How to match brushed gold bathroom accessories

The short answer: brushed gold looks right when the golds in one room are close in tone, when black or white carries the rest of the room, and when the gold pieces sit where you see them together, like the toilet corner and the shower.

What “brushed” means

A brushed finish has fine lines running in one direction, so it reflects light softly instead of like a mirror. Most of our golds have a brushed texture; what differs is the tone, and the names differ by line. On our pages you will find:

• Brushed gold on the round holder and the sets of 2 and 3;
• Soft matte gold on the matte gold round holder;
• Satin gold on the square holder, matte gold accent on the squircle holder, rich gold on the partially rounded holder and soft brushed gold on the wall-mounted holder;
• Gold on the shower squeegee and the suction hooks — their tone is described differently from line to line, so compare the photos side by side before you pair them with a holder.

Shades can vary between product lines and screens. If two gold pieces must stand right next to each other, buy them from the same line, for example two holders from a set.

Where to put the gold

Gold works as an accent, so place it where the eye moves together:

• The toilet corner: a gold toilet brush holder is the piece you see every time you enter. Our brushed gold round holder needs a spot about 3.5 in across and stands 15.7 in tall; there is also a creator's video review of this holder on Amazon.
• The shower: a gold squeegee on the glass and gold hooks for a towel or a loofah.
• The sink: if your faucet is chrome, leave it; our faucet aerators are polished chrome and match a chrome faucet.

What to pair with brushed gold

Matte black. The most graphic pairing: gold for the pieces you want noticed, black for the rest. For example, a brushed gold holder with a matte black squeegee and black suction hooks.

White. Gold on white tile and white ceramics reads light and soft. Keep towels in a warm neutral rather than bright white.

Dark wood or painted panels. Gold catches the light against a dark wall.

Brushed gold with your tile

• Black or charcoal tile: gold is the brightest thing in the room; one holder and one squeegee are enough.
• White subway tile: gold warms the room; repeat it twice, at the toilet and in the shower, so it looks planned.
• Marble or stone with veining: pick the gold that sits closest to the warm veins and keep everything else white or black.
• Green or blue tile: brushed gold contrasts well with both; keep the hooks and the squeegee in the same gold.

Three easy mistakes

• Three golds side by side. Brushed, bright and matte gold next to each other look like a mismatch. Choose one tone for each spot.
• Gold everywhere. When the faucet, the mirror, the hooks and the trash can are all gold, nothing stands out. Two or three gold pieces are enough.
• Scouring the finish. Clean gold with a soft, damp cloth and dry it; avoid abrasive pads, scouring powders and bleach. Several buyers of our gold holders mention that the finish shows fingerprints and smudges quickly, and one found it scratches more easily than expected, so a quick wipe after you handle it keeps it even. More in How to clean a toilet brush and holder.

Gold and the faucet

If your faucet is gold too, compare the two in daylight before you add more gold. When the tones differ, separate them: gold at the toilet, the faucet alone at the sink. When they are close, a gold squeegee and gold hooks in the shower tie the room together.

Gold in more than one bathroom

If the same gold should appear in two or three bathrooms, a set is the simplest way to keep it identical: our sets of 2 and 3 use the same brushed gold round holder in every piece.

Shop gold

• Round holder, brushed gold · Buy on Amazon ↗
• Set of 2, brushed gold · Buy on Amazon ↗
• Shower squeegee, gold, 12 in · Buy on Amazon ↗
• Suction shower hooks, gold, 2 pack · Buy on Amazon ↗

Every gold piece from our lines on one page: Gold Bathroom Accessories.

Comparing all finishes: Bathroom finishes: gold, black, silver or white.