Do you like the appearance of a nickel finish for your faucet but debating on regular satin nickel vs. a brushed nickel finish? They both provide a similar appearance, but brushed nickel provides a softer feeling in your home.
In this PlumbingNav guide, we will cover:
What are the best brushed nickel faucets available?
What are the differenttypes of brushed nickel faucets to consider?
How does a brushed nickel faucet work?
What do you look for when choosing a brushed nickel faucet?
What's In This Guide?
Brushed Satin Nickel Faucet Reviews:
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Product
Good Option
Good Option
Delta Faucet Essa Touch Kitchen Faucet Brushed Nickel, Kitchen Faucets with Pull Down Sprayer, Kitchen Sink Faucet, Touch Faucet for Kitchen Sink
Size – The spout height is 15.75”, and the spout reach is 9.25”.
Features – Touch technology allows you to turn the faucet on and off with a simple touch so that you don’t need to touch the handle. LED lights indicate the water temperature. The pull down sprayer has two modes and magnetic docking technology.
Design – This faucet uses a high arc design and a single-handle
Installation – Single hole installation with PEX supply lines attached to the faucet for one less leak point.
Our Top Brushed Nickel Faucets (Summary Quicklist)
Brushed nickel receives a textured finish (as opposed to a smooth finish) with a wire brush as one of the last steps of the fabrication process.
You can see the brush marks in the material when it’s finished, providing a warm tone that offers subtle yet more dynamic light and shadow effects compared to smooth materials.
The small ridges do require a bit more upkeep. However, it’s completely manageable. If you do allow the finish to tarnish, you can remove the tarnish with vinegar and baking soda.
Why Choose Brushed Nickel?
Brushed nickel exceeds chrome in appearance and quality. It also provides a more natural appearance and comes at a lower price tag than polished nickel and stainless steel. Brushed nickel doesn’t provide as much shine as chrome or stainless steel (the muted tone is preferred by most homeowners). It also won’t show fingerprints like chrome and some steel.
What are the Different Types of Brushed Nickel Faucets?
Bathroom Sink Faucet
Your bathroom sink faucet mounts to your sink or your wall and generally offers high-efficiency levels and simple operation since they’re generally only used for washing hands and brushing teeth.
Look for touchless models to eliminate germs and even potentially save money, especially if purchasing faucets for a commercial building.
Kitchen Sink Faucet
Your kitchen sink faucet should reach every corner of your sink, with most homes opting for a high-arc design (space permitted) and a pull down sprayer option to ensure full coverage and various functions for different tasks. Most kitchen faucets are installed directly into the sink.
Look for products with the Water Sense label to reduce water waste and save on utility bills!
Tub Faucet
A tub faucet must have a relatively high flow rate to ensure it can fill the tub quickly. Tub faucets tend to reach out further than bathroom sink faucets, but they can be interchangeable in some cases.
Tub faucets may come as part of a shower system and include a valve and diverter.
Bar/Prep Faucet
A bar faucet or prep faucet resembles a kitchen faucet, but it’s usually smaller since it only needs to accommodate a small sink. It probably doesn’t need the extra features of the main kitchen faucet, either.
What to Look for in a Brushed Nickel Faucet?
Brand
Look for a popular brand in the industry as well as a brand that offers a quality warranty on its products.
Some of the most reliable brands include:
Delta
Kraus
Moen
Kohler
Pfister
Kingston Brass
American Standard
Keep in mind that this is not an inclusive list. However, stick to a trusted brand instead of a brand you never heard of.
All respectable brands will include a warranty. However, you should compare warranties to see exactly what’s covered on similar products, as they vary greatly.
Usability
Some faucets are easier to use than others.
As simple as it sounds, sometimes this comes down to the handle. You can usually choose between a single-handle design or a double-handle design.
Some faucets also have additional features that make them easier to use, such as LED water temperature indication, touchless sensors, and connectivity capabilities.
