With the rising popularity of nickel, bronze and stainless finishes, there’s a certain shade of gold that’s fallen to the wayside. Traditional polished brass finishes have been out of style for some time now, yet many homes still have it. Polished brass hardware is sometimes hidden in plain sight, so we’ve put together a handy guide of the obvious and not-so-obvious spots where it can be hiding.
1. Door Knobs
The biggest polished brass offender is door hardware. Polished brass has been the home building industry’s standard for years now, but replacing builder grade door knobs is easier than ever before. Depending on your home’s furnishings, you can choose basic knobs or elegant levers.
2. Door Hinges
If you’re replacing door hardware, it only makes sense to take care of the hinges too. Replacing your door hinges is a small detail that’ll create a cohesive look in your home. To make it easier, replace the hinges one at a time so you don’t need to remove the door.
3. Lighting
From exterior lights to table lamps, polished brass is found just about everywhere in lighting. Replacing polished brass light fixtures is one of the more expensive projects on our list, but it will truly make a difference when a guest walks into the room.
4. Cabinet Hardware
Do you have polished brass hardware on your cabinet doors and drawers? After years of repeated use, polished brass can start to tarnish which can make your home look less than cared for. Nickel and bronze cabinet hardware is typically easier to keep clean.
5. Faucets
Faucets are another expensive replacement, but they’re often worth the cost. Replacing an outdated faucet is a win-win: your kitchen or bath gets an updated look and you’ll probably save on your water bill. New faucets are more likely to be energy efficient with proper parts (like aerators) compared to faucets of the past.
6. Wall Plates
One of the easiest replacements you can make is switching out polished brass wall plates. Depending how many plates you’re working with, this project can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and all you’ll need is a screwdriver. Pretty simple, huh?
7. Door Stops
Out of sight, out of mind. That’s how door stops usually are—until you replace all the brass in your home and the gold stops stick out like sore thumbs. Luckily replacing these is an easy project. For spring stops, simply twist it until it comes off the wall. Replacing solid door stops is a similar process but it might require a little more work since they're usually installed directly in the wall.
Polished brass was all the rage in home décor twenty years ago, but with the rise of modern finishes, many homeowners are flocking to replace their outdated hardware. Replacing polished brass in these seven spots will give your home a subtle update that brings the space to 2017.
