickel so that you can decide which one best suits your kitchen or bathroom.

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel: Polished Nickel

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel

Whenever you hear polished nickel, you should think of the metallic finish that glows when seen.

Polished nickel is a metallic finish with a gleaming tint that exudes a comforting warmth. It’s also a nickel plating on brass that is then polished.

The reason why it is referred to as polished nickel is due to how polished it is. It has a lustrous sheen to it due to its polished finish. When you see a polished nickel, no one will tell you what it is, but you will be able to know by its bright hue.

Please don’t get it mixed up. It’s crucial to understand the difference between polished nickel and polished chrome. So don’t get them mixed up and think they’re the same thing.

When employing polished nickel in your home, the Greyson trim, Bowery knob, Latitude lever, or Sacramento lever are the ideal choices to pair it with.

Benefits of Using Polished Nickel

  • It Has a Sparkling Hue That Gives off a Comforting Warmth. Polished nickel has a gleaming appearance that exudes a welcoming warmth. When someone comes to your house and uses any polished nickel equipment, they will note how bright and shiny the nickel is.
  • It Assists in Making Your Decor Stand Out. If you enjoy flashy items, polished nickel is the way to go; it will complement your home’s design and help it stand out. It can also blend in with different decors in your home without drawing attention to itself.
  • Cleaning Is Simple: One of the benefits of utilizing polished nickel in your home is how easy it is to keep clean.  
  • Corrosion Resistance.  You don’t want to acquire something that will rust or corrode quickly. It will not only detract from the appearance of your property, but it will also make you feel as if you wasted your money on something that will corrode in no time. Corrosion resistance is excellent in polished nickel.
  • Resistance to Scratches. Polished nickel is scratch-resistant, which is one of its advantages. We’ve all seen how horrible something can appear when it’s scratched. Consider your phone as an example. Imagine a scratch on the screen of your phone. It has a huge impact. Consider also all of your body clothing as an example; image a tear scratch on your prom dress; it will no longer appear attractive. You won’t have to worry about scratches with polished nickel.
  • Cleaning Product Resistance. Polished nickel is resistant to all cleaning products. This implies that the cleaning products you use will not harm it or cause it to change color in a short period. We’ve all heard about how dangerous some bathroom cleaning chemicals can be. The nickel will be unaffected by these products.

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel:Brushed Nickel

Brushed nickel is a semi-satin or metallic finish with a dull hue. It’s also a brushed nickel plating on brass that dulls the shine.

Brushed nickel is dull. This is because the colors have already been subdued.  It’s already been given a wire brush treatment to diminish the shine.

Benefits of Using Brushed Nickel

  • It’s a Good Match for Stainless Steel Appliances. Brushed nickel has the appearance of stainless steel and can be combined with any stainless steel appliances in the home.
  • It has a Dull Appearance. Brushed nickel is a drab tint that appeals to certain people who aren’t fond of bright, dazzling colors. This is the most excellent option if you’re that kind of person.
  • Texture and Luxury are added to the Home with Brushed Nickel. This nickel will give your home texture as well as luxury.
  • It’s Simple to Clean. Cleaning brushed nickel is also a breeze.
  • The Fingerprint is not Visible. Another great feature of brushed nickel is that it does not exhibit fingerprints or damp marks. 
  • It is cost-effective. Brushed nickel is a very cost-effective option. This implies that even those on a tight budget can acquire brushed nickel for their bathroom or kitchen.

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel: What are the Similarities?

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel

Polished nickel and brushed nickel are similar in that they are both nickels that may be utilized in the kitchen and bathroom to make your home decor pop. They’re also simple to clean.

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel: What’re the Differences?

The main distinctions between Polished Nickel and Brushed Nickel are listed below:

  • The main difference between polished nickel and brushed nickel is that polished nickel has a warmer tone and a blazing color, whereas brushed nickel has a dull hue and a dull feel.
  • Polished nickel shows fingerprints and wet marks, but brushed nickel does not.
  • Polished nickel has a brighter sheen than brushed nickel, which has a more muted sheen.
  • Brushed nickel is treated to have a texture with a brushed finish, whereas polished nickel has a polished surface without texture.
  • As opposed to polished nickel, brushed nickel adds additional texture to the area because it is treated to have a texture.
  • Nickels that have been polished are more valuable than nickels that have been brushed.

Polished Nickel vs Brushed Nickel: Which One is Better?

Polished and brushed nickel are both suitable for use in the bathroom and kitchen, but polished nickel is preferable due to its bright hue, which produces an overwhelming warm impression, as opposed to brushed nickel, which is subdued and dull.

Final Take

Both polished and brushed nickel are excellent for use in bathrooms and kitchens. It all boils down to personal preference. But polished nickel is preferable because of its gleaming warm tone, which exudes an overwhelming sense of warmth.