Installation Requirements
Faucets install into holes that allow you to connect them to the plumbing underneath the sink.
You can leave the faucet as is or use a faceplate to cover the holes. You may also be able to use a faceplate to cover holes you don’t need.
Faucets usually require anywhere from 1 – 4 holes.
If you don’t have enough predrilled holes in your sink, tub, or wall, you can drill additional holes yourself. (Like this below.)
Materials
Certain materials last longer, especially when they come into contact with hot water on a regular basis.
Stainless steel provides a great option, but solid brass tends to last longer thanks to its anti-corrosive properties (hollow brass, however, won’t hold up).
Avoid plastic faucets and components when possible, as they don’t usually last as long as metal products.
It’s not always only about the durability of the material, though. You also have to ensure that whatever faucet you choose matches the rest of your decor.
Home Design and Metals: Should You Mix?
You’ve already decided on brushed nickel for your new faucet, which accommodates both classic and modern interior design styles.
Luckily, brushed nickel is a very common material in interior design these days. You can easily select brushed nickel for the other faucets around your home and the hardware as well to create a cohesive design.
Some daring designers don’t mind mixing metals, and creative designs can truly show off your interior design skills and increase the aesthetic appeal of your home (if it’s done properly).
If you do decide to mix metals, stick to two or three options.
Some mixed metal interior design ideas include:
Use one metal for all faucets and a different metal for all hardware
Use one consistent metal except for certain items you want to stand out
Complete chaos with various metal faucets and hardware seemingly picked at random
Drastic contrast between two drastically different materials
Best Brushed Nickel Faucets Reviewed
Here are our in-depth reviews so you can evaluate the best choice for yourself.
Size – The spout height is 15.75”, and the spout reach is 9.25”.
Features – Touch technology allows you to turn the faucet on and off with a simple touch so that you don’t need to touch the handle. LED lights indicate the water temperature. The pull down sprayer has two modes and magnetic docking technology.
Design – This faucet uses a high arc design and a single-handle
Installation – Single hole installation with PEX supply lines attached to the faucet for one less leak point.
Features – A sensor allows you to activate the faucet without using your hands. The pull down sprayer provides 5 different modes (spray, stream, gas, double blade, and pauce).
Design – Modern high arc design
Installation – One or three hole deck mount installation with supply lines attached.
Features – Enjoy a pleasant waterfall effect and a spot defense finish that prevents stains.
Design – Classic or modern design with two handles and a low arc.
Installation – 3 hole installation with the drain assembly included.
Pros
Highly efficient 1.2 GPM
Versatile design
Spot defense finish
Cons
Not suitable for wall mount installation
Limited customization
Low water flow
Final Thoughts On Best Brushed Nickel Faucets
A brushed nickel faucet gives you a lot to work with in terms of design, and it’s a finish that holds up well next to the competition.
Once you find the brand and style you like, the possibilities are endless. Just don’t forget to buy a faucet that meets your installation needs (unless you don’t mind doing some work yourself).
Not sold on brushed nickel? Take a look at our review of the best polished nickel faucets!
FAQ’s on Brushed Nickel Faucets
Do brushed nickel faucets tarnish?
Thanks to the little ridges created by the wire brush strokes, brushed nickel can tarnish if you don’t keep up with it. However, you can simply remove tarnish with vinegar.
Is brushed nickel hard to keep clean?
No. However, it is slightly harder to keep clean than smooth options, such as stainless steel, polished chrome, and satin nickel.
Is brushed nickel still popular?
Yes! Brushed nickel is still extremely popular in large part thanks to its versatility and lack of shininess.
Which is better, brushed nickel or chrome?
Brushed nickel far exceeds chrome in quality and appearance (unless you like the appearance of a mirror covered in fingerprints).
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About Plumbing Navigator
We write about "all things plumbing," helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
About Plumbing Navigator
We write about “all things plumbing,” helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